Monaghan United   v    Wexford Youths

Monaghan United switch from Friday night to Sunday afternoon for their penultimate home game of the 2011 season when they entertain Wexford Youths at Gortakeegan next Sunday. It’s a clash of sides from opposite ends of the table, United in second place is chasing promotion whereas the Youths are a point from bottom position. Last week Wexford earned a well deserved point when they drew at home 3-3 to Athlone Town and they did it the hard way by having to come from behind on three occasion and showed great tenacity by keeping going until 93rd minute to get their third goal.

Monaghan Umited had rare below performance of the season away to Cork City, they found it very hard to recover from Cork’s second minute goal. More worrying for Roddy Collins will be the loss of the Brennan brothers Sean and Ryan through suspension, Aidan Collins injured and there will probably be a doubt about Shane Grimes fitness. However on the positive side Paul Whelan made a good return when he came on in Turner’s Cross. United are fortunate in that they have a strong bench which Collins can draw from.

There is a lot at stake for United in this game, they continue to be strong contenders for promotion, the loss in Cork only interrupted rather than derailed their ambitions. They should have more than enough in the tank to see off the challenge of Wexford Youths.

Kick off at Gortakeegan on Sunday is at 3.p.m.

Cork City  3 -1  Monaghan United

Monaghan United never recovered from Cork City’s second minute goal at Turners Cross. In their first attack of the game Cork moved the ball down the left wing, Graham Cummins   picked out Daryl Horgan who in turn passed to Shane Duggan who  rifled the ball which took a slight deflection past the keeper Gabriel Sava. From the restart United got forward and came close to getting back on terms only for the ball to go behind. Then a weak back pass from Keith Foley put Cummins through he had only the keeper to beat but credit to Sava he stood up well forcing the Cork man wide before striking and Alan Byrne got back to clear off t! he line. United won two quick frees in quick succession in front of the area but Sean Brennan’s executions was very poor from what we have come to expect from him.  Gabriel Sava brought off a brilliant save to deny Daryl Horgan. Then a good move for United ended with Ryan Brennan striking the foot of the post.  Shane was replaced by Keith Quinn approaching the half hour mark and his first task was to chase Cummins from the half way line, the Cork man made it look so easy as he raced past a number of defenders to put his side two up on 29 minutes. United were very much off the pace in the first half and were a pale shadow of the team that we have seen all season. Cork were happy sit back and hit United on the counter attack a ploy which worked well for them and the visitors did well  to keep the score down to 2-0 at half time.

United were much improved in the second half and indeed had the first chance at goal from an overhead kick from Declan O’Brien which was straight at the keeper. As the half progressed they came more into it and just when it looked like they might get on the score sheet. A good move down the right wing involving Paul Whelan and Aidan Collins who put Willo Mc Donagh through with  only the keeper to beat  but the keeper who was having a nightmare of a game got down well to deny him .Immediately Cork broke down the left wing and Vinny O Sullivan was in the right place to head in Corks third. But credit United three minutes later they got a goal back when Willo Mc. Donagh making up for his earlier miss got his foot to the ball in a crowded to stroke the ball ! over the line. With 20 minutes to go it was a very nervous looking Cork as Monaghan chased to get something out of the game but what ever chance they had was dealt a serious blow when Sean Brennan got a straight red for taking down Shane Duggan from behind on the half way line. United continued to attack and they were  reduced to nine when Ryan Brennan picked up what looked like a very harsh second yellow on half way and United’s woes were confounded when their man of the match Aidan Collins was stretchered off in injury time. A night that Monaghan United would quickly want to forget came to an end.

United may have lost in Turners Cross but their promotion ambitions are still very much on course.

Man of the match: Aidan Collins

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner (Cathal Lordan, 91), Gearóid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Graham Cummins (Vincent Escudé-Candau, 53) Vinny Sullivan (Andy O’Connell, 87).

Subs not used: Jason Forde, John Kavanagh, James McCarthy, Danny Morrissey.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Aidan Collins, William McDonagh, Alan Byrne, Shane Grimes; John Reilly, Eric Foley (Paul Whelan, 61), Ryan Brennan, Sean Brennan, Jason Marks; Declan O’Brien (David Byrne, 85).

Subs not used: Michael Isichei, Philip Byrne, Mark Grace, Jake Rossiter.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

Official Attendance: 2,502

Shelbourne 1  -2  Monaghan

Monaghan United have had many fine performances this season in the league but their display against Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday evening last would outshine any of them. The fine travelling band of supporters was treated to en epic in which their team maintained the upper hand for most of the game. It was played at a relentless pace throughout and for the most part especially in the first half under a torrential downpour which led to a greasy surface.  It was an encounter befitting its top of the table billing.  Considering the competitive nature and the conditions it was a very clean game that hadn’t a rash or a dangerous tackle throughout.

Monaghan United looked the hungrier of the two sides and it was they who created the first scoring action after eight minutes, John Reilly won the ball in Shelbourne’s half along the side line he played a fine ‘one-two’ with Ryan Brennan before striking across goal and wide of the post. Just before that twice in the space of a minute the United defence put undue pressure on their keeper with weak back passes which was probably due to the pace of the surface. With both defence dominant the forwards were finding it difficult and were surviving on half chances.  United expected the main threat to come from their former striker Philly Hughes but he was well marshalled by Alan Byrne and Willo Mc. Donagh and Hughes first strike on goal didn’t come until the ! 10th minute when he fired well wide under pressure from distance. In 18th minute Sean Brennan came close with a free kick whose flight appeared to deceive the Shels rear-guard. In 28th minute the home keeper Paul Skinner seemed to misjudge the flight of a high cross and was fortunate to get a palm on it. Then just past the hour mark United struck, Shels who were on the ball on the halfway line lost concentration, John Reilly nipped in a robbed the possession and instigated a quick ball downfield with both Fabio O’ Brien and Sean Brennan breaking past the defence, Fabio appeared to be strike for goal but the ball deflected off the shin of Garreth Matthews to Sean Brennan who fired past the keeper. Shels were incensed and they put both the referee Rob Rogers and his assistant Wayne Mc Donnell under severe verbal pressure which lasted at least a minute as they looked to have the goal ruled for off-side, it eventually ended with Gareth Mathews re! ceiving a yellow card for his protestations and the goal stood.  United would see it as poetic justice because on their last two visits to Tolka Park they were on the receiving end of at least three such clear cut such decisions going against them. For the remainder of the half which United continued to be the most dominant neither side created a clear cut chance and the visitors went to the halftime break well deserving of their lead.

As expected Shelbourne lifted the pace on the resumption for the second half and in the twice in the opening minutes Andy Boyle had two great chances to get the equaliser when first he was put through by Collie James and moments later he ghosted in behind defence to get on the end of a David Cassidy free only to miss at the far post. United had weathered the best that Shels could throw at them and we beginning to dominate again and thirteen minutes in it looked like Jordan Keegan’s powerful goal bound strike was going to double their score only for it to flash narrowly wide. It was the signal for Shels to shake things up and they immediately made a double substitution Kevin Dawson and Philip Byrne to try at get more control at midfield and up front. Four minutes later it looked like the changes had worked when the home side was back on pari! ty and very much against the run of play, they cleared the ball out of defence, David Cassidy had a headed attempt strike the crossbar the ball rebounded to Philly Hughes from less than the yards he hit a powerful in off the underside of the crossbar giving his former team mate Sava no chance. What followed was some most exciting end to end stuff and United were starting to dominate the exchanges, a couple of frees from Sean Brennan almost found the keeper and defenders wanting and it was such a situation that the Mons regained the lead.  Monaghan were awarded a free from approx. 30 yards, the type of range that Sean Brennan usually goes for goal from, however on this occasion he picked out Fabio who nodded the ball down to the younger Brennan who crashed the ball to the net.  Shels were rocked and there was no way that United’s defence whose performance was awesome were going to let them! back in. It was United who had the next attempt on goal when Sean Brennan’s free just flashed past the post with the keeper beaten, a minute later David Cassidy had a strike which Sava easily gathered. A strike from 35 yards from Sean Brennan caught the keeper out and he was relived to see it deflect of his body and out for a corner.  Then in the final minute of regulation time Shels should have got back on par, the ball came to an unmarked Kevin Dawson six yards in front of goal, it was harder to miss than score but to the relief of United as miss he did. Three minutes later it was all over and Shelbourne now feel Monaghan United bearing down on them for the championship as we enter the concluding month of the season.

Although the press selected Sean Brennan as their choice for ‘man of the match’ there were sterling performances from all of the United players. Unusually manager Roddy Collins emptied his bench during this game.  Indeed Collins must have got a lot of satisfaction on the night in winning for the second time this season at his old stomping ground Tolka Park.

Shelbourne: Paul Skinner; Gareth Matthews, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley; Ian Ryan (Kevin Dawson 58), Collie James (Philip Gorman 58), David Cassidy , Sean Byrne (Chris Mulhall 81), Brendan McGill; Philip Hughes.

Subs Not Used: Dean Delany, Barry Clancy, John Sullivan, Karl Bermingham.

Yellow Cards: Gareth Matthews, Stephen Paisley.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Aidan Collins, Shane Grimes, William McDonagh, Alan Byrne, Eric Foley, John Reilly, Ryan Brennan, Jordan Keegan (Jason Marks 75), Sean Brennan Keith Quinn 90), Declan O'Brien ,(Michael Isichei 85)

Subs Not Used: Mark Grace, David Byrne, Paul Byrne, Philip Byrne,.

Yellow Cards: Shane Grimes, Aidan Collins, John Reilly, Sean Brennan.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 923.

Monaghan United   v    Wexford Youths

Monaghan United switch from Friday night to Sunday afternoon for their penultimate home game of the 2011 season when they entertain Wexford Youths at Gortakeegan next Sunday. It’s a clash of sides from opposite ends of the table, United in second place is chasing promotion whereas the Youths are a point from bottom position. Last week Wexford earned a well deserved point when they drew at home 3-3 to Athlone Town and they did it the hard way by having to come from behind on three occasion and showed great tenacity by keeping going until 93rd minute to get their third goal.

Monaghan Umited had rare below performance of the season away to Cork City, they found it very hard to recover from Cork’s second minute goal. More worrying for Roddy Collins will be the loss of the Brennan brothers Sean and Ryan through suspension, Aidan Collins injured and there will probably be a doubt about Shane Grimes fitness. However on the positive side Paul Whelan made a good return when he came on in Turner’s Cross. United are fortunate in that they have a strong bench which Collins can draw from.

There is a lot at stake for United in this game, they continue to be strong contenders for promotion, the loss in Cork only interrupted rather than derailed their ambitions. They should have more than enough in the tank to see off the challenge of Wexford Youths.

Kick off at Gortakeegan on Sunday is at 3.p.m.

Cork City  3 -1  Monaghan United

Monaghan United never recovered from Cork City’s second minute goal at Turners Cross. In their first attack of the game Cork moved the ball down the left wing, Graham Cummins   picked out Daryl Horgan who in turn passed to Shane Duggan who  rifled the ball which took a slight deflection past the keeper Gabriel Sava. From the restart United got forward and came close to getting back on terms only for the ball to go behind. Then a weak back pass from Keith Foley put Cummins through he had only the keeper to beat but credit to Sava he stood up well forcing the Cork man wide before striking and Alan Byrne got back to clear off t! he line. United won two quick frees in quick succession in front of the area but Sean Brennan’s executions was very poor from what we have come to expect from him.  Gabriel Sava brought off a brilliant save to deny Daryl Horgan. Then a good move for United ended with Ryan Brennan striking the foot of the post.  Shane was replaced by Keith Quinn approaching the half hour mark and his first task was to chase Cummins from the half way line, the Cork man made it look so easy as he raced past a number of defenders to put his side two up on 29 minutes. United were very much off the pace in the first half and were a pale shadow of the team that we have seen all season. Cork were happy sit back and hit United on the counter attack a ploy which worked well for them and the visitors did well  to keep the score down to 2-0 at half time.

United were much improved in the second half and indeed had the first chance at goal from an overhead kick from Declan O’Brien which was straight at the keeper. As the half progressed they came more into it and just when it looked like they might get on the score sheet. A good move down the right wing involving Paul Whelan and Aidan Collins who put Willo Mc Donagh through with  only the keeper to beat  but the keeper who was having a nightmare of a game got down well to deny him .Immediately Cork broke down the left wing and Vinny O Sullivan was in the right place to head in Corks third. But credit United three minutes later they got a goal back when Willo Mc. Donagh making up for his earlier miss got his foot to the ball in a crowded to stroke the ball ! over the line. With 20 minutes to go it was a very nervous looking Cork as Monaghan chased to get something out of the game but what ever chance they had was dealt a serious blow when Sean Brennan got a straight red for taking down Shane Duggan from behind on the half way line. United continued to attack and they were  reduced to nine when Ryan Brennan picked up what looked like a very harsh second yellow on half way and United’s woes were confounded when their man of the match Aidan Collins was stretchered off in injury time. A night that Monaghan United would quickly want to forget came to an end.

United may have lost in Turners Cross but their promotion ambitions are still very much on course.

Man of the match: Aidan Collins

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner (Cathal Lordan, 91), Gearóid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Graham Cummins (Vincent Escudé-Candau, 53) Vinny Sullivan (Andy O’Connell, 87).

Subs not used: Jason Forde, John Kavanagh, James McCarthy, Danny Morrissey.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Aidan Collins, William McDonagh, Alan Byrne, Shane Grimes; John Reilly, Eric Foley (Paul Whelan, 61), Ryan Brennan, Sean Brennan, Jason Marks; Declan O’Brien (David Byrne, 85).

Subs not used: Michael Isichei, Philip Byrne, Mark Grace, Jake Rossiter.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

Official Attendance: 2,502

Shelbourne 1  -2  Monaghan

Monaghan United have had many fine performances this season in the league but their display against Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday evening last would outshine any of them. The fine travelling band of supporters was treated to en epic in which their team maintained the upper hand for most of the game. It was played at a relentless pace throughout and for the most part especially in the first half under a torrential downpour which led to a greasy surface.  It was an encounter befitting its top of the table billing.  Considering the competitive nature and the conditions it was a very clean game that hadn’t a rash or a dangerous tackle throughout.

Monaghan United looked the hungrier of the two sides and it was they who created the first scoring action after eight minutes, John Reilly won the ball in Shelbourne’s half along the side line he played a fine ‘one-two’ with Ryan Brennan before striking across goal and wide of the post. Just before that twice in the space of a minute the United defence put undue pressure on their keeper with weak back passes which was probably due to the pace of the surface. With both defence dominant the forwards were finding it difficult and were surviving on half chances.  United expected the main threat to come from their former striker Philly Hughes but he was well marshalled by Alan Byrne and Willo Mc. Donagh and Hughes first strike on goal didn’t come until the ! 10th minute when he fired well wide under pressure from distance. In 18th minute Sean Brennan came close with a free kick whose flight appeared to deceive the Shels rear-guard. In 28th minute the home keeper Paul Skinner seemed to misjudge the flight of a high cross and was fortunate to get a palm on it. Then just past the hour mark United struck, Shels who were on the ball on the halfway line lost concentration, John Reilly nipped in a robbed the possession and instigated a quick ball downfield with both Fabio O’ Brien and Sean Brennan breaking past the defence, Fabio appeared to be strike for goal but the ball deflected off the shin of Garreth Matthews to Sean Brennan who fired past the keeper. Shels were incensed and they put both the referee Rob Rogers and his assistant Wayne Mc Donnell under severe verbal pressure which lasted at least a minute as they looked to have the goal ruled for off-side, it eventually ended with Gareth Mathews re! ceiving a yellow card for his protestations and the goal stood.  United would see it as poetic justice because on their last two visits to Tolka Park they were on the receiving end of at least three such clear cut such decisions going against them. For the remainder of the half which United continued to be the most dominant neither side created a clear cut chance and the visitors went to the halftime break well deserving of their lead.

As expected Shelbourne lifted the pace on the resumption for the second half and in the twice in the opening minutes Andy Boyle had two great chances to get the equaliser when first he was put through by Collie James and moments later he ghosted in behind defence to get on the end of a David Cassidy free only to miss at the far post. United had weathered the best that Shels could throw at them and we beginning to dominate again and thirteen minutes in it looked like Jordan Keegan’s powerful goal bound strike was going to double their score only for it to flash narrowly wide. It was the signal for Shels to shake things up and they immediately made a double substitution Kevin Dawson and Philip Byrne to try at get more control at midfield and up front. Four minutes later it looked like the changes had worked when the home side was back on pari! ty and very much against the run of play, they cleared the ball out of defence, David Cassidy had a headed attempt strike the crossbar the ball rebounded to Philly Hughes from less than the yards he hit a powerful in off the underside of the crossbar giving his former team mate Sava no chance. What followed was some most exciting end to end stuff and United were starting to dominate the exchanges, a couple of frees from Sean Brennan almost found the keeper and defenders wanting and it was such a situation that the Mons regained the lead.  Monaghan were awarded a free from approx. 30 yards, the type of range that Sean Brennan usually goes for goal from, however on this occasion he picked out Fabio who nodded the ball down to the younger Brennan who crashed the ball to the net.  Shels were rocked and there was no way that United’s defence whose performance was awesome were going to let them! back in. It was United who had the next attempt on goal when Sean Brennan’s free just flashed past the post with the keeper beaten, a minute later David Cassidy had a strike which Sava easily gathered. A strike from 35 yards from Sean Brennan caught the keeper out and he was relived to see it deflect of his body and out for a corner.  Then in the final minute of regulation time Shels should have got back on par, the ball came to an unmarked Kevin Dawson six yards in front of goal, it was harder to miss than score but to the relief of United as miss he did. Three minutes later it was all over and Shelbourne now feel Monaghan United bearing down on them for the championship as we enter the concluding month of the season.

Although the press selected Sean Brennan as their choice for ‘man of the match’ there were sterling performances from all of the United players. Unusually manager Roddy Collins emptied his bench during this game.  Indeed Collins must have got a lot of satisfaction on the night in winning for the second time this season at his old stomping ground Tolka Park.

Shelbourne: Paul Skinner; Gareth Matthews, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley; Ian Ryan (Kevin Dawson 58), Collie James (Philip Gorman 58), David Cassidy , Sean Byrne (Chris Mulhall 81), Brendan McGill; Philip Hughes.

Subs Not Used: Dean Delany, Barry Clancy, John Sullivan, Karl Bermingham.

Yellow Cards: Gareth Matthews, Stephen Paisley.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Aidan Collins, Shane Grimes, William McDonagh, Alan Byrne, Eric Foley, John Reilly, Ryan Brennan, Jordan Keegan (Jason Marks 75), Sean Brennan Keith Quinn 90), Declan O'Brien ,(Michael Isichei 85)

Subs Not Used: Mark Grace, David Byrne, Paul Byrne, Philip Byrne,.

Yellow Cards: Shane Grimes, Aidan Collins, John Reilly, Sean Brennan.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 923.