1^st Division Airtricity League.

Monaghan United  v   Shelbourne

It’s First versus Second in the 1^st Division when Shelbourne visit on Friday next. Both sides have one achievement in common each have only been defeated once in the league this season.  However in Shels case their defeat was to the Mons who had the timidity to do so in their own back yard and fortress- Tolka Park. In the game United had to do it the hard way by coming from behind twice before Fabio O’ Brien completing his brace on the night scored with a cheeky chip to give United the victory.

Shels had a bruising defeat at Tolka Park on Monday in the EA Sports Cup they will be hoping to put this behind them with a good result.

Monaghan United have been playing some impressive football this season particularly their last two games  against Cork City and Longford Town.  Going into this game United have one important ace and that is their manager Roddy Collins, there is no one who has a better knowledge of the Drumcondra side than their former old boy.  However Collins is at a disadvantage in despite of their good showing all season because of injuries he will not be able to send out his desired starting eleven.  Against Limerick on Tuesday he had to go without eight of their regular starters hopefully  all will have returned for this game for this game. Because Collins sent out his second string of player! s against Limerick it would be hard to draw any conclusions from that result.

An added interest for the home support will be seeing three of the United panel in the Shels side namely the proficient goal scorers Philly Hughes and Karl Bermingham as well as the energetic Barry Clancy. This is a crucial game for both sides and although we are only at the mid season stage it could be the game that decides who will win the champion ship as well as who might be promoted. A win for United would bring them within a point of Shels where as a defeat would leave seven behind.

Encouraging more Monaghan they are starting to get good vocal support especially at home.

EA Sports Cup Quarter Final

Limerick  5  -0  Monaghan United

Monaghan United’s manager Roddy Collins sent out what had to be regarded as his second string of players for this game at the Jackman Park.  Only eight of the side that played against Longford Town in the previous game on Saturday started and when  Alan Byrne didn’t come out for the second half that total became nine.  Including in those missing was the keeper Gabriel Sava and making their debut for the side were Davy Byrne and Roddy  Collins son of the manager and both caught the eye.

United’s new formation hadn’t long to settle when they were struck by the opening goal by what would eventually be the first of Jeffrey Judge’s hat trick, a speculative strike across goal by Stephen Mc. Gann  eluded  everyone and when it reached an unmarked Judge on the far post he hit it first time to the back of the net.  Limerick dominated in opening quarter and United could only make one foray forward which saw the ball go wide of the post in 8^th minute, just when United appeared to have got over the worst and were beginning to settle they gifted Limerick with a second goal.  Their keeper Jake Rossiter after making a confident catch dropped the ball it was pounced on by Paddy Purcell who was upended for a pen! alty by Alan Byrne,  which Thomas Lyons converted . In the closing stages of the half United had two efforts the first was when the forced a long high back pass which the keeper did well to get his head to and clear and the second was a free from Eric Foley which skimmed the crossbar.

In the opening minutes of the second half Monaghan  looked to be getting into the game and were threatening like getting a goal back when eight minutes in Judge struck for his second ,Paddy Quinn won the ball for Limerick he was fouled but the referee allowed the advantage which Quinn used well to pick out Judge who had goasted in behind the defence and he struck first time.  Whatever chance United had was now gone but Michael Isichei who was probably United best player on the night and never  up almost got United a goal back when he skipped through the defence before finding newcomer Davy Byrne who unfortunately from 5 yards spurned  his chance. It was a miss that United would pay for a few minutes later when Judge complet! ed his hat trick, he was found with a brilliant cross and pass by Andrew Bandarker and Juge rose to head powerfully home. Although there were 25 minutes left the game as a contest was over. Limerick had their fifth 10 minutes later when Rossiter failed to hold a strike from  Barry Sheedy and the ball broke to Garbhan Coughlan who had a simple tap in.  But credit United, they had never failed to score before in a game this season and they appeared determined to keep this record in tact, however in doing so they fortunate not  to have been caught twice on the counter attack.

I t was a very experimental side that Roddy Collins sent out, apart from the final result I believe that he will draw encouragement from a number of his young players especially the new signings.  He will also be glad that his side hasn’t picked up any further injuries for his next outing against Shels.

Limerick FC: Dave Ryan, Corey Treacy, Pat Purcell, Brian McCarthy, Andrew Bhandarkar, Jeffrey Judge, Thomas Lyons (Garvan Broughall 70), Paudie Quinn, Steven McGann, Chris Breen ( Sean Brosnan 18(Garbhan Coughlan 62)), Barry Sheedy.

Subs Not Used: Barry Ryan, Sean O’Callaghan, Peter Hynes, Peter White.

Monaghan United: Jake Rossiter, Jimmy Fallon, Roddy Collins, Phillip Byrne, Alan Byrne (Alan Collins 45),  Jason Marks, Eric Foley, Shane Fitzgerald, Dom Tierney, Michael Isichei, Andy Haran.

Kevin Loughran, John Reilly, Garbhan McKenna.

Subs not Used:

Referee: Graham Kelly

: 358.

Longford Town  1  -3   Monaghan United

Apart from the final ten minutes in both halves this was a game totally dominated by Monaghan United. The football displayed by United which was mostly played on the ground was exhibition stuff. However dispite all their possession and dominance they had to wait for a 25^th minute penalty strike to open the scoring and that point marked the end of the game as a contest that is until the final 10 minutes of the game. For apart from conceding the penalty Longford were reduced to 10 men. The incident that led to this was when Fabio O’ Brien one the ball about 10 yards from goal he dribbled past two defenders and was in the position of tapping the ball across the line when he was taken down by whom the referee adjudged to be the last man back and he received a straight red card. Fabio  converted the spot kick. ! It was clear that Longford’s  manager was on a containing mission for the remainder of the game as he sent on for to shore up the defence.  His tactic was the correct one because despite United’s dominance which was total they could not break them down at the back. Dom Cowan was the only home player who was prepared to take on United and twice he raided forward in the closing 10 minutes of the opening half to force a corner on each occasion.

The second half was a repeat of the first with United continuing to dominate. The United following though that for Northern Ireland International and Manchester United player Keith Gillespie might have caused them a problem but play wise he was anonomous something which seemed to get to him very niggly and was fortunate not to receive a yellow card for an altercation with Eric Foley, however he would not see the game out. On 75 minutes when Gillespie needlessly led with his elbow he received a straight red. If it was tennis one would say game set and match to United, a goal up against 9 men and 15 minutes to go. For the first time in the game Longford showed some spirit and with many of their fans making for the exit Dom Cowan struck a superby goal, it was all his own work, he musceled his way into winning the ball outside United’s area before advancing into it turning to defenders before unleash! ing a power drive to the back of the net. If United were stung they didn’t dwell on it and continued to do what they were doing all night, they laid siege on Longford’s goal, with only 9 men the homeside couldn’t prevail and when the ball was knocked back to Shane Grimes on 18 yards he hit first time to the corner of thenet with only 2 minutes left it was a close call, but there was still time for Fabio to embellish the score line when he was played through he finished for his brace with the last kick of the game.

Longford Town: Paul Hunt; Graham Dowling, Chris Deans, Des Hope, Gary Cronin; Keith Gillespie, Jacques Morley (Cathal Brady, 62), Mark Salmon, Lee Roche (Niall O’Reilly, 27); Don Cowan, Austin Skelly (Dan Monaghan United Reilly, 67).

Subs not used: Stephen Conlon, Paddy Collins, Craig Walsh, Thomas Hyland.

: Gabriel Sava; Paul Whelan (Alan Byrne, 77), Philip Byrne, Aidan Collins, Shane Grimes; John Reilly, Eric Foley, Don Tierney (Jason Marks, 65), Ryan Brennan; Sean Brennan, Declan O’Brien.Subs not used: Jake Rossiter, Michael Isichei, Shane Fitzgerald.

Referee: Phil Caschera.

Aviva Draw

New draw for two season tickets for home Intonation matches is now being held by the club.If United can replicate there  the form that they have been displaying all season Shelbourne will find it difficult to get anything against them.

Tickets are €5 each or book of 3 for€10.