February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Stamford 0-18
Monaghan 0-11
The early going was nip and tuck with the teams level at 0-3 after 10 minutes. Fergal O’Neill (2) and Justin O’Halloran were the Stamford marksmen, while Nestor Allen, Paddy Skeath, and Shane McInerney responded in kind for Monaghan.
McInerney, along with Jamie Shaw, played earlier in the day for Meath Juniors. The lanky center forward is a class player, but did seem to tire in the second half.
Darren Doherty edged Stamford in front racing forward from his defensive position to point from Richie Purcell’s well-placed pass. McInerney kept Monaghan in touch with 0-4 of Monaghan’s 0-6 in the opening half. Meanwhile Stamford spread the wealth a bit more enroute to a 0-11 to 0-6 midway bulge.
Stamford were first out of the gate on the restart with Stephen Owen’s third-minute point, but Monaghan were quick to respond. Sean Carbin’s seventh-minute point from a sharp angle started a four point Monaghan run as the Farney men closed the gap to 0-12 to 0-10.
Monaghan have done well to restock their lineup despite losing some important players and have risen well so far to the challenge of topflight football. But Stamford are the more experienced Senior A side and they dominated the all important final 10 minutes despite the sending off of midfielder Ronan Mooney with two yellow cards.
Mooney had been very effective up until his dismissal in the 22nd minute, but the Connecticut side seemed to rise in his absence. Darren Doherty, although wearing No. 4, was in effect a third midfielder following his man in a strategy that backfired on Monaghan. Justin O’Halloran was switched to wingback from corner forward when Ted Steede replaced the fallen Killeen, and was his usual tireless self.
Despite something of an off day, Fergal O’Neill, teaming with Spike Martin, knocked over enough scores to keep the Stamford attack ticking over and it was two last scores from O’Neill that began Stamford’s closing run.
After Mooney neatly set him up, O’Neill pointed from play in the 20th minute. O’Neill quickly followed with a free and substitute Steede got on the score board to stretch the Stamford advantage to 0-15 to 0-10 with four minutes to play.
McInerney answered with a point from a Monaghan free, but Monaghan were done. Three last Stamford points, from Doherty, Spike Martin, O’Halloran went into the referee’s notebook and that was that.
Man of the Match: Darren Doherty.
Stamford: Kieran Potter, Darren Doherty (0-2), Jason Killeen, Philip Wickham, Richie Purcell, Kevin Newell, Mike Murphy, Ronan Mooney, Keith Hennessey, Sean Collins (0-1), Fergal O’Neill (0-5, 3 frees), Stephen Owens (0-1), Terry Payne (0-1), Mike Martin (0-5, 2 frees), Justin O’Halloran (0-2). Subs: Noel McGovern, Ted Steede (0-1).
Monaghan: James McSweeney, Garreth Duffy (0-1), Paul Rushe, Brian McKenna, Ed Greenan, Bernard Treanor, Bonnie Duffy, Ruari O’Neill, Hughie O’Sullivan, Paddy Skeath (0-1), Shane McInerney (0-7, 5 frees), Kevin Coulter, Jamie Shaw, Nestor Allen (0-1), Sean Carbin (0-1). Sub: Mark Dobbin.