Published: Wednesday, 22nd October, 2008 12:00pm

Stirrat on fire for Monaghan

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DESPITE the trying weather conditions and yielding ground, the top-of-the-table clash between Killylough and Monaghan Town lived up to its pre-match billing with the latter securing a thrilling 3-1 away win.

The in-form Ronan Stirrat got the host side up and running with a well-struck penalty after just eight minutes of a frenetic opening period.

Town"s equaliser duly arrived in the 21st minute when Sean McCrudden"s teasing cross was met firmly by George Bolton and his looping header sailed all the way to the Killylough net.

The second half was a real war of attrition fought out between two fired-up teams and it wasn"t until the 76th minute that a third goal arrived.

This time it was Town who had cause to celebrate with substitute David Loughran doing the business with the minimum of fuss.

The county town side maintained their momentum and firmly underpinned their newly-won advantage with a further goal in the 78th minute when Cathal Leonard rifled home at the back post from an in-swinging corner.

Killylough worked overtime to nick a lifeline and they seemed to have earned their dues when, in the 86th minute, they were awarded a penalty. However the homesters were out of luck when their normally unerring penalty-taker Ronan Stirrat saw the ball richochet harmlessly off the Town crossbar to seal Killylough"s fate.

The result means that Monaghan Town gravitate to joint first place in the table alongside opponents Killylough.

Elsewhere, t Inniskeen Spartans whipped Monaghan Colts by 6-1 at Belgium Park.