Airtricity League of Ireland 1st. Division.

Monaghan United  v  Salthill Devon

After a tough week when they had two encounters against Premier Division side Sligo Rover and a hard fought scoreless draw away to Finn Harps, Monaghan United will be hoping for somewhat of a reprieve this week when the entertain bottom of the table side Salthill Devon. But United will be taking nothing for granted against the Galway side. United will feel that they are within touching distance of promotion of which they were so cruelly denied of last season, so they will be very mindful of any slip ups at this point.

United’s manager Roddy Collins will be absent from the dugout having been sent to the stands against Finn Harps for berating a assistant referee for a number of his decisions. Aidan Lynch will combine the role of coach with manager and will have a near full squad to elect from.

Verdict: Home win.

Injuries:  Conor Mc. Mahon,

Suspensions:  None

Last Five Results

Finn Harps

0

0

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

0

4

Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers

0

0

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

3

1

Waterford United

Monaghan United

1

0

Athlone Town

Next Five Games

Fri 16 Sept

Cork City

v

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Fri 23 Sept

Monaghan United

v

Longford Town

8.p.m.

Sun 9 Aug

Monaghan United

v

Wexford Youths

8.p.m.

Fri 14 Oct

Mervue United

v

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Manager Quotes “ In all my years going to Finn Park as both player and manager I always found  it a tough venue to get anything out of and so it was last weekend. Nevertheless we came away with a very valuable point, considering our recent good run in the league some of our followers probably had higher expectations from the game. But not wishing to make excuses one still has to remember that we had two very competitive outings against Sligo Rovers in less than seven days whereas Finn Harps were fresh after a two week break, be! lieve me it was a factor and also anyone who was following Harps form of late would know that are playing with a renewed vigour since the change in management, so I knew a tight encounter was in prospect. As on our previous visit there the sending off did affect the game. I must complement the fine following we had in Finn Park who for most of the game out shouted the larger home crowd; such support does make a difference.

I cannot move on from the Finn Harps game without mentioning the performance of our goalkeeper Gabriel Sava. It is not a practise of mine to single out a player for either compliment or rebuke but for once I will break my rule. Some of his saves on the night were referred to by the press as being reminiscent of the great Gordon Banks, I couldn’t improve on that description. This was no one-off performance, Gabriel has been doing it all season and I am reliably informed that he did so last year as well. Is there a better keeper in the league of Ireland? Gabriel has a bright future before him. Our goalkeeping coach Declan Mulligan has to take great credit for the strides he has taken with Gabriel since the start of the season.

Each of our remaining games will be as cup finals if we are to achieve our goal of promotion. None will be easy; each of our opponents like this evening’s opposition Salthill Devon will have their own goals and agendas to fulfil. As the season progressed so has the team spirit within the squad. With no side attractions we can now give our goal our total focus.

Again we are looking forward to a good support for each of the games.

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.

Airtricity League of Ireland 1st. Division.

Monaghan United  v  Salthill Devon

After a tough week when they had two encounters against Premier Division side Sligo Rover and a hard fought scoreless draw away to Finn Harps, Monaghan United will be hoping for somewhat of a reprieve this week when the entertain bottom of the table side Salthill Devon. But United will be taking nothing for granted against the Galway side. United will feel that they are within touching distance of promotion of which they were so cruelly denied of last season, so they will be very mindful of any slip ups at this point.

United’s manager Roddy Collins will be absent from the dugout having been sent to the stands against Finn Harps for berating a assistant referee for a number of his decisions. Aidan Lynch will combine the role of coach with manager and will have a near full squad to elect from.

Verdict: Home win.

Injuries:  Conor Mc. Mahon,

Suspensions:  None

Last Five Results

Finn Harps

0

0

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

0

4

Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers

0

0

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

3

1

Waterford United

Monaghan United

1

0

Athlone Town

Next Five Games

Fri 16 Sept

Cork City

v

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Fri 23 Sept

Monaghan United

v

Longford Town

8.p.m.

Sun 9 Aug

Monaghan United

v

Wexford Youths

8.p.m.

Fri 14 Oct

Mervue United

v

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Manager Quotes “ In all my years going to Finn Park as both player and manager I always found  it a tough venue to get anything out of and so it was last weekend. Nevertheless we came away with a very valuable point, considering our recent good run in the league some of our followers probably had higher expectations from the game. But not wishing to make excuses one still has to remember that we had two very competitive outings against Sligo Rovers in less than seven days whereas Finn Harps were fresh after a two week break, be! lieve me it was a factor and also anyone who was following Harps form of late would know that are playing with a renewed vigour since the change in management, so I knew a tight encounter was in prospect. As on our previous visit there the sending off did affect the game. I must complement the fine following we had in Finn Park who for most of the game out shouted the larger home crowd; such support does make a difference.

I cannot move on from the Finn Harps game without mentioning the performance of our goalkeeper Gabriel Sava. It is not a practise of mine to single out a player for either compliment or rebuke but for once I will break my rule. Some of his saves on the night were referred to by the press as being reminiscent of the great Gordon Banks, I couldn’t improve on that description. This was no one-off performance, Gabriel has been doing it all season and I am reliably informed that he did so last year as well. Is there a better keeper in the league of Ireland? Gabriel has a bright future before him. Our goalkeeping coach Declan Mulligan has to take great credit for the strides he has taken with Gabriel since the start of the season.

Each of our remaining games will be as cup finals if we are to achieve our goal of promotion. None will be easy; each of our opponents like this evening’s opposition Salthill Devon will have their own goals and agendas to fulfil. As the season progressed so has the team spirit within the squad. With no side attractions we can now give our goal our total focus.

Again we are looking forward to a good support for each of the games.

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.