Monaghan United  1 - 0  Limerick 37

Friday 7^th March 2008

A second-half goal from the penalty spot by Philip Sheppard was sufficient to secure Monaghan United full points from this season opener with Limerick played in a deluge at Century Homes Park. The conditions lessened the quality of the game considerably, but Limerick had the better chances of a mostly tame first half.

Willie Bruton was denied by the legs of Monaghan keeper Brendan Kennedy when Ross Cosgrave carved him an opening. Then Ross Cosgrave himself flashed a shot from outside the box that Kennedy did well to turn around the post. James Hayes was also very unlucky not to score after having his shot blocked from 8 yards following a Wayne Colbert through ball. As the half was ending, Monaghan's James Hand met Stephen McCrossan's pass from the wing with a volley that beat David Ryan in the Limerick goal but was cleared off the line by the excellent Paul Danaher. Both Tommy Barrett and Danagher were very soild at the back throughout.

The game's decisive moment came in the 56th minute when Sheppard fell over in the Limerick box after a challenge by Chukwuma Manjor who seemed to win the ball cleanly and a very soft penalty was awarded, Monaghan drove home the resultant penalty. Limerick responded well and this prompted some dramatic penalty box scrambles in the latter stages but United held on. Willie Bruton was very unlucky not to score with a volley from 20 yards which forced Kennedy into another excellent save. Limerick came close to an equaliser yet again in the 78th minute. Shane Tracey hammered a free-kick from 25 yards that seemed destined for the top corner, but Kennedy executed a superb fingertip save. Limerick also got some belated momentum from manager Mick Kerley's introduction of Darren Harrington and David Ryan. Limerick deserved at least a draw from the game and the players were very disappointed with the result as well as the 25+ travelling supporters.

Monaghan United: Kennedy; Whelan, Mooney, Malone, Williamson; Lanigan (Meenan 69), Tierney, McCrossan, Hand; Collins, Sheppard (Hanaphy 93)

Limerick 37: David Ryan; Daly, Danaher, T Barrett, Tracey; Colbert, Fogerty, Cosgrave (L Barrett 60), Hayes (David Ryan 84); Manjor (Harrington 80), Bruton

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin)