Airtricity League 1st Division

Monaghan United  v  Limerick

This will be the penultimate game of the season for both sides. In what is a must win for different reasons for both teams should guarantee an exciting encounter. Going into the game 4th place  Limerick trail Monaghan United by four points and this season with  two teams gaining automatic promotion and the third side participating in the play-offs against Galway United there is no doubt that Limerick are determined to get into one of these top three positions. Indeed so keen are they that last week they went through a costly Arbitration process in a their appeal to the extra points that United were awarded when Finn Harps played an ineligible player, fortunately for Monaghan that appeal was unsuccessful and the two points stand. Lim! erick who will be playing their last away game of the season is expecting to bring a couple of bus loads of supporters with intension of out shouting the home crowd.  But Monaghan United in what for them is the last home  game are expecting to have their largest turn out at a game for many seasons and with that in mind admission to the game will be by ticket only which may be purchased at the grounds on Friday from 6.p.m.

Limerick has put an excellent run in the league together and in fact Monaghan were the last team to defeat them in the encounter between the sides at Jackman Park. Since then they have had an impressive nine wins and two draws and they would have been disappointed that one of those same draws came against bottom of the table side Salthill Devon.  On their previous visit to Gortakeegan points were shared in a 1-1 draw. United were very much below par on the night. The supporters watched ninety scoreless minutes which were bookended with a goal in the opening and dying seconds. There was a long delay before the start when one of the goal- nets didn’t come up to the Assistant Referee’s standards. The holdup caused United to loose concentration and 18 seconds after the kick off Gabriel Sava! was picking the ball out of the back of the net for what must have been the fastest goal of the season, the scorer was Paudie Quinn. There was little between the sides throughout the game although United had the better of the possession but try as the might they couldn’t break down the Limerick defence. In the dying seconds United were awarded a corner and Ryan Brennan set up Alan Byrne for the equaliser. In June a very makeshift United side consisting of only three regular starters  went down 5-0 in the EA Sports Cup to Limerick in Jackman Park but three weeks later United returned to win 2 -0 in the league- Limerick’s last defeat in the competition. It was a much more exciting affair than the previous encounters, both sides created good chances before John Reilly put United ahead on 36 minutes.  United then dominated affairs for most of the game and had a couple of excellent chances to! at least double the score and when Limerick came at them strongly in the closing ten minutes United were beginning to rue their chances. Limerick tried desperately to get the equaliser. Eventually with only two minutes to go Davy Byrne put the game beyond their reach when he got in to finish from a corner kick.  It was one of United’s best performances of the season.

Limerick goes into this game after a good 3-1 win over Athlone Town at the weekend. Monaghan United defeated their bogey team Mervue United, indeed until Ryan Brennan scored the 88th minute goal it looked like the Galway side were once again going to frustrate the Mons.  United have to be given credit for playing to the final whistle in every game and on a number of occasions it has paid off for them when they got that all important late goal.

A win for Monaghan United is imperative and would almost guarantee them promotion. Of the four teams contesting promotion they probably have the hardest games left in the run in, first this one against Limerick and then away to Athlone Town next week. After this game Limerick play Waterford United. The other two sides in contention- Shelbourne and Cork City play each other in Tolka Park in their last game of the season, before that Shels play Salthill Devon and Cork travel to Longford Town. The supporters will not need reminding of how last years fine season fizzled out in the end, we don’t need a repeat of that. United deserve great credit for the manner in which they picked themselves up after last season to be once again in contention for promotion and indeed if they were to win these final two games they could well be champio! ns.

Unfortunately for Monaghan they have three very influential players out through suspension so once again in the space of two weeks the Brennan brothers Sean and Ryan as well as Keith Quinn will be absent.  On the positive side United have good strength in debt and are very fortunate in not picking up many injures or suspensions, otherwise we would have seen a lot more of our reserve players. Roddy Collins can call on players of the calibre of Philip Byrne, Michael Isichei, Paul Whelan, Jason Marks and Paul Byrne.  Collins believes that his side can go all the way, since his arrival at the club he has proved to be a great motivator and with the backing of good home crowd United should still be in contention to win the Championship never mind ge! t promoted when they travel to Athlone next week for their final game of the season.

Mervue United  0  -1 Monaghan United

Monaghan United continued their drive for promotion and indeed this win against Mervue United saw them leap frog both Shelbourne and Cork City into top position in the table.  Mervue have upset the odds against the Mons for the past three seasons and it looked very much again that it was going to be another repeat performance until Ryan Brennan got his late late goal in 88th minute.  Whereas in the previous encounters Mervue had more than their share of good look against , had they got anything out of this game they would  have more than deserved it and their supporters will feel they should have got at least a share of the points and how close did they come to getting that result. Even wh! en Brennan scored the goal Mervue’s  Alex Lee came close two minutes  later and they with the final action of the game Jason Marks was fortunate to get his foot to the ball to clear at the foot of the post from a corner.

With the exception of the suspended Shane Grimes Monaghan United were at full strength,. Jason Marks replaced Grimes, the Brennan brothers return from suspension, Paul Whelan and Eric Foley dropped to the bench. Mervue were missing four of their regulars in captain Martin Conneely, David Golbey, Damien O’ Rourke and Peter Dravins and five minutes into the game they were dealt a blow when their very influential player John Moutney limped off to be replaced Noel Varley.

In the opening half Monaghan were the play makers with Mervue hitting them on the rebound and they were very dangerous , there would be very few chances any opportunities were coming from half chances of which the home side created the first few. In the third minute Mervue’s most influential forward on the night Etanda Nkolo hit the side netting. Noel Varley was only three minutes on the pitch when he had a good chance, the ball was knocked down to him by Pat Hoban but he dragged his strike well wide. Jordan Keegan had Monaghan’s first attempt but the keeper Brian O’ Donoghue who was making his league of Ireland debut saved well.  Three minutes later it was united’s custodians turn  Gabriel Sava turn  when he denied Alex lee after a very good Mervue move. On the quarter hour mark we saw the first good move of the game and it came from the visitors involving Jordan Keegan and Fabio O’ Brien who put Keith Quinn in but he hurried his attempt and shot well off target.  Mervue were getting more into it but the game was becoming more scrappy which seemed to frustrate Monaghan. Just on the half hour mark Mervue’s James Casserley did well to get back to deny Sean Brennan and immediately at the other end Sava brought off another good save from Jason Molloy getting down at full stretch to get his hand to the ball.  Sean Brennan was put through but his effort was terrible however two minutes later he nearly redeemed himself he was through again but he was denied by an excellent save by the keeper. With the half time whistle five minutes away Monaghan were increasing the pressure, James Casserle! y made a goal line clearance for Mervue. There weren’t many cards flashed on the night but Pat Hoban received the first yellow one  on 40 minutes for a foul on Ryan Brennan , it incensed the home crowd as they felt he had won the ball. The closing five minutes saw no chances for either side, but just on the stroke of 45 minutes Fabio nearly sneaked a goal as he got behind the defence but again O’ Donohue reacted well to deceive him.

Monaghan United were keen to resume the action and only used 12 of the regulation minutes of the halftime break  Again the early pressure came from the visitors but a moments poor defending nearly cost them, Alan Byrne fluffed a clearance on the penalty spot and both Pat Hoban and Etanda Nkololo had a strike each before Willo Mc. Donagh cleared off the line, Monaghan quickly broke down the field and a goal line clearance Noel Varley denied Aidan Collins after he got on the end of a cross following a Sean Brennan free. Once again Mervue came close, a30 yard free was deflected onto the cross bar for a corner from which Sava had  a rare lapse when he almost gifted a goal to the home side when he dropped the ball over the line, but he recovered qu! ickly.  What followed was Mervue’s best period of the game and they looked like they were getting on top, Monaghan made a double substitutions on 59 minute, Eric Foley replaced Keith Quinn and David Byrne came on for Fabio. .. A quick break out of defence by United saw Sean Brennan get clear he trapped the ball beautifully on his chest and having done the hard part he hit a terrible strike past the post, it was real chance and Monaghan should have scored . Etanda Nkololo had a good run down the wing, he picked out Pat Hoban who shot straight at Sava.  Mervue put another good move together, Lee released Hoban, Noel Varley was fouled but with Hoban in the clear the  ref gave a free when the advantage might have suited them better. Aidan Collins picked up a card for a foul on Nkololo it was a credit to the young Mervue man’s pace as it was probably the only time this season that Collins was beaten.  With ten minutes to go Michael Isichei came on for Jordan Keegan and he immediately injected some pace down the wing. With time running out Monaghan up the pressure it almost paid off when Isichei got onto a David Byrne cross at the far post only to put it agonisingly wide, it looked like they had blown their chance but a minute later Isichei turned provider when his pinpoint cross picked out Ryan Brennan and from close range he fired it home. Mervue’s heads were far from dropping, from the restart they broke down field only for Alex Lee to blast over.  The ref added four minutes to the regulation time. A corner kick from Nkololo was scramb! led off the line for another corner which again was saved at the foot of the upright by Marks and that was the last action of a very exciting counter. At last Monaghan United were able to turn the tables on Mervue and for a change it was they who could claim the hard luck stories.

Mervue United : Brian O’ Donoghue,David O’ Brien, Kenny Farrell, James Casserley, Mike Elwood, John Mountney (Noel Varley5), Alex Lee, Barry Mc. Entee, Jason Molloy (Marc Ludeden

Subs not used :

Monaghan United: Sava

Subs not used :

Referee : Darren Coombes.

Airtricity League 1st Division

Monaghan United  v  Limerick

This will be the penultimate game of the season for both sides. In what is a must win for different reasons for both teams should guarantee an exciting encounter. Going into the game 4th place  Limerick trail Monaghan United by four points and this season with  two teams gaining automatic promotion and the third side participating in the play-offs against Galway United there is no doubt that Limerick are determined to get into one of these top three positions. Indeed so keen are they that last week they went through a costly Arbitration process in a their appeal to the extra points that United were awarded when Finn Harps played an ineligible player, fortunately for Monaghan that appeal was unsuccessful and the two points stand. Lim! erick who will be playing their last away game of the season is expecting to bring a couple of bus loads of supporters with intension of out shouting the home crowd.  But Monaghan United in what for them is the last home  game are expecting to have their largest turn out at a game for many seasons and with that in mind admission to the game will be by ticket only which may be purchased at the grounds on Friday from 6.p.m.

Limerick has put an excellent run in the league together and in fact Monaghan were the last team to defeat them in the encounter between the sides at Jackman Park. Since then they have had an impressive nine wins and two draws and they would have been disappointed that one of those same draws came against bottom of the table side Salthill Devon.  On their previous visit to Gortakeegan points were shared in a 1-1 draw. United were very much below par on the night. The supporters watched ninety scoreless minutes which were bookended with a goal in the opening and dying seconds. There was a long delay before the start when one of the goal- nets didn’t come up to the Assistant Referee’s standards. The holdup caused United to loose concentration and 18 seconds after the kick off Gabriel Sava! was picking the ball out of the back of the net for what must have been the fastest goal of the season, the scorer was Paudie Quinn. There was little between the sides throughout the game although United had the better of the possession but try as the might they couldn’t break down the Limerick defence. In the dying seconds United were awarded a corner and Ryan Brennan set up Alan Byrne for the equaliser. In June a very makeshift United side consisting of only three regular starters  went down 5-0 in the EA Sports Cup to Limerick in Jackman Park but three weeks later United returned to win 2 -0 in the league- Limerick’s last defeat in the competition. It was a much more exciting affair than the previous encounters, both sides created good chances before John Reilly put United ahead on 36 minutes.  United then dominated affairs for most of the game and had a couple of excellent chances to! at least double the score and when Limerick came at them strongly in the closing ten minutes United were beginning to rue their chances. Limerick tried desperately to get the equaliser. Eventually with only two minutes to go Davy Byrne put the game beyond their reach when he got in to finish from a corner kick.  It was one of United’s best performances of the season.

Limerick goes into this game after a good 3-1 win over Athlone Town at the weekend. Monaghan United defeated their bogey team Mervue United, indeed until Ryan Brennan scored the 88th minute goal it looked like the Galway side were once again going to frustrate the Mons.  United have to be given credit for playing to the final whistle in every game and on a number of occasions it has paid off for them when they got that all important late goal.

A win for Monaghan United is imperative and would almost guarantee them promotion. Of the four teams contesting promotion they probably have the hardest games left in the run in, first this one against Limerick and then away to Athlone Town next week. After this game Limerick play Waterford United. The other two sides in contention- Shelbourne and Cork City play each other in Tolka Park in their last game of the season, before that Shels play Salthill Devon and Cork travel to Longford Town. The supporters will not need reminding of how last years fine season fizzled out in the end, we don’t need a repeat of that. United deserve great credit for the manner in which they picked themselves up after last season to be once again in contention for promotion and indeed if they were to win these final two games they could well be champio! ns.

Unfortunately for Monaghan they have three very influential players out through suspension so once again in the space of two weeks the Brennan brothers Sean and Ryan as well as Keith Quinn will be absent.  On the positive side United have good strength in debt and are very fortunate in not picking up many injures or suspensions, otherwise we would have seen a lot more of our reserve players. Roddy Collins can call on players of the calibre of Philip Byrne, Michael Isichei, Paul Whelan, Jason Marks and Paul Byrne.  Collins believes that his side can go all the way, since his arrival at the club he has proved to be a great motivator and with the backing of good home crowd United should still be in contention to win the Championship never mind ge! t promoted when they travel to Athlone next week for their final game of the season.

Mervue United  0  -1 Monaghan United

Monaghan United continued their drive for promotion and indeed this win against Mervue United saw them leap frog both Shelbourne and Cork City into top position in the table.  Mervue have upset the odds against the Mons for the past three seasons and it looked very much again that it was going to be another repeat performance until Ryan Brennan got his late late goal in 88th minute.  Whereas in the previous encounters Mervue had more than their share of good look against , had they got anything out of this game they would  have more than deserved it and their supporters will feel they should have got at least a share of the points and how close did they come to getting that result. Even wh! en Brennan scored the goal Mervue’s  Alex Lee came close two minutes  later and they with the final action of the game Jason Marks was fortunate to get his foot to the ball to clear at the foot of the post from a corner.

With the exception of the suspended Shane Grimes Monaghan United were at full strength,. Jason Marks replaced Grimes, the Brennan brothers return from suspension, Paul Whelan and Eric Foley dropped to the bench. Mervue were missing four of their regulars in captain Martin Conneely, David Golbey, Damien O’ Rourke and Peter Dravins and five minutes into the game they were dealt a blow when their very influential player John Moutney limped off to be replaced Noel Varley.

In the opening half Monaghan were the play makers with Mervue hitting them on the rebound and they were very dangerous , there would be very few chances any opportunities were coming from half chances of which the home side created the first few. In the third minute Mervue’s most influential forward on the night Etanda Nkolo hit the side netting. Noel Varley was only three minutes on the pitch when he had a good chance, the ball was knocked down to him by Pat Hoban but he dragged his strike well wide. Jordan Keegan had Monaghan’s first attempt but the keeper Brian O’ Donoghue who was making his league of Ireland debut saved well.  Three minutes later it was united’s custodians turn  Gabriel Sava turn  when he denied Alex lee after a very good Mervue move. On the quarter hour mark we saw the first good move of the game and it came from the visitors involving Jordan Keegan and Fabio O’ Brien who put Keith Quinn in but he hurried his attempt and shot well off target.  Mervue were getting more into it but the game was becoming more scrappy which seemed to frustrate Monaghan. Just on the half hour mark Mervue’s James Casserley did well to get back to deny Sean Brennan and immediately at the other end Sava brought off another good save from Jason Molloy getting down at full stretch to get his hand to the ball.  Sean Brennan was put through but his effort was terrible however two minutes later he nearly redeemed himself he was through again but he was denied by an excellent save by the keeper. With the half time whistle five minutes away Monaghan were increasing the pressure, James Casserle! y made a goal line clearance for Mervue. There weren’t many cards flashed on the night but Pat Hoban received the first yellow one  on 40 minutes for a foul on Ryan Brennan , it incensed the home crowd as they felt he had won the ball. The closing five minutes saw no chances for either side, but just on the stroke of 45 minutes Fabio nearly sneaked a goal as he got behind the defence but again O’ Donohue reacted well to deceive him.

Monaghan United were keen to resume the action and only used 12 of the regulation minutes of the halftime break  Again the early pressure came from the visitors but a moments poor defending nearly cost them, Alan Byrne fluffed a clearance on the penalty spot and both Pat Hoban and Etanda Nkololo had a strike each before Willo Mc. Donagh cleared off the line, Monaghan quickly broke down the field and a goal line clearance Noel Varley denied Aidan Collins after he got on the end of a cross following a Sean Brennan free. Once again Mervue came close, a30 yard free was deflected onto the cross bar for a corner from which Sava had  a rare lapse when he almost gifted a goal to the home side when he dropped the ball over the line, but he recovered qu! ickly.  What followed was Mervue’s best period of the game and they looked like they were getting on top, Monaghan made a double substitutions on 59 minute, Eric Foley replaced Keith Quinn and David Byrne came on for Fabio. .. A quick break out of defence by United saw Sean Brennan get clear he trapped the ball beautifully on his chest and having done the hard part he hit a terrible strike past the post, it was real chance and Monaghan should have scored . Etanda Nkololo had a good run down the wing, he picked out Pat Hoban who shot straight at Sava.  Mervue put another good move together, Lee released Hoban, Noel Varley was fouled but with Hoban in the clear the  ref gave a free when the advantage might have suited them better. Aidan Collins picked up a card for a foul on Nkololo it was a credit to the young Mervue man’s pace as it was probably the only time this season that Collins was beaten.  With ten minutes to go Michael Isichei came on for Jordan Keegan and he immediately injected some pace down the wing. With time running out Monaghan up the pressure it almost paid off when Isichei got onto a David Byrne cross at the far post only to put it agonisingly wide, it looked like they had blown their chance but a minute later Isichei turned provider when his pinpoint cross picked out Ryan Brennan and from close range he fired it home. Mervue’s heads were far from dropping, from the restart they broke down field only for Alex Lee to blast over.  The ref added four minutes to the regulation time. A corner kick from Nkololo was scramb! led off the line for another corner which again was saved at the foot of the upright by Marks and that was the last action of a very exciting counter. At last Monaghan United were able to turn the tables on Mervue and for a change it was they who could claim the hard luck stories.

Mervue United : Brian O’ Donoghue,David O’ Brien, Kenny Farrell, James Casserley, Mike Elwood, John Mountney (Noel Varley5), Alex Lee, Barry Mc. Entee, Jason Molloy (Marc Ludeden

Subs not used :

Monaghan United: Sava

Subs not used :

Referee : Darren Coombes.