An efficient, no-frills performance, capped by a goal from central defender Pat Purcell, secured victory for Paul McGee’s well-drilled Limerick 37 side over Monaghan United at Kingspan Century Park.
Derek McCarthy’s narrowly off-target overhead kick for Limerick was the nearest the deadlock came to being broken in a largely uneventful first half which ended with Monaghan losing striker Willie Doyle to a knee injury.
A close-range header by Pat Purcell from Ross Cosgrave’s corner gave Limerick what proved the decisive advantage in the 52nd minute.
Tommy Barrett cracked a header off the United crossbar ten minutes later as the visitors sought to press home their superiority.
Cosgrave’s 74th minute free-kick brought a great save from United 'keeper Danny Woods, and the post came to Monaghan’s rescue when Kevin Watters’ fierce deadball strike seemed goalbound in the final minutes.
Monaghan United: Woods; Whelan, Mooney, Burke, Williamson; Meenan, Tierney, Gannon, D’Arcy; Farrell, Doyle.
Subs: Finnegan for Doyle, 44. McDonald for Williamson, 55. O’Connor for Tierney, 89.
Limerick 37: Ryan; Keady, Finucane, Purcell, Buckley; Cosgrave, Barrett, Molan, Watters; McCarthy, Tierney.
Subs: Kelleher for McCarthy, 55. Moran for Tierney, 73. Maloney for Cosgrave, 79.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)
