Monaghan United  v  Derry City

A very quick perusal of the above table will show that it is paramount that Monaghan United win this last game of the season against league leaders Derry City.  United will have to put last week’s disappointing result against Mervue United behind them and give the Derry game their full concentration.  Monaghan United’s ambition at the start of the season was promotion to the Premier Division and that is still on the cards.

When United played Derry in their first meeting of the season at Gortakeegan there appeared to big a big gulf in the class between the sides, however on their next meeting at the Brandywell not alone had United closed the gap but they went on to defeat Derry in a 3-2 epic.  Monaghan had taken a 2-0 lead only to be pegged back to 2-2 before going on and getting the deciding goal,it was the first defeat for the Candy-stripes in 18 outings at home.

 One victory does not make a team a great one or neither does a bad result make a poor team. Since that result at the Brandywell Monaghan have demonstrated that they are as good a side as there is in the 1^st Division.Up until recent results this has still been a fine season for Monaghan United they have had their highest total of points every accumulated by a United side and for the latter part of the season they were disputing top position with Derry City and up to last week were very much on course for winning the league title, a victory in this game against Derry should ensure a play off position for Premier Division football next season. Some will look at the defeat by Mervue United and let it overshadow the wins both at home and away against sides like Derry, Waterford, Cork and Li! merick and also there was the excellent run in both cups with wins over Premier Division sides Bohemians and Dundalk.

. On the positive side going into this game the manager Mick Cooke has a strong panel to select from apart from Sean Brennan who is suspended for this game and hopefully Karl Bermingham will have recovered from injury. Honours have been evenly shared between the sides with each of them having won a game. Derry had great start to the season and looked to be running away with the league, they were looking very much like the Premier Division side that they were until last season when they dropped down to the 1^st. Division for reasons away from the playing pitch, then in the final third of the season they started to leak the points but the good start has stood to them and they have done enough recently to ensure promotion.

Unlike Monaghan United, Derry City could always boast of a fine fan support base both home and away. One wonders had United a decent support to encourage them last week end when they needed a lift would it have not made a difference.  Hopefully the home crowd will turn out in strength for this final game of the season, the 12^th man might be what is required to make the difference and irrespective of the result of this game, for the excellent season and the enjoyment they gave in many games both at home and away the management and team deserve a big support on the night.

Kick off as usual is at 7.45.p.m.

Injuries :-  Karl Bermingham,           

Suspe nsions :  Sean Brennan

Previous 5 results

 “Manager Quotes “ I congratulate all involved with Derry City on winning the  Airtricity League,1^st Division and wish them continued success in the Premier Division next season.

Last weeks result against Mervue United was most disappointing for everyone involved with Monaghan United, it ended our dream of winning the league but fortunately not our chance of promotion. However disappointing the outcome at Terryland Park was we should not let it overshadow the season we’ve just had. The right result here tonight would still see us in second place- a position only once previously achieved by a United team. We also had an excellent run in both Cup competitions. In the league we took points off all of the other sides by defeating all but one of them. The ‘Cups’ also saw victories over Premier Division sides Bohemians and Dundalk. It was unfortunate for us that this was the season D! erry City had to join the 1^st. Division.

It looked for a good while that 1^st.Division was going to be a one horse race with Derry City galloping out of sight.  They might have dropped down a league but the ‘Candy-stripes’  never lost their Premier League standards and are a class act, I am not surprised that their stay was short.

After our first encounter against Derry we knew what the bench mark was if we were to be successful in the league and I believe that we have come up to that mark.

I remember at the start of the season looking down the schedule of games and noting that the final one of the season was at Gortakeegan against Derry City and hoping that it would be an important game for us and that is how it has panned out.  If we are to travel up with Derry City to the Premier this season it is imperative that we win tonights game.

I would like to thank the hard core of fans that followed us at home and away, I am looking forward to a good game with the right result and that everyone enjoys it”.

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