Hyn Brennans help Mons close the gap on Shels

THE Brennan brothers each scored last night at Tolka Park as Monaghan United closed the gap to just four points on Shelbourne at the First Division summit.

Goals from Sean and Ryan, either side of a Philip Hughes equaliser, significantly boosted second-placed United’s promotion prospects as they have a game more than Shelbourne’s four left in the campaign.

Mons edged ahead during an uneventful first half in contentious circumstances.

Sean Brennan appeared to be in an offside position six yards out on 31 minutes when Gareth Matthews’ attempted clearance deflected off Declan O’Brien to his feet but referee’s assistant Wayne McDonnell kept his flag down and the striker tapped home.

There was more spark to the Reds attack following the interval with defender Andy Boyle twice going close, his second effort clearing the crossbar by a yard.

Their pressure did yield a leveller on 62 minutes when Philip Hughes latched onto David Cassidy’s flicked header and beat Gabriel Sava with a volley from an acute angle which found the net via the underside of the crossbar.

However, Roddy Collins’ outfit left the leaders stunned once more by regaining the lead seven minutes later.

Shels didn’t deal with Sean Brennan’s free-kick into the box and O’Brien lay-off was belted into the net by Ryan Brennan’s first-time shot.

Shels’ substitute Kevin Dawson wasted a glorious last-minute chance to equalise when he sent his close-range shot wide.

SHELBOURNE (4-5-1): Skinner; Matthews, Boyle, Paisley, Fitzgerald; B.

McGill, Ryan (Dawson 58), James (Gorman 58), Cassidy, S. Byrne (Mulhall 81); Hughes.

MONAGHAN UNITED (4-4-1-1): Sava; Collins, McDonagh, A. Byrne, Grimes; Reilly, R. Brennan, Foley, Keegan (Marks 75); S. Brennan (Quinn 90); O’Brien (Isichei 83).

Ref: Rob Rogers (Dublin).