Monaghan United 1-2 Sporting Fingal

Sporting Fingal collected their second victory over Monaghan United in the space of four days on Easter Monday when they won this EA Sports Cup First Round tie at Kingspan Century Park.

Fingal manager made a number of changes to the side which gas gone four league games without dropping a point but their supremacy was reflected in a two-goal half-time lead.

Monaghan did stage a second half revival only for Fingal goalkeeper James Hussey marking his first appearance of the season with a solid showing between the sticks.

The Dubliner’s reward for the win is a Second Round tie on May 4/5 away to Drogheda United, who progressed courtesy of a 2-0 win at Bray Wanderers also on Monday.

Sporting stormed into the lead with only 11 minutes on the clock when Conan Byrne finished off a good move with a neat finish.

Sean Brennan tested Hussey from a free-kick a minute later but the visitors doubled their advantage after 27 minutes through another excellent Conan Byrne goal.

Fingal manager Liam Buckley made two changes at the break, withdrawing Shaun Williams and Eamon Zayed to be replaced by Philip Byrne and Robbie Doyle.

The introduction of Monaghan substitute Aaron McCarey sparked a revival of sorts as he set up a goal on 68 minutes. He fed a ball through to David Freeman whose pass allowed Darragh Hanaphy to shoot past Hussey and make it 2-1.

Monaghan did press for an equaliser as the minutes ticked away but a stubborn Fingal defence stood firm and held onto their lead to advance in the competition.

Monaghan United: Treacy, Whelan, Grimes (McCarey 68), Gartland, Byrne, Brennan, O’Connor (Mc. Kenna 62), Mc Crossan (Lynch 78), Bermingham, Freeman, Hanaphy.

Sporting Fingal: Hussey, Gannon, Frost, Williams (P. Byrne 45), Whelan, Paisley, C.Byrne, McArdle, Zayed (Doyle 45), Fitzgerald (Boyd 72), Gaynor.

Referee: R. Rogers.