Wayside Celtic 1 Monaghan United 0: WAYSIDE CELTIC, the last surviving non-league side in the competition, booked their place in the FAI Ford Cup quarter-finals, when a dramatic last minute penalty by defender Les Flynn gave them victory over First Division Monaghan United at the Golden Ball yesterday.
Just when it seemed that the sides would be travelling to Gortakeegan tomorrow for a fourth-round replay, Monaghan midfielder Ian Malone took down Ian Callaghan as the striker was about to shoot from 10 yards.
Malone was then shown the red card by Dublin referee Paul Tuite, who immediately pointed to the spot. Flynn kept his cool firing the penalty left footed into the corner of the net.
"Over the 90 minutes, we probably deserved the victory. I had a feeling going into the game that we had a chance and it was the energy that we produced that earned us the win," said happy Wayside boss Peter Lennon.
Monaghan had an early chance after a Wayne Callaghan foul on Eoin Lanigan.
The resulting free by James Hand on the left was headed just wide by David Scully.
The visitors had another chance to break the deadlock when a Hand's free on the right caught the Wayside defence napping, but there was no forward up to apply the vital finishing touch.
WAYSIDE CELTIC: Kelly; Simpson, Sharkey, W. Callaghan, Flynn; Byrne (Flynn 69), Lucie, Murray, Pratt, I Callaghan, Hanlon.
MONAGHAN UTD: Kennedy (Woods 28); Whelan, Mooney, McMahon, Williamson, Malone, McCrossan, Tierney, Hand (Reilly 84); Lanigan (Haran 62), Scully.
Referee: Paul Tuite(Dublin).
