MONAGHAN UNITED maintained their promotion push with a hard-fought victory over improving Wexford Youths.

Monaghan United  2   Wexford Youths   1

 Brennan brothers Ryan and Sean scored the goals as Monaghan tucked back in behind leaders Cork City at the top of the table with a fourth win in five games.

 Roddy Collins' side opened the scoring five minutes before the interval when Ryan Brennan met John Reilly's super cross with a firm header to beat Packie Holden in the Youths' goal.

 Monaghan doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Sean Brennan's thumping free-kick from around 30 yard again gave Holden little chance.

 Youths got a goal back through striker Danny Furlong on 64 minutes when he sidefooted home from a David Grincell cross.

 

Athlone  Town  1   Mervue United  0

 A solitary Nial Scullion goal early in the second half made it three 1-0 wins on the spin for Athlone Town - the fist time in a decade they've done so.

 The goal came five minutes into the second half when Mervue failed to clear Ronan Stack's corner and right-back Scullion arrived at the back post to rifle the loose ball to the net.

 Substitute Ian Sweeney wasted a chance to double Town's winning margin on 79 minutes but shot wide of an open goal having gone round Mervue Keeper Ger Hanley.

 

 Finn Harps  1   Longford Town   2

 Longford maintained their good start to the season by inflicting a third successive defeat on Harps who've yet to win a game.

 A delightful direct free-kick from Jacques Morley put Town in front on 32 minutes.

 Town went further ahead four minutes before half-time when Austin Skelly outjumped the home defence to head home Niall O'Reilly's long free-kick into the box.

 Marc Brolly got a goal back for Harps within the first minute of the second half with a header from Conor O'Grady's corner.