Waterford United notched up their their second win of the season thanks to a performance based more on hard work and endeavour than anything else, with hosts Monaghan United punished for some sloppy mistakes, though the Northerners felt that they should have won.

The Blues went in front on 19 minutes, with the re-signed Donal Golden causing havoc down the Monaghan right. The Shelbourne loan star sent in a teasing low cross which caused panic in the home defence, and Tommy Hewitt was on hand to rifle home his second goal in two games. it a tremendous first-time strike that almost shattered the Monaghan net.

Monaghan may have been pretty much the First Division whipping boys in recent seasons, but due to remarkable battling, they forced an equaliser eight minutes after going behind. The leveller arrived via Lee King's corner, hooked to the net by centre-back Mark Garvan. Garvan's jubilant celebrations suggested that he isn't a regular goalscorer. At least he didn't do a lap of the pitch.

Former Shamrock Rovers double-wining keeper Jody Byrne, on loan following an injury in training to Michael Devine last week, was forced to use all his old wily abilities, as Monaghan had three worthy efforts turned away during their best spell of the match - they totally dominated the final quarter-hour of the first half.

If Mark Garvan was over the proverbial moon having scored in the first half, then what happened nineteen minutes into the second would have had him experiencing another cliched feeling - sick as a parrot.

It was Jason Bowman who caused all the problems in the 64th minute, floating a delicious free-kick into the Monaghan goalmouth. It was nodded goalwards by Tommy lynch, thirstily looking for his second goal for Waterford having scored the watershed goal against Cobh last week. Lynch's effort was met by the head of Garvan, who slumped in agony when it flew past a startled Robbie O'Dowd from close range. There was nothing O'Dowd could do about it, and having scored goal of great joy earlier on, the normally reliable Garvan was now rueing a goal he wished he hadn't scored.

Down, but not out, Monaghan almost grabbed an instant equaliser when Aaron Shearer hit the post with a superb effort right from the kick-off.

But Waterford United held on to wrap up their second victory of the season, and banish most of the League Cup ghosts that had been haunting them. This 2-1 victory over Monaghan United at Gortakeegan was another encouraging performance from the Blues, who have the unlikely record of two away wins and one home defeat to their name so far this League season. It also appears that the Suirsiders have put their erratic League Cup form behind them, thanks to two highly encouraging performances against Cobh Ramblers, and now Monaghan.

The Blues' next outing in a Friday night encounter with Limerick, the type of match the Blues must win in order to mount a serious promotion challenge.

However, Monaghan felt afterwards that this was a game they should have won, pointing to the three great chances at the end of the first half, and Shearer's second half post-shaker. According to Monaghan reporters, Waterford were very lucky to escape with three points. Not that Tommy Lynch or anybody else down south will mind, because results ground out like this are usually the ones that lay the foundations for better things.

MONAGHAN UNITED (4-4-2): O'Dowd 6, Gough 6, Murphy 6, Girvan 7, Byrne 7, King 6, O'Callaghan 7, D.O'Neill 7, Brien 6, Dowling 5 (sub Murray 74), Shearer 5 (sub Hoey 89). Sub not used: JP O'Neill.
WATERFORD UNITED (4-4-2): J.Byrne 8, Power 6, Flost 6, Lynch 8, Barry 7, Carr 6, Hewitt 7 (sub Dully 79), Bowman 6 (sub Jordan 69, 6), Golden 6 (sub Reid 85), Maher 6, Harkin 6.

Bookings:
MONAGHAN UNITED - Dowling 31, Brien 52, Murphy 83.
WATERFORD UNITED - Power 61, Golden 76.

Referee: Seamus Devanny (Donegal).

Aer-tell Us Another one!
Although their service has improved considerably over the last year and a half, there are still some glaring errors coming up on RTE's teletext service Aertel. Being 45 minutes late in displaying the goals in this game was bad enough, but when they start displaying some goals, they put Donal Golden down as the Waterford scorer! When the wrong scorer is displayed by Ceefax - because of a deflection, crowded goalmouth, the usual - it's always immediately corrected. They even check with the referee to see who he put down as the scorer.

Because of Aertel's error yesterday, all the other services who use teletext (everybody from Cork Hospital Radio to Radio Ireland to people on the Net itself) had the wrong scorer. So Donal Golden was the player credited with the goal all across the country. It had been corrected by last night, but by then it was too late.

Still, at least it wasn't as bad as what people following Kilkenny City's match at UCD experienced - there were no details from this game until well about 5.30 - and it kicked off at twelve!

Full marks to Aertel on its GAA and racing coverage - the rugby's not half bad either. But soccer does seem to do fairly badly in comparison. Better soccer coverage please!