FIRST DIVISION Monaghan United produced the classier football to take command of this Airtiricity League promotion/relegation playoff at Gortakeegan, goals from Michael Isichei and Sean Brennan giving Galway United a mountain to scale in Friday’s second leg at Terryland Park.

CORK CITY’S bid to win automatic promotion to the Premier Division received a major boost on Saturday with a four-goal blitz of Salthill Devon in Drom.

SHELBOURNE moved seven points clear in the First Division but it took a controversial Philly Hughes penalty to separate them from nearest rivals Monaghan in a tense duel at Gortakeegan.

CORK CITY dug deep to preserve their unbeaten First Division record against Monaghan United at Gortakeegan despite being reduced to ten men for the last half hour by Gavin Kavanagh’s sending off.

FABIO O’BRIEN hit a hat-trick as confident Monaghan United turned on the class to brush aside the challenge of Munster Senior League side Everton at Gortakeegan.