Third-placed Waterford United came to Century Homes Park confident of the three points that could have sent them top of the eircom League First Division.
In the end they departed more than satisfied with a scoreless draw after being dominated for long periods by a powerful and fluent Monaghan United.
Monaghan deployed the physically imposing Brian Gartland and Wayne Byrne either side of the mobile Aaron Mooney in a three-man central defence, and they entirely snuffed out the threat of Vinny Sullivan and Willy John Kiely in the first half.
David Scully threw away a hat-trick of chances for Monaghan in the first half hour, and only a fingertip save by Waterford’s Packie Holden kept out Aaron Mooney’s volley from a half-cleared corner.
Holden was left helpless when Robbie Collins swept past him in a one-on-one but the Monaghan striker clipped his shot wide of the unguarded net.
Waterford rang the changes in the second half, withdrawing the ineffectual Kiley in favour of the fleet-footed David Grincell, who almost profited from a Mooney slip in the 68th minute, powering into the box but driving his shot narrowly off-target.
The introduction of Luke Fitzpatrick braced up the Waterford midfield, and he came close with a rising 20-yard drive as Monaghan appeared to tire. But the home side’s threat never fully diminished, and only a brave David Breen tackle denied Paul Whelan after the overlapping full-back worked an excellent one-two with Collins.
Waterford could have won it with ten minutes remaining when Michael Foley found Sullivan unmarked in the box, but Brendan Kennedy raced from his line to execute a brave save.
Late chances fell to Waterford’s David Breen and Fitzpatrick but the break of the ball favoured the home side, who on the balance of play more than deserved to share the spoils.
Monaghan United: Kennedy; Mooney, Byrne, Gartland; Whelan, Tierney, McCrossan (Meenan 88), Maher, Williamson; Collins (Lanigan 74), Scully.
Waterford United: Holden; Quigley, Breen, Browne, Clarke; Waters, Warren, Dunphy (Fitzpatrick 57), Foley; Sullivan, Kiley (Grincell h-time).
Referee: I Stokes
