Monaghan edge close to topflight return

Monaghan United 2 Galway United 0

Monaghan United are 90 minutes away from a return to the Premier Division after ten years as they take a 2-0 lead to Terryland Park for the second leg of the promotion/relation play-off on Friday night.

Roddy Collins' First Division hopefuls were the better side from the start and ought to have been further than a goal ahead at the break.

That came on 13 minutes when midfielder Michael Isichei tapped home Sean Brennan’s low cross.

Monaghan remained on top into the second half with Galway midfielder Oscar Sibanda having to clear off line before Aidan Collins crashed the rebound off the underside of bar.

Galway substitute Sean Gavin and Monaghan midfielder Eric Foley miss the return as both were sent off following an off the ball clash on 81 minutes.

Six minutes later Monaghan got their second goal when Jordan Keegan did well to continue playing, after the ball hit the corner flag, to cross for Sean Brennan to shoot low past Conor Winn.