St Patrick's Athletic (1) - Monaghan United (1)

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Monaghan United 1

Ultimately, St Patrick's Athletic's perfect start to the season was undone by an atrocious beginning to the game. Not to mention a red card and penalty miss.

Because, as good as Monaghan United were in this entertaining 1-1 draw, there was no accounting for such an early goalkeeping error, and it was in stark contrast to penalty hero Chris Bennion.

In the very first minute of the match, Brendan Clarke fumbled what should have been an easy catch from Conor Murphy's connection and let it trickle through his legs.

What a way to concede their first goal of the league.

If that was calamitous, though, the Pat's equaliser on 14 minutes was a lot more aesthetically pleasing even if it also had an element of farce to it too. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, new signing Dean Kelly seemed to slip as he looped the ball over Bennion supremely.

Such a frantic opening suggested the game was going to continue at a ludicrous pace. But, with Monaghan deploying three at the back, they managed to keep a foothold in the match.

That slowed it down for everyone except goalscorer Kelly. Just four minutes before half-time, the Pat's striker lunged dangerously at Stephen Maher and was immediately sent off as the Monaghan midfielder writhed on the ground.

That seemed to take the sting out of the game going into the second half until, on 67 minutes, sub Jake Kelly was scythed down in the Monaghan box by Conor McMahon.

Stephen O'Flynn stepped up for the penalty only for Bennion to get down superbly. He kept the spot-kick out before also blocking Kelly's follow-up.

Moments later, though, man-of-the-match Bennion had the post to thank as Greg Bolger smashed it. The keeper pulled off one more fine save from Ian Daly as Pat's piled the pressure on towards the end, with 11-man Monaghan oddly defensive.

Ultimately, though, Roddy Collins's team ended the game as they started it: encouragingly.

© rte.ie

Match Report

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Monaghan United 1

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