Monksland enjoy winning start

GOALS from James Keegan and second-half substitute Gavin Byrne helped Monksland Utd get off to a winning start in their debut season in the top flight of the Combined Counties Football League. After easily winning promotion from the second tier last season, many local onlookers were keen to see how Monksland would adapt to playing at a higher level, and although tougher tests than a rudderless CK Utd lie ahead, Monksland can be highly satisfied to get their campaign off to a victorious start at Cushla Park. Monksland's team boasted little change from the side which won the Premier Division, although influential forward Conor Jordan continued to miss out through injury, while there was also no Matt Scally, who scored many goals throughout last season but is committed to Clann na nGael for the near future. Monksland still had enough, though, to see off a poor CK side, who must be early season candidates to struggle against relegation this year. With the intelligent probing of Ian O'Reilly in midfield, Monksland began the game in positive fashion. An excellent free kick delivery by O'Reilly in the fifth minute gave Monksland their first sniff of goal, but centre-back James Keegan couldn't find the target with visiting 'keeper Paul Daly in a poor position. O'Reilly then slotted in Ian Lacey but the wholehearted forward saw his effort easily saved by Daly. Daly and CK centre-back Stephen Kinnarney then had difficulty dealing with a fine cross from the left by Shane O'Neill, but Kinnarney managed to put the ball behind for a corner that Daly had to punch clear under major pressure from several Monksland players. A prominent feature of Monksland's early play was the quality of their deliveries into the CK penalty area, and another terrific cross - this time by Les Browne at the endline - set up Lacey, but his header was well blocked by the covering right-back Niall Bracken. CK's first opportunity came in the 20th minute when Kinnarney headed wide following captain Stephen Weir's cross, but Monksland were certainly shading a largely lacklustre opening period. On 24 minutes, Browne's clever pass over the top of the CK defence set up debutant Aaron Curley but his low effort was well saved by Daly. Lacey then teed up Dave O'Brien but his powerful shot was well off target, before Stephen Mullan clipped a lovely ball to the back post but Browne just couldn't reach it. Both Mullan and O'Brien were off-target with shots before half-time as well, but the final 15 minutes or so of the first half petered out into stalemate. CK were largely the poorer side during the opening half but improved somewhat after the break, with substitute Paul Kinneavy getting some joy down the right flank. Within a minute of the restart, left back Stuart Carroll sent a long ball forward that caught the Monksland defence on its heels. Forward Mark Dunne, who impressed at times last season, found himself in a bit of space inside the penalty area and drilled a low goalwards that Monksland 'keeper Seamie McManus did well to keep out. McManus dealt competently with anything that came his way on the day, while the Monksland defence were getting much more work to do during the early stages of the second half. Monksland, who had played all the football in the first half, were now finding it more difficult to keep possession, and spent the bulk of the opening 15 minutes of the second half on the backfoot. However, CK never really had the necessary firepower or creative edge up front, and it was Monksland who again started to carve out the better goalscoring chances. Against the run of play on 55 minutes, Browne again made good in-roads down the right flank and his excellent low cross looked certain to be tapped home by the inrushing Lacey, before CK's Brendan Bracken made a timely interception and cleared the ball. But three minutes later, Monksland scored their first ever goal in the Senior Division. CK right-back Niall Bracken was penalised for a foul on Curley near the left touchline. Dave O'Brien curled over a fine free kick and Keegan beat 'keeper Daly to the bouncing ball yo nod home home six yards.Shortly after, Keegan made a defensive mistake and headed the ball into the path of CK striker Dunne, but left-back Shane O'Neill provided good cover and managed to clear the ball to safety. On 61 minutes, former Athlone Town and Sligo Rovers striker Mullan fired a tremendous effort goalwards from 25 yards, but his excellent effort was met by an equally good save by the outstretched Paul Daly. Six minutes later, and with Monksland now in the ascendency again, Mullan stood up a delicate ball to the far post but Lacey, always on the stretch, missed his header. CK almost equalised a minute later when Brendan Bracken got on the end of a set-piece by Dunne, but headed a matter of inches over McManus' crossbar. Although CK were now putting a lot of effort into drawing level, their play was often more blood and sweat than poise and threat. And Monksland were still creating decent openings on the break. Substitute Gavin Byrne did well to set up a shooting chance for O'Brien on 73 minutes, but his effort grazed the upright on its way wide. CK also shaved the post in the dying moments when Trevor Wright's shot flew just past McManus' post. But seconds later (during injury time) Monksland doubled their advantage - Les Browne setting up Byrne to carefully pass the ball past Daly and into the CK net.Next up for Monksland, at time of print, is a trip to Clara Town on Wednesday evening, while they are pencilled in to host Birr Town this coming Sunday. Meanwhile, both Willow Park and St Peter's hit a scoring streak when opening their campaign, with reigning champions Willow beating Mountmellick Utd 6-2. St Peter's, meanwhile, defeated Killavilla Utd 5-4 away, with former Athlone Town striker Noel McGee hitting a hat-trick on his St Peter's debut. Monksland Utd: Seamie McManus; Kevin Murray, Shane O'Neill, John Francis, James Keegan, Ian O'Reilly, Les Browne, Dave O'Brien, Ian Lacey, Stephen Mullan, Aaron Curley. Subs: Gavin Byrne for Lacey (73 mins), Kevin Brennan for Curley (85), Padraig Geraghty for Francis (87). CK Utd: Paul Daly; Niall Bracken, Stuart Carroll, Stephen Kinnarney, Brendan Bracken, Stephen Weir, Trevor Wright, Michael Leech, Mark Dunne, Francie Kerrigan, James Luskelly. Subs: Paul Kinneavy for Luskelly (45 mins), Darren Flanagan for Weir (56). Referee: Dermot Tone.