Airtricity League of Ireland Promotion/Demotion Play Off -1st leg.

Monaghan United  v Galway United

Monaghan United supporters would have been disappointed that they didn’t gain automatic promotion at the weekend, however no blame attaches to the team as on the night they did their part with an excellent display in defeating Athlone Town 5-1 away. What an encouraging performance andscore line to end a season on and to face Galway United in the play-offended were it not for a number of fine saves from Athlone’s keeper they winning margin would have been much wider.

United will try and take advantage of having the 1st leg of these play-offs at home by hopefully taking a good winning margin to Terryland Park on Friday.  Galway United were in a position of knowing that they would be in these play from a long way back in the season, the only thing they didn’t know was the opposition. They had a disastrous season in only winning one game in the league.  Monaghan United on the other hand had an excellent season which they capped on Saturday night with for what was for them their highest winning margin of 2011.  They have to travel in a confident mood.

Roddy Collins has a strong squad to select from; unfortunately Keith Quinn’s rash tackle is unavailable.

Verdict: Home win

Suspensions: Keith Quinn, John Reilly.

Injured: Conor McMahon.Aidan Collins, Sean Brennan & Ryan Brennan

Last Five Results.

Athlone Town

0

5

Monaghan United

Limerick FC

1

0

Monaghan United

Mervue United

0

1

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

2

0

Wexford Youths

Manager’s view “ When I was writing in the last programme and saying my thank you and good byes for the season I  was allowing for the fact that we might not need to be back here this evening and how close did we come to getting one of the  two automatic promotion positions. But my plan starting out at the beginning of the season was getting at least into the play-offs, this we have achieved.  We had a great run into the end of the season winning five out of the last six and what about our final game last Saturday against Athlone Town with the lads cro! wning their performance with a record winning score line of the season for us. In that game we didn’t know until the final whistle what our future for next season would be, but fair play to the lads they kept their concentration on the game in hand and if at anytime that was about to flag they got fantastic encouragement from  the fine vocal band of travelling supporters, well done everyone. We will need to replicate our performance in Athlone in both these legs against Galway United.  Unfortunately that victory came at a cost to us injury and suspension wise. But I still believe that we have the talent and strength in depth.

It would be a great achievement to be joining Cork City and Shelbourne in the Premier Division and after the season we had it would be well earned.

Since this will definitely our last home game of the season again I would like to thank once again everyone at Monaghan United club for giving me one of my most satisfying seasons of my career.

Again we will need a good turn out of supporters in Terryland Park, I know it’s asking a lot to have to come out three times in less than a week but believe me your support to us is vital.

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.

Airtricity League of Ireland Promotion/Demotion Play Off -1st leg.

Monaghan United  v Galway United

Monaghan United supporters would have been disappointed that they didn’t gain automatic promotion at the weekend, however no blame attaches to the team as on the night they did their part with an excellent display in defeating Athlone Town 5-1 away. What an encouraging performance andscore line to end a season on and to face Galway United in the play-offended were it not for a number of fine saves from Athlone’s keeper they winning margin would have been much wider.

United will try and take advantage of having the 1st leg of these play-offs at home by hopefully taking a good winning margin to Terryland Park on Friday.  Galway United were in a position of knowing that they would be in these play from a long way back in the season, the only thing they didn’t know was the opposition. They had a disastrous season in only winning one game in the league.  Monaghan United on the other hand had an excellent season which they capped on Saturday night with for what was for them their highest winning margin of 2011.  They have to travel in a confident mood.

Roddy Collins has a strong squad to select from; unfortunately Keith Quinn’s rash tackle is unavailable.

Verdict: Home win

Suspensions: Keith Quinn, John Reilly.

Injured: Conor McMahon.Aidan Collins, Sean Brennan & Ryan Brennan

Last Five Results.

Athlone Town

0

5

Monaghan United

Limerick FC

1

0

Monaghan United

Mervue United

0

1

Monaghan United

Monaghan United

2

0

Wexford Youths

Manager’s view “ When I was writing in the last programme and saying my thank you and good byes for the season I  was allowing for the fact that we might not need to be back here this evening and how close did we come to getting one of the  two automatic promotion positions. But my plan starting out at the beginning of the season was getting at least into the play-offs, this we have achieved.  We had a great run into the end of the season winning five out of the last six and what about our final game last Saturday against Athlone Town with the lads cro! wning their performance with a record winning score line of the season for us. In that game we didn’t know until the final whistle what our future for next season would be, but fair play to the lads they kept their concentration on the game in hand and if at anytime that was about to flag they got fantastic encouragement from  the fine vocal band of travelling supporters, well done everyone. We will need to replicate our performance in Athlone in both these legs against Galway United.  Unfortunately that victory came at a cost to us injury and suspension wise. But I still believe that we have the talent and strength in depth.

It would be a great achievement to be joining Cork City and Shelbourne in the Premier Division and after the season we had it would be well earned.

Since this will definitely our last home game of the season again I would like to thank once again everyone at Monaghan United club for giving me one of my most satisfying seasons of my career.

Again we will need a good turn out of supporters in Terryland Park, I know it’s asking a lot to have to come out three times in less than a week but believe me your support to us is vital.

Yours in Football,

Roddy Collins.