MONS OLD BOYS TO THE FORE IN NARROW DROGHEDA VICTORY

Monaghan Utd 0
Drogheda Utd 1

IT MAY HAVE been a Good Friday elsewhere but it didn’t feel like one at Gortakeegan when Mick Cooke returned with his Drogheda United side, who looked a lot like last year’s Monaghan United team, took all three points in a one nil victory over the Mons.
A Declan O’Brien lone goal was the difference between the sides after 43 minutes and despite Monaghan United getting gifted a numerical advantage, the scoreline stayed that way.
The first clear cut chance of the game came from ex-Monaghan United player Sean Brennan when he took a shot from a free kick from about 30 yards out but Chris Bennion managed to spill it out to the side for Mons to clear it.
In an end to end game it then looked like Sean Brennan would break the deadlock against his old club but he was deemed off side much to the relief of the large home support.
Roddy Collins was forced into making his first change of the match when Aidan Collins pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and he had to replace him with Willo McDonagh with less than a half an hour played. This seemed to be a sign of weakness to the Drogheda United team and one that they tried to exploit and very nearly did with Sean Brennan winning a free not far from edge of box in the 35th minute but he sent it wide of the mark. Minutes later Brian Gannon set up Declan O’Brien with a great opportunity but O’Brien scuffed it and sent the ball out for a goal kick.
Drogheda took the lead soon after. Declan O’Brien exploited a defensive mistake and took on Chris Bennion with only one possible winner and it wasn’t the Monaghan United ‘keeper.
As the first half wound down the younger of the Brennan brothers, Ryan Brennan, received his marching orders for tackle on Robert Bayly.
Monaghan United came out all guns blazing in the second half and within minutes were creating chances.
Two minutes past the hour mark …