Lennon seals victory for Monksland

Adrian Lennon"s 49th minute bullet header gave Monksland Utd B a highly satisfactory yet somewhat surprising victory over fellow Athlone outfit Clonown Rovers at Tormey Villas on Sunday morning. Lennon"s goal - a free header from 12 yards - was enough to lift Monksland into what looks a relatively secure and comfortable mid-table position in Division 3B, while also inflicting serious damage to Clonown"s hopes of challenging for promotion this season. Defeat was harsh on the home side given the amount of pressure they put Monksland under for long periods, and it also means Clonown remain five points adrift of league leaders Kilcormac Utd with just under half the season played. Monksland produced a gritty display but offered very little attacking threat and had few efforts on goal throughout the game. However, their defence was well organised and tenacious throughout and deserve to take the accolades after Monksland came away from a difficult fixture with maximum points. Centre back Finbar Jordan claims most the credit for soundly marshalling Monksland"s defence for the entire duration of the contest, while notable mention must also go to right back Eddie McLaughlin and goalkeeper Ashley Cahill for making a crucial save just before the final whistle. Clonown will feel deeply frustrated not to have earned at least a share of the spoils but sheer wastefulness in front of goal proved their undoing. The home side fashioned at least eight clear cut opportunities to score and also squandered a number of free kicks in good positions during the second period. There"s no question Clonown need to do some work on their finishing if they"re to play a serious role in the promotion battle come the latter weeks of the Division 3B season. There wasn"t much wrong with their approach play - except for the standard of their free kicks - and much of their creative work goes through forward Silva, while they also boast a quite solid back four. However, they will seriously regret an inability to hit the target during this contest, thus allowing Monksland to hang on for long spells before eventually grabbing a goal against the run of play. On a bleak and windy morning at Tormey Villas, Clonown started much brighter and long range efforts by Gerry Dunning and Silva within moments of the restart - both of which admittedly came to nothing - signalled their intent to attack from the off. On eleven minutes, Clonown should"ve opened the scoring. The elusive Silva dropped deep to collect possession and his raking 20-yard pass split the Monksland defence and put Cathal Shine racing through on Ashley Cahill"s goal. Shine reached the edge of the box before pulling the trigger, but his effort sliced off the outside of his boot and flew well wide. The same player, Cathal Shine, did well to shrug off his marker minutes later but this time his shot was touched onto the upright by Ashley Cahill and went out for a corner which came to nothing for Clonown. At this stage, Monksland were struggling to emerge from their own half and spent the majority of the first half defending stoutly with a strong breeze blowing constantly into their faces. They did have some slight respite when counter attacking in the 16th minute, but Phelim Lennon"s 20-yard shot was never going to trouble Colin Dunning in the Clonown goal. The remainder of the first half petered out in tame fashion with neither side going close to mustering up a goalscoring opportunity. Monksland would have been the happier side at the break and their joy at been scoreless at the interval increased further within four minutes of the break. A well delivered corner kick by Declan O"Connor was sent soaring into the top corner of the net by the head of Adrian Lennon, who was left unmarked inside the Clonown penalty area. Despite being unmarked, Lennon"s task was not an easy one and he did very well to direct a fine header into the roof of the net to give Monksland a scarcely deserved lead. After Lennon"s goal, Monksland were on the back foot for the rest of the match but their stubborn defence stood tall in the face of constant adversity. Just after the hour mark, Clonown substitute Anthony Clogher had a double opportunity to equalise. His first opening was beautifully teed up by Cathal Shine but Clogher"s effort clipped the post with Ashley Cahill well beaten. Seconds later, Cahill failed to properly deal with a cross by Darren Lennon and the loose ball fell kindly to the awaiting Clogher, but Clogher, just six yards out, leaned back while shooting and the ball flew well over the bar. Cathal Shine wasted a couple of other decent opportunities for Clonown before finally forcing the ball home from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Clonown were doing all the attacking and only a great last gasp block by Finbar Jordan prevented Clogher from drawing the sides level in the 77th minute. Seconds later, Ashley Cahill did brilliantly to divert Damien Heavin"s close range effort away from goal, as Clonown"s frustration grew further. Clonown were awarded a couple of free kicks in good positions towards the end of the match but couldn"t test Cahill in the Monksland goal. However, they did manage to fashion one other superb chance in stoppage time. The ball dropped sweetly to the unmarked Damien Heavin and he struck a fine half volley at goal only for Cahill to get down well and block his effort away with his knees. Monksland"s fourth win of the season was greeted with great enthusiasm upon the final whistle and they had put in a superb effort to grind out a hard earned victory. Clonown Rovers: Colin Dunning; Justin Lennon; John Lennon; Denis Gavin; Liam Naughton; Niall Shine; Gerry Dunning; Darren Lennon; Silva; Cathal Shine; Mick Shine. Subs: Anthony Clogher for M Shine (50 mins); Damien Heavin for N Shine (60). Monksland Utd B: Ashley Cahill; Eddie McLaughlin; David Lennon; Thomas Burke; Finbar Jordan; Adrian Lennon; Declan O"Connor; Kevin Brennan; Phelim Lennon; Cathal Ryan; David Hughes. Subs: Darren O"Neill for Brennan (60 mins). Referee: Tom Cunningham.