Shelbourne 1 - 1 Monaghan United

Monaghan United earned a precious away point in the capital on Friday evening

when they drew 1-1 with Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

In the opening quarter of an hour neither side were able to stamp their seal on the play

but it was obvious that United were gaining in confidence and their plan appeared to be

to whip the ball in fast to Hughes and Birmingham who were proving to be a handful

for the home defence.


It was a bit of a shock for the home support but not a surprise when their side went behind

in the 18th minute. The score followed a good spell of pressure from United and Shels

couldn’t get the ball out of their half, Hughes headed the ball on to Bermingham and from

25 yards out he bore down on goals and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper

and last seasons top striker was off the mark for the new season.


Shels didn’t have a first good chance until the 23rd. minute when Gareth Whelan was

picked out at the far post by a long pass from the wing he headed past the opposite post ,

it was a great chance..

Philip Hughes ran on to a pass and with a brilliant strike found the back of the net

but the assisant official ruled him off side.


Disaster came in the form of the sending off of United’s Barry Clancy in 76th.minute.

The Clancy incident resulted from the commencement of a sustained period of pressure

by Shels which in 80th minute was rewarded with a free kick from a yard outside the

box, this free resulted from the keeper handling the ball outside his area, having caught

the ball just inside his momentum took him outside.

Again Eric Foley stepped up and his powerful delivery found the top corner of the

net with the keeper well beaten.