Monaghan United  v  Cork City.

For the second weekend in a row Monaghan United entertain a side from the Rebel County, however on this occasion they can expect a much more formable opposition from Cork City than that offered by Junior League side Everton even though theirs was a spirited performance.

It’s a top of the table clash with the two sides disputing second place only two points behind the current leaders Shelbourne.  Although we have not reached the midpoint of the season this could be a crucial game in determining which side is promoted.

It will be the second meeting of the sides this season. In the previous encounter at Turners’s Cross a cruel deflection in the 83^rd minute denied Monaghan United a well earned win. Fabio O’ Brien was playing in his first game for United and he announced his arrival with a brace of goals, he gave his side the lead as early as the 6^th minute when he headed in a Shane Grimes cross.  Cork got back on terms with a similar goal from Graham Cummins on 24 minutes. It looked like Cork were going to take the lead approaching the hour mark when the referee awarded them a penalty, United keeper Gabriel Sava brought down one of his defenders without a Corkman within 10 yards of them, the referee pointed to the spot to the amazement of everyone in the ground, fortunately the 4th official corrected him and the decision was rescinded, it was nearly the ultimate hometown decision, something that the United fans will be hoping for this time around.  Immediately following this fiasco United broke down field and Fabio crashed home his second on the night.  Just when the game appeared to be drifting away from Cork a deflection off Jimmy Fallon’s back wrong footed Sava and Cork were back on terms. It was a great result for United considering that they were missing Dom Tierney, Aidan Collins, Paul Whelan, and Alan Byrne, also Cork hadn't conceded a goal prior to that game.

Cork City who are so far unbeaten this season come into this game after a very one sided home win against Athlone Town.  The winning score line of 2-0  no way reflects their supremacy in a game in which the keeper never had to make anything remotely like a save. Cork was relegated to the 1^st Division last season for reasons away from the football field and they are still very much a Premier Division side. Coincidently their manager at the time was Roddy Collins.  They have a very well balanced team, the players in particular that United will have to give close attention to are the leagues top scorer Graham Cummins, Vinny Sullivan, and Frenchman- Vincent Escudé-Candu, they have a few others! who also can do.

Last Friday Monaghan United had what looked like a comfortable 5-2 win over Salthill Devon at Drom, but it wasn’t without its scary moments especially when the home side took the lead immediately after halftime and frustrated United for the next 15 minutes before United settled down and went on to score four more goals.

After their only loss of the season which was unexpected to Mervue United Monaghan go into this game on a run of four wins and have produced some fine football in most of these encounters.

Roddy Collins will welcome back the Brennan brothers Sean and Ryan, unfortunately he will be missing defenders Conor Mc. Mahon and Aidan Collins, but that said he should still have a strong enough panel to select from.

On United’s performance away against Cork City they demonstrated on the night that they well able to match them in all areas of the field and this time United will have home advantage.  Cork who are playing at home to attendances in excess of 2,000 are expected to have a  big following with them as it will be their only visit this season to Gortakeegan.  Hopefully this table-topper should attract a good home support.

FAI/FORD Cup 4^th Round

Monaghan drawn against Cup Holders –Sligo Rovers

Monaghan United will renew acquaintances with Premier Division side Sligo whom they been drawn against in the 4^th Round of the FAI/Ford Cup.  Last season Sligo defeated United in the latter stages of both this competition and the EA Sports Cup.

The game will take place at the Showgrounds, Sligo on the weekend of August 26^th.

All Fourth Round draws

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Waterford United v St. Patrick's Athletic

Bray Wanderers v Limerick

Longford Town v Bohemians

Wexford Youths v Cork City

Sligo Rovers v Monaghan United

Sheriff Y. C. v Shelbourne

Drogheda United v Dundalk.

Salthill Devon  2  -  5  Monaghan United

What  the travelling Monaghan United supporters though would  be an easy outing against bottom of the side Salthill Devon turned out to be a rather difficult affair despite what the final score line might suggest.  It appeared that things were going to plan when United took the laead with a super strike  from Michael Isichea inside the 1^st half hour, however with less than two minutes to go to the interval Salthill were back on terms from the penalty spot and with less than 30 seconds gone in the second half they were 2-1 up and dominated the next 15 minutes.

The opening half was a poor affair, the first what might pass for a half chance didn’t come until the 15th minute when Sathill’s Cyrian Strout’s effort was cleared. Paddy Quinlan cleared a United effort off the line and immediately at the other end he was in action again when this time Sava took the ball off his head.

At last in 26th minute Monaghan opened the scoring. It was a brilliant first strike in United colours for Michael Isichei, Jason Marks passed the ball out high from the centre circle to John Reilly on the side line he nodded it to Isichei, who raced into the area past a number of defenders and from a tight angle, he shot high across goal and into the top of the net.

He came close again within two minutes when he broke through the defence only to shoot just over the crossbar. Monaghan had lost Aidan Collins in 20th minute with a dislocated shoulder injury. United were in more control but despite all their pressure were unable to get the second goal that might decide the game before the interval.

Instead it was the home side that struck in the 42nd minute. Philip Byrne and Gearóid Ó Leidhinn were contesting a ground ball just inside the United area when Byrne was adjudged to have mistimed his tackle to concede a penalty which O’Leidhinn took, sending Sava the wrong way.

And the second half was just 30 seconds old when Salthill Devon dramatically took the lead. They broke forward from the restart, Paddy Quinlan put Victor Collins clean through and from close range he fired past Sava.

Salthill Devon went on to dominate the next 15 minutes. First Ronan Conlon had a powerful strike tipped over the bar by Sava, then Strout dragged his strike into the side netting and O’ Leidhinn came close to getting his second. Salthill’s supporters felt that they had two good calls for a penalty, the first for a hand ball which was clearly ball to hand and the second when Whelan and O’ Leidhinn had a similar clash to the one that yielded the first-half penalty, credit to O’Leidhinn he stated on his feet in a situation where many might have taken a dive

But just when it appeared that United were going to be embarrassed for the second time this season at a Galway venue, they were back in the game on 66 minutes. Salthill Devon were trying to clear, the ball came to Jason Marks and his volley somehow got through a very crowded area and United were level.

A brace of goals from John Reilly put the game out of Salthill reach, his first goal on 75 minutes was a fine strike to the roof of the net. His second on 81 minutes came when the ball was played forward, he took it wide past the keeper before turning him and from near the end line he shot to an empty net. Two minutes later, Michael Isichei got his head to a corner kick to power it past the keeper. It was a powerful final quarter display by United but Salthill Devon would be disappointed for not at least getting a share of the points.

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde, Paddy Quinlan, Ray Winters, James Whelan, Brian Geraghty,Luke Mc. Connell, Gerry Dolan, Ronan Conlon, Victor Collins, Cyrian Spout, Gearóid Ó Leidhinn.

Subs: Jason Lyons, Timmy Molloy, Colm Horgan, Etande Nkolod, Daniel Rupa,Charlie Burke, Bernard Power.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes, Alan Byrne, Aidan Collins (Philip Byrne 20), Dom Tierney, John Reilly, Eric Foley, Declan O’ Brien, Michael Isichea, Jason Marks (Jimmy Fallon )

Subs not used: Shane Fitzgerald, Jake Rossiter, Andy Haran.

Fundraiser Challenge

Due to the inclement water condition we were unable to go ahead with the Fundraiser Challenge on Sunday last, this event has now been refixed for Friday 29^th July.Anyone who still have sponsorship cards outstanding can you please leave them in on Friday at the Cork game.

Liam Mc. Cleary R.I.P.

The Management Committee on behalf of everyone associated with Monaghan United  extends  deepest sympathies on the death of Liam Mc. Cleary, Tirkeenan, Monaghan, to his wife Bridie, daughters Marie and Karen, sons Brendan, Martin and Paul, his brother Seamus and his many friends and relatives. Liam was a Life Member of Monaghan United since the club’s foundation.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.