Monaghan United  v  Bray Wanderers

 Having defeated Waterford United at the RSC, Monaghan United advance to play Premier Division side Bray Wanderers in this promotion play-off.  It is a two-legged contest with the first encounter at Gortakeegan on Friday night and the return game at the Carlisle Grounds on Monday night.

Bray  pushed eventual premier division winners Shamrock Rovers all the way on Friday night last and it was a surprise to see them then succumbed to Galway United in the play offs on Tuesday evening.  It was very much a below par performance for them and the game was decided by what has been described as the easiest goal of the season when they switched off their concentration in defending a Galway corner.

Monaghan United on the other hand easily accounted for Waterford 3-1 when they put the recent blip in their performance behind them.  With a strong wind blowing down the field it was a difficult night for football, but United ignored the elements and played some of the best football we have seen from them this year.  Hopefully their reinvigoration will extend over the next to games.

United will have to step their performance up a gear when they take on the Premier Division side, but they displayed that they are well capable of doing so with victories twice this season against such opposition.

Mick Cooke will have to do without the services of Barry Clancy out on a one match suspension; hopefully he will see the return of Karl Bermingham.

Bray will be missing there reliable central defender Adam Mitchell who picked up a red card against Galway.

There was a small but vociferous travelling support at the RSC, hopefully their numbers will be well swollen for this crucial game at Gortakeegan and that the Mons will be able to take an all important lead to the game at the Carlisle Grounds.

Kick off at Gortakeegan at the slighter earlier time of 7.45.p.m.

“ Managers Quotes”

A most satisfying victory in tough weather condition in front of a large partisan crowd at the RSC against Waterford United. Indeed our performance on the night kept the crowd quiet for most of the game. In the game we rediscovered our earlier form of the season; hopefully we can now retain it for the remaining two games against Bray Wanderers.  Having watched Bray against Shamrock Rovers last weekend and who they came close to defeating in that game I was very impressed with them and was therefore surprised to see them go down to Galway United.  It will be their performance against Rovers that I will be expecting, so we will have to be at our best if we are account for them.

Barry Clancy whose performance against Waterford  was so important to the final result misses the game through suspension, Karl Bermingham is still doubtful, but I still believe we have enough  strength in depth. Bray being a Premier side will mean we will have to up our performance a notch, this is something we have already achieved  a number of times already this season and there is no reason we can’t do so again.  Nothing less than a top class performance will suffice.

This being the last home game of the season there are a number of people at the club that I would like to thank, from Chairman Jim Mc. Glone who personally had a tough year, all Committee members, the coach Pat Mc. Gibbon, kit-man, Pauric Cassidy, the scribes Ronan Kilmurray and Tom Britton, the ladies who  provided the refreshments, physio, Kevin Prunty, chauffer, Philly, James and Denise Mc. Caffrey , coach driver Gus, to our loyal supporters especially the ones who travelled with us throughout the season and lastly but most important the team- what a fine bunch of lads.

Hopefully we can all be together again next season in Premier Division”

Previous 5 results

Injuries :  Karl Bermingham

Suspensions :  Barry Clancy