Sport

Monaghan off target

Atrocious finishing by their attackers caused Monaghan United their chance of their first win the Eircom Premier division at …

Mon Aug 27 2001 - 01:00

Atrocious finishing by their attackers caused Monaghan United their chance of their first win the Eircom Premier division at Century Homes Park last evening. The edgy play of both sides in the first half hour caused this to be a rather frenetic affair in which endeavour took the place of skill.

Galway looked the better side at that stage but the home side settled down over the last stages of the half and twice missed good chances which came to Darren McKenna and Ken Lundy.

In the first minute of the second-half Lundy again put wide of the post with only Hickey to beat and it set the pattern for the rest of the match in which Monaghan pressed incessantly but failed to put away the chances that came their way.

Best of these was in the 86th minute when Darren McKenna broke through the middle and with only Hickey to beat he saw the goalkeeper push out a foot to divert a shot wide of the post.

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Galway made their biggest effort of the match over the last few minutes, without ever seriously troubling Forde in the home goal.

Monaghan Utd: Forde; White, O'Callaghan, Rodgers, Plaice, Scully, Mooney, McGrath, Lundy, McKenna, Shiels. Subs: Vaughan for Lundy (71 mins)

Galway Utd: Hickey; Sheridan, Quirke, Silke, Cleary, Murphy, Fortune, Crossley, Carbury, Ryan, O'Connor. Subs: Keane for Crossley (66 mins), Byrne for Quirke (77 mins), Thornton for Murphy (87 mins)

Danny Murphy admitted last night his first England call-up was a surprise. The 24-year-old midfielder was one of seven Liverpool players named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's 25-man England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Albania.

"I'm thrilled at the news," said Murphy. "It came as a shock and it was our manager Gerard Houllier who rang me to tell me I was in."

Goalkeeper David Seaman, central defender Sol Campbell and Steve McManaman are recalled after missing the friendly defeat to the Netherlands earlier this month.

Eriksson included Manchester United's David Beckham despite doubts over his fitness after he limped out of yesterday's game at Villa Park.