Waterford United slipped up in their bid for promotion at the RSC when a determined Monaghan United came from behind to earn a deserved draw.
There was an element of luck attached to Waterford’s opening goal on 24 minutes. Dave Warren lofted a tantalising probe into the area and goalkeeper Danny Woods raced off his line to head the ball over the approaching Karl Bermingham’s head. But the ball ricocheted off defender Conor McMahon back towards goal and Bermingham won the race for possession before stabbing the ball into the net.
The Blues almost went further ahead in the 38th. minute when Vinnie Sullivan shaved the top of the opposition’s crossbar with a header from a Robbie Clarke cross.
Waterford were reduced to ten men on 49 minutes when Stephen Quigley received a straight red card for a tackle on Barry Clancy. Two minutes later, Clancy provided the cross from the back post for Daragh Hanaphy to crash the ball home through a crowded goalmouth for the equaliser.
The Blues should have regained the lead five minutes later but the unmarked Michael Foley headed a Robbie Clarke cross wide from close range with the goal at his mercy and, soon after, Woods produced the save of the night to deny Vinnie Sullivan.
The tempo increased considerably in the final quarter of the game and both sides wasted golden opportunities in front of goal.
Waterford United: Holden, Quigley, Clarke, Breen, Brown, Warren (Grincell, 64 minutes), Hayes (Fitzgerald, 56 minutes), Waters, Sullivan (Kiely, 88 minutes), Bermingham, Foley. Substitutes not used: Dunphy, Spicer.
Monaghan United: Woods, Whelan, Clancy, McMahon, Mooney, Tierney, Gartland, McCrossan, Hanaphy (Lannigan, 69 minutes), O’Connor (Reilly, 75 minutes), Brennan. Substitutes not used: Williamson, Hand, McGann.
Referee: Neil Doyle, Dublin.
