Monaghan United playing without five of their regular first team starters shared the points in an exciting nil-nil draw with Athlone town At Kingspan Century Park.
The visitors were the quicker to settle and they were the more dominant in the opening quarter hour in which they created a couple of chances that keeper Aaron McCarey had to be alert to deal with.
The constant drizzle left the surface very difficult and in fairness to the referee he allowed for the conditions on a number of times throughout the game when he gave the players the benefit of the doubt when on another occasion the yellow card might have been flashed.
Darragh Hanaphy would prove to be United’s most dangerous forward on the night and he had his first chance after 20 minutes, when he slipped on the surface he lost the chance of going for goal and instead passed it back to Brian Gartland whose first time effort clipped the crossbar. A couple of minutes later Hanaphy created two more efforts the first was saved by the keeper and the second went narrowly wide. At the other end Aaron McCarey brought off a great save from a powerful strike from outside the box from Mark Sammon.
Alan Byrne then came close for United with a speculative lob that struck the top of the crossbar. A long clearance by Aaron McCarey from a back pass put Barry Clancy through but keeper Alex O’Reilly was quick off his line to beat Clancy to the ball. Athlone brought the first half to an end when Plaice played Skelly through but McCarey advanced and smothered any attempt on goal. Apart from the opening quarter of an hour Monaghan United dominated the possession in the opening half.
Monaghan displayed serious intent on the resumption and in the opening six minutes had three great chances for goals, again it was Hanaphy who having done all the hard work in taking the ball forward past a number of defenders tried to place the ball in the corner of the net only to see go past the foot of the goal post. Minutes later he turned provider when from inside the area he passed back to Don Tierney who shot narrowly over.
Then it was Cathal O’ Connor’s turn to come close when his strike from ten yards went inches past the post. Next followed the move of the match when Hanaphy picked up the ball on the halfway along the side line, he weaved his way past a number of defenders and had the opportunity for striking for goal but instead took the unselfish option of cantering the ball to Barry Clancy who blazed the ball from 10 yards only to see it deflected and hit the underside of the crossbar.
It was all one way traffic for United but late in the half Stephen Plaice managed to get forward for Athlone and he was the only one that was showing any real threat.
In the second half alone Monaghan created enough good chances to have won by 3 or 4 goals maybe on a drier surface they would have converted. However with all the injuries that they have accumulated this has to be regarded as a point one rather than two lost.
Next week we meet Wexford’s Youths who had a rare defeat this week end to Kildare County who had a rare victory, the result should bring a bit of spice to our meeting.
FAI/Ford Cup
In the coming week Mick Cooke will have divide his attention between the league and the FAI/Ford Cup. United’s opponents at Kingspan Century Park on Friday 14th. August – which will be our next home game - will be premier side St. Patrick, Athletic.
St. Pats who are managed by former Irish International- Jeff Kenna will be formable opposition, as we go the press they will be approximately 4,000 kilometres away in Samara in east Russia for their Europa Cup decider with Krylya Sovetov, this is the away leg of the two match tie, Pats won the first leg at Richmond Park last week on a score line of 1-0. In their last game in the league they had a good win against Dundalk which eased their fears and keeps them out of the relegation zone. Hopefully this will keep their focus off our meeting with them.
Our last meeting with Pats was in a friendly away to them at the start of the season and on the night there was very little difference between the sides.
Mick Cooke should have a full squad to pick from as hopefully all of the injured players will be back to fitness.
United beat non league side Cherry Orchard after a replay in the previous round. That victory more or less signalled the commencement of United good run of form and results.
We hope all United fans come out and support the side and be their 12th. man.
Kick off will be at 8.p.m.
New Astro Pitch - Now Taking Bookings
The new UEFA Astro Pitch at Monaghan United’s Kingspan Century Park is now officially opened for business from Thursday 2nd July.
For the month of July the Astro was available as advertised for trial introduction slots to any clubs, teams or organisations etc wishing to use it, there has been a good uptake on this invitation resulting in some very good block bookings.
From 1st August will be available to be booked on a daily basis from 10.a.m to 10.p.m.
This full sized, floodlit Astro pitch is available to all sports as part of the Monaghan United Sports Development Centre.
Monaghan Town and surrounding areas now have a top class all weather facility which is available for training and matches on a commercial basis, it is not just soccer that it is available to, all sporting codes are welcome.
Bookings are now being taken. Phone Kevin on 086 2771515.
County MONAGHAN
GOLF SOCIETY CHALLENGE
Sponsored by
The hillgrove hotel, monaghan
Rossmore golf club
Friday 21st august, 2009
The Annual County Monaghan Golf Society Challenge was launched last week. It will be held on Friday 21st. August, 2009 at Rossmore Golf Club. Monaghan and is again being promoted by Monaghan United Football Club. The Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan is again the main sponsor of the event.
The challenge will be limited to 20 Teams of eight who will play in pairs against opponents from another team in a 4 Ball Better Ball Stableford format. The three best cards on each Team will count. Handicaps will be limited to 20 for males and 30 for females.
After a very tight entertaining 110 minutes of football Monaghan United Ladies advanced to semi-finals of the WFAI National Intermediate Cup. However the victory was not without its cost as star centre forward Suzanne Gordon had to leave the pitch with a fractured wrist.
United started the strongest with Suzanne Gordon striking the post from 20 yards in the opening quarter hour and they were finally awarded for all their pressure on the half hour mark when they got the opening score. The move for the goal commenced with Natasha Graham when she crossed the ball from the bye-line into the 6 yard box picking out Diane Dempsey at the back post who headed strongly past the stranded Kells keeper.
This score appeared to spur Kells into action and they started coming more into the game but their best efforts came from long range strikes which didn’t unduly worry United’s keeper Michelle Mooney. Despite some good chances from both sides neither could add to the score line before the halftime whistle.
Kells started the second half the stronger of the two sides. In 65 minute Kells got back on par with a very controversial goal, they broke quickly out of defence from a Monaghan attack and it fell to a Kells striker who was disposed by Megan Healy at the edge of the penalty area, the Kells player regained the ball when she clearly pushed Megan to the ground and to the consternation of the supporters the referee and assistant who were well placed failed to see the infringement and allowed the Kells striker to continue and score.
Monaghan felt very aggrieved and there followed an exciting fare for the remainder of the game. The game had to go to extra time, again neither side could break the deadlock from play although United have their keeper Michelle Mooney to thank for bringing off an excellent save in the 90th. minute.
United had a good call for a penalty when one of Kells defenders handled the ball over her head in a crowded area again the officials chose to ignore claims.
When neither side scored it went to penalties and United settled the issue when they dispatched the first three strikes from Sharon McAree, Charlene Graham and Natasha Graham and since Kells missed their first three penalties United marched on to the All- Ireland semi finals.
