Magicme
21/05/2009, 10:57 AM
Having now completed our first round of matches so when we play Longford Town on Friday night it will be the second meeting of the sides this season. Who will forget the first!
In previewing that game a local radio commentator predicted that it would be like watching paint dry, how wrong he got it, in the opening ten minutes we were afraid that he might have been right, but how quickly things changed. In the next three minutes Longford were 3-nil up.
Everyone in the ground was shell shocked except the United team. They went about getting on the scoreboard relentlessly and before the halftime interval by which time they should have been back on level terms they were still one down.
The second half would be 5 minutes old before the equaliser came and after Longford repelled wave after wave of attack throughout the second half they were glad in the finish to hold out for the draw and United having been three down after 13 minutes went home disappointed with not having won.
Since that first meeting Monaghan have been the better of the two sides and having collected points in their last four outings are in 7th.place in the table. Longford’s position of being second from bottom belies some of their most recent form.
Like us, Lady Luck hasn’t been kind to them. They almost caused a huge shock at Tolka Park when they led Shelbourne 2-nil, a game they controlled for most of the 90 minutes, unfortunately they had to share the points when Shels got back on par. Last week against Limerick they were drawing 2-2 until Limerick scored a late winner. Incidentally their goals tally is 2 more than ours. This goes to show that they are no pushovers.
Last week Monaghan United gave a display of attacking football in Finn Park and their form on the night would have beaten any of the sides in the Division. They are playing with great flair and confidence. They appear to have turned the corner and left the worst elements of their game behind them. In each of their last four games they have displayed a steady curve of improvement. They have now climbed to the half way point in the table and if they can maintain this good run they can advance higher and get into contention. Last year we almost got there with a later run of results.
Mick Cooke won’t be taking anything for granted against Longford Town; although missing Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension he will still have a strong squad to pick from. Nonetheless he and we will be disappointed if he doesn’t collect all 3 points.
Monaghan United are playing well and deserve more support. With the English Premiership now decided there should be few distractions to keep through followers of the game away.
Injuries & Suspensions
Injured : nil
Suspended : Don Tierney & Alan Byrne
Results of Last fixtures
Div 1
Finn Harps 1 2 Monaghan United
Div 1 Monaghan United 0 0 Wexford Youths
Div 1 Athlone Town 2 3 Monaghan United
Div 1 Monaghan United 5 1 Kildare County
Div 1 Waterford United 6 0 Monaghan United
Next 5 Fixtures
Fri May 22 Monaghan United v Longford Town 8.p.m.
Fri May 29 Shelbourne v Monaghan United 7.45.p.m
Fri Jun 5 Monaghan United v UCD 8.p.m.
Fri Jun 14 FAI Ford Cup
Fri Jun19 Mervue United v Monaghan United 7.45.p.m.
Fri July 3 Monaghan United v Limerick 8.p.m.
Manager Quotes.” I would like to extend a warm welcome to manager Alan Gough, the players, official and supporters of Longford Town.
A good win away last week end at Ballybofey, Finn Harps were they only side in the league that I had failed to achieve a win against in my time with United, so last Saturday we got it right. I felt we put in a good performance from start to finish and weren’t flattered by the end result.
More of the same is required this week end against Longford Town. Our last outing at Flancare Park will be remember for it’s six goals and our come back from being three down. I don’t believe we can afford them the luxury of such a lead this weekend. I won’t be taken in by Longfords low position in the table, in their most recent games against Shelbourne and Limerick they were unlucky not to have taken all six points on offer. The game against Shelbourne in particular they played the home side off the park for most of the game and were leading up to very late in the game ! and not many sides have done that this season at Tolka Park.
I will be missing Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension but otherwise we should have a strong enough panel to pick from.
In our last four games were have demonstrated some good displays, there is no reason why we cannot continue the good run. We have now completed our first series of matches so it is a good time to be turning the corner performance wise, so hopefully the second series will be more fruitful for us.
Again I am looking forward to a good home support."
In previewing that game a local radio commentator predicted that it would be like watching paint dry, how wrong he got it, in the opening ten minutes we were afraid that he might have been right, but how quickly things changed. In the next three minutes Longford were 3-nil up.
Everyone in the ground was shell shocked except the United team. They went about getting on the scoreboard relentlessly and before the halftime interval by which time they should have been back on level terms they were still one down.
The second half would be 5 minutes old before the equaliser came and after Longford repelled wave after wave of attack throughout the second half they were glad in the finish to hold out for the draw and United having been three down after 13 minutes went home disappointed with not having won.
Since that first meeting Monaghan have been the better of the two sides and having collected points in their last four outings are in 7th.place in the table. Longford’s position of being second from bottom belies some of their most recent form.
Like us, Lady Luck hasn’t been kind to them. They almost caused a huge shock at Tolka Park when they led Shelbourne 2-nil, a game they controlled for most of the 90 minutes, unfortunately they had to share the points when Shels got back on par. Last week against Limerick they were drawing 2-2 until Limerick scored a late winner. Incidentally their goals tally is 2 more than ours. This goes to show that they are no pushovers.
Last week Monaghan United gave a display of attacking football in Finn Park and their form on the night would have beaten any of the sides in the Division. They are playing with great flair and confidence. They appear to have turned the corner and left the worst elements of their game behind them. In each of their last four games they have displayed a steady curve of improvement. They have now climbed to the half way point in the table and if they can maintain this good run they can advance higher and get into contention. Last year we almost got there with a later run of results.
Mick Cooke won’t be taking anything for granted against Longford Town; although missing Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension he will still have a strong squad to pick from. Nonetheless he and we will be disappointed if he doesn’t collect all 3 points.
Monaghan United are playing well and deserve more support. With the English Premiership now decided there should be few distractions to keep through followers of the game away.
Injuries & Suspensions
Injured : nil
Suspended : Don Tierney & Alan Byrne
Results of Last fixtures
Div 1
Finn Harps 1 2 Monaghan United
Div 1 Monaghan United 0 0 Wexford Youths
Div 1 Athlone Town 2 3 Monaghan United
Div 1 Monaghan United 5 1 Kildare County
Div 1 Waterford United 6 0 Monaghan United
Next 5 Fixtures
Fri May 22 Monaghan United v Longford Town 8.p.m.
Fri May 29 Shelbourne v Monaghan United 7.45.p.m
Fri Jun 5 Monaghan United v UCD 8.p.m.
Fri Jun 14 FAI Ford Cup
Fri Jun19 Mervue United v Monaghan United 7.45.p.m.
Fri July 3 Monaghan United v Limerick 8.p.m.
Manager Quotes.” I would like to extend a warm welcome to manager Alan Gough, the players, official and supporters of Longford Town.
A good win away last week end at Ballybofey, Finn Harps were they only side in the league that I had failed to achieve a win against in my time with United, so last Saturday we got it right. I felt we put in a good performance from start to finish and weren’t flattered by the end result.
More of the same is required this week end against Longford Town. Our last outing at Flancare Park will be remember for it’s six goals and our come back from being three down. I don’t believe we can afford them the luxury of such a lead this weekend. I won’t be taken in by Longfords low position in the table, in their most recent games against Shelbourne and Limerick they were unlucky not to have taken all six points on offer. The game against Shelbourne in particular they played the home side off the park for most of the game and were leading up to very late in the game ! and not many sides have done that this season at Tolka Park.
I will be missing Don Tierney and Alan Byrne through suspension but otherwise we should have a strong enough panel to pick from.
In our last four games were have demonstrated some good displays, there is no reason why we cannot continue the good run. We have now completed our first series of matches so it is a good time to be turning the corner performance wise, so hopefully the second series will be more fruitful for us.
Again I am looking forward to a good home support."