Date Published: 03-May-2011

MERVUE United bounced back from three defeats to register a first home league win since the club returned to Fahy’s Field and, in the process, ended high flying Monaghan Utd’s unbeaten start to the First Division campaign.

Johnny Glynn’s side certainly didn’t look like a team short on confidence as two Jason Molloy strikes and another from defender Eric Browne ensured another bad day in Galway for Monaghan Utd as they ended the game with just nine men.

The home side got off to the perfect start as they hit the front with just five minutes on the clock. Rory Gaffney and Mark Ludden exchanged passes before the latter fed Molloy who cut inside Aiden Collins before unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner past a helpless Gabriel Sava.

Mervue almost doubled that lead as Tom King struck an effort just past the visitors’ post, while Dan Cunningham’s dangerous low ball across the face of the Monaghan goal failed to find a Mervue player.

Roddy Collins side found themselves level on 18 minutes when an attempted back pass by Browne fell kindly into the path of Declan O’Brien and he lobbed Ger Hanley for his sixth goal in five games.

Browne atoned for that error eight minutes later as he finished off a fine move involving Gaffney and Ludden to put the home side back in front.

Mervue continued to take the game to Monaghan and Gaffney saw his header brilliantly pushed around the post for corner by Sava just past the half hour mark following a right wing cross from King.

On the stroke of half time, King got away down the right again and his cross picked out Ludden who headed straight at Sava as they ended the period on the attack.

The home finally doubled their lead ten minutes after the re-start when the impressive Gaffney played in his strike partner Molloy, and he held off the challenge of two defenders before blasting the ball past Sava at his near post for 3-1.

Eight minutes later and Monaghan’s Paul Whelan received a straight red for retaliation following a foul by Molloy near the touchline.

Molloy should have had his hat-trick on 66 minutes when Mike Tierney set him up from close range, but he shot tamely at Sava.

King and Gaffney both had efforts just clear Sava’s crossbar shortly afterwards as the home side looked for more goals.

Monaghan were then reduced to nine men following the dismissal of goalscorer O’Brien with 13 minutes remaining.

Ludden was denied twice in a matter of minutes by Sava as he was well positioned to save. The Monaghan keeper came to his side’s rescue again with five minutes remaining as he once again denied Gaffney with his legs, while sub Don Tierney shot over at the other end following a lay-off from fellow sub Michael Isichei.

Mervue halted a three game run of defeats with this win as they finally registered their first league win since returning home to Fahy’s Field and, on this evidence, no team will relish visiting the eastside venue.