Soccer FAI Cup, second round, replay/Monaghan United 2 Dublin City 4: A valiant effort by First Division strugglers Monaghan United to pull off an FAI Cup shock at the expense of Premier side Dublin City just fell short in this exciting and at times bad-tempered second round replay clash at Century Homes Park last night.
The Vikings took an early stranglehold on the game, Robbie Collins running on to Paul Shiels's measured pass to fire them in front in the 12th minute.
Damien Brennan should have extended their lead shortly afterwards but headed Collins's corner against the post.
But Monaghan were back on level terms after 25 minutes when Shane Harte's magnificent free-kick strike found the top corner from 25 yards.
City regained the lead four minutes from the interval when David McGill brought down Paul Crowley's exquisite cross-field pass and chipped the ball beyond advancing Monaghan goalkeeper Robbie Horgan.
A violent clash in the centrecircle in the 71st minute between Harte of Monaghan and McGill of City left referee Dave McKeon with no option but to send both players off.
Few clear-cut chances arose in the second half and Dublin seemed to have held on for victory when, with two minutes of normal time left, United substitute David Lee powered through to net a dramatic equaliser.
Extra time was barely a minute old when Damien Brennan headed Dublin City back in front from a Collins corner and in the 27 minute of the extended play a diving header from David Freeman wrapped things up for the Vikings.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Horgan; Whelan, Burke, Sargent, (Toal 96) Murphy; Gannon, S Finnegan, Harte, Smyth; McNevin, Smith. Subs: McCann for Smith (44), Lee for McNevin (48). Subs not used: Friel, P Finnegan, McQuaid.
DUBLIN CITY: Rogers; Brennan, Keely, Whelan, Hedermann; McGill, Crowley, Shiels, Freeman; Rooney, Collins. Subs: Pender for Crowley (52), McDonnell for Keely (62), O'Donnell for Rooney (84). Subs not used: Doyle, Davy, Markey, Connolly.
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
