Cootehill pip Wanderers

Premier Division leaders Monaghan Town underpinned their place at the summit as rain and wind-battered playing fields yet again made for a reduced programme of games last weekend. The county town side secured a facile 6-0 win over Monaghan Town Colts with the final scoreline fairly reflecting the gulf between the two sides over the 90 minutes-plus. In taking full advantage of the fact that some of their nearest challengers were out of action, the winners found themselves on easy street from very early on in the encounter. Both teams were slightly understrength on the day but that"s where the element of parity began and finished unfortunately for the Colts. In what was a poor spectacle overall, the league leaders fairly steamrolled their opponents into submission. Once again it was the usual suspects who plunged the dagger into the Colts" hopes of causing an upset with George Bolton and Tommy Mulhall both nabbing a brace. With Killylough and Drumkill Rovers both having a free weekend, Monaghan Town"s decisive win served to lift them three points clear at the top of the table. Meanwhile Cootehill Harps showed their intention to climb the table in double-quick time with a gritty 3-2 win away to Middletown Wanderers. In what was only their third game of the season, the Harps belied their lack of match fitness with a cohesive and polished performance. Middletown Wanderers, notoriously difficult to beat on home territory, saw their bid to move into third place come unstuck and they can have no complaints. In notching their second win from their three starts, Cootehill were thankful to the scoring instincts of Cavan senior intercounty footballer Keith Fannin who notched a double while impressive newcomer Paddy McCabe also got on the scoresheet. In what was the only other game to survive the ravages of the elements on club pitches, Carrick Rovers carved out a hard-fought 2-1 win over Slieve Beagh at the former"s Birdy Development Park. Slieve Beagh belied their third-from-bottom perch in the division to give as good as they got on the day but their lack of punch up front was their proverbial ball and chain. In fact, an air of inevitablity hung over proceedings for long periods of the match, especially after Shane Birdy and Rory McEnaney goaled to put the Farneysiders 2-0 in front at the interval. Carrick enjoyed by far the greater share of possession in the opening half but their failure to ram up their superiority almost came back to haunt them after half-time. Slieve Beagh proceeded to nip away at the ankles of their hosts and they deservedly opened their account in the 68th minute when Conor Quigley fired home a precise penalty. Quigley"s strike seemed to throw the north Monaghan men a lifeline but, to their credit, Rovers circled the wagons to the utmost effect thereafter to secure their victory and hoist them into third place in the table and leave Slieve Beagh still just three points free of the basement bottom position.