Airtricity League of Ireland 1st. Division.

Cork  City  v  Monaghan United

For the second occasion in four days Monaghan United will be involved in a table top encounter when the travel to Turners Cross to play Cork City. United in second place are only one point ahead of the Leesiders although the Mons have that all important game in hand.

United should be in a confident mood after defeating league leaders Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Friday last.  However Turners Cross is a difficult ground for any visiting team. This will be the third encounter between the sides the previous occasions they ended all square.  It will the Monaghan side second visit of the season to Cork on that previous encounter it looked like United were coming away with all three points until Cork got a late equaliser, it was a fluke of a goal as it took a wicked deflection off the back of one of his defenders to wrong foot the keeper Gabriel Sava. On the balance of play a draw was a fair result. In the return game at Gortakeegan, having taken the lead after 10 minutes United were disappointed to let Cork back! in after 29 minutes. Cork was reduced to 10 men on the hour mark and was glad to hold out for the away point.  It’s an indication of United’s progress in the past few seasons that they were disappointed with only having drawn with one of the Giants of the league in both these games. They will be hoping to go one further this time and if they can continue to display their present form they are well capable of collecting all three points, but Cork at home are a tough task.

Robbie Collins should have a full panel to select from; with the exception of Conor Mc. Mahon all are available.

Kick of on Friday at Tolka Park is 7.45.p.m.

Suspensions: none

Injured: Conor Mc.Mahon.

Last Five Results

Shelbourne

1

2

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

3

2

Longford Town

Monaghan United

3

0

Salthill Devon

Finn Harps

0

3

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

0

4

Sligo Rovers

Remaining Games

Sun 9 Oct

Monaghan United

V

Wexford Youths

3.p.m.

Fri 14 Oct

Mervue United

V

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Fri 21 Oct

Monaghan United

V

Limerick

8.p.m.

Fri 28 Oct

Athlone Town

V

Monaghan United

7.45.pm.

Manager’s view “Again another powerful performance against Shelbourne and I believe we can replicate that form against Cork City . With each side having only a handful of games left the intensity is mounting and again I believe the side that can hold their nerve in what is a four horse race will be promoted, there is so little between the sides.

Four days doesn’t allow much time to recover from a tough encounter such as we had at Tolka Park.  However we came away from it without picking up any injuries so once again I will have a near full panel to select from and it is a squad that is brimming with confidence with the required mettle. We are going to Cork on Tuesday night and our only focus is winning there. From the start of the league our aim has been to win the league, we are still on course and whatever comes after that is a bonus. I say to the lads don’t look at tables or don’t listen to people or permutations.

But we must keep our feet on the ground, the remaining games are all tough ones, we are approaching each as knockout cup final.

Fulsome praise for our fine turn out of supporters at Tolka Park, sadly the mid week fixture and distance to Turners Cross will deprive most of them of another outing.”

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.

Airtricity League of Ireland 1st. Division.

Cork  City  v  Monaghan United

For the second occasion in four days Monaghan United will be involved in a table top encounter when the travel to Turners Cross to play Cork City. United in second place are only one point ahead of the Leesiders although the Mons have that all important game in hand.

United should be in a confident mood after defeating league leaders Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Friday last.  However Turners Cross is a difficult ground for any visiting team. This will be the third encounter between the sides the previous occasions they ended all square.  It will the Monaghan side second visit of the season to Cork on that previous encounter it looked like United were coming away with all three points until Cork got a late equaliser, it was a fluke of a goal as it took a wicked deflection off the back of one of his defenders to wrong foot the keeper Gabriel Sava. On the balance of play a draw was a fair result. In the return game at Gortakeegan, having taken the lead after 10 minutes United were disappointed to let Cork back! in after 29 minutes. Cork was reduced to 10 men on the hour mark and was glad to hold out for the away point.  It’s an indication of United’s progress in the past few seasons that they were disappointed with only having drawn with one of the Giants of the league in both these games. They will be hoping to go one further this time and if they can continue to display their present form they are well capable of collecting all three points, but Cork at home are a tough task.

Robbie Collins should have a full panel to select from; with the exception of Conor Mc. Mahon all are available.

Kick of on Friday at Tolka Park is 7.45.p.m.

Suspensions: none

Injured: Conor Mc.Mahon.

Last Five Results

Shelbourne

1

2

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

3

2

Longford Town

Monaghan United

3

0

Salthill Devon

Finn Harps

0

3

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

0

4

Sligo Rovers

Remaining Games

Sun 9 Oct

Monaghan United

V

Wexford Youths

3.p.m.

Fri 14 Oct

Mervue United

V

Monaghan United

7.45.p.m.

Fri 21 Oct

Monaghan United

V

Limerick

8.p.m.

Fri 28 Oct

Athlone Town

V

Monaghan United

7.45.pm.

Manager’s view “Again another powerful performance against Shelbourne and I believe we can replicate that form against Cork City . With each side having only a handful of games left the intensity is mounting and again I believe the side that can hold their nerve in what is a four horse race will be promoted, there is so little between the sides.

Four days doesn’t allow much time to recover from a tough encounter such as we had at Tolka Park.  However we came away from it without picking up any injuries so once again I will have a near full panel to select from and it is a squad that is brimming with confidence with the required mettle. We are going to Cork on Tuesday night and our only focus is winning there. From the start of the league our aim has been to win the league, we are still on course and whatever comes after that is a bonus. I say to the lads don’t look at tables or don’t listen to people or permutations.

But we must keep our feet on the ground, the remaining games are all tough ones, we are approaching each as knockout cup final.

Fulsome praise for our fine turn out of supporters at Tolka Park, sadly the mid week fixture and distance to Turners Cross will deprive most of them of another outing.”

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.