MAGIC DAY AT MONS
Monaghan United FC will be holding an Open Fun day at their grounds at Kingspan Century Park on the Newbliss Road, Monaghan on Sunday 4th of March. The fun and festivities will kick off at 11am and final whistle will be at 2pm.
The day is guaranteed to be a fun day for all fans of football, young and old with various activities arranged such as Crossbar Challenge, Penalty Shootouts, Hunt the Autograph competition, Face Painting, Music and many more things to do.
The new Monaghan United Senior squad will be training on the day and will be on hand to talk to everyone and sign those autographs! This will be an excellent opportunity for the fans of United to meet and greet the players and see them as they are put through their paces in their training session.
The Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues will start an hour later on the day so that all the kids can participate in the fun and games happening around the club. The children who usually play at 10 am will be requested to come to the Astro Parks for 11am and the 11am children will not start their session until 12.
Come on out to Kingspan Century Park and enjoy a day of Magic with the Mons!
SUPPORT YOUR TEAM
Do you love football? Does the thrill of the live match make Friday nights the best night of the week? If so, then YOUR local FAI eircom League of Ireland team needs YOU!
Friday nights are football fever at Kingspan Century Park when Monaghan United will play teams from as near as Dundalk and as far away as the newly formed Wexford Youths. So get involved, buy your season ticket or take out a membership and come watch the beautiful game played by locals for locals.
Contact Monaghan United FC on 047 84798 or email pro@monaghanunited.ie for further information on becoming a member or buying a season ticket.
CONGRATS!
Well done to Monaghan United Stewards Gerry Campbell and James McCaffery on recently completing their FETAC accredited Event Controllers Course. Congratulations also to James on his recent Ireland Medal for Bowls which he won in Clontibret last Saturday. Good luck in the upcoming European Finals.
JUVENILE NOTES
UNDER 14Monaghan United Under 14’s came through as easy victors in the top of the table clash with Quay Celtic. Both teams were short key players but the game was fixed and had to go ahead. Monaghan, who are normally slow to start, came out flying and came close within minutes when Philip Donnolly slipped a lovely through ball into the path of Niall Keenan. Niall tried to put the keeper the wrong way but his shot was well saved by the Quay keeper. Monaghan came close a few minutes later when Sean Quigley’s shot came back off the Quay post. Monaghan finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Peter McFadden crossed a superb ball in from the right wing for Jack McCarron to fire home from 10 yards. Monaghan soon made it two nil when Jack McCarron floated over a wonderful corner kick and it was met at the far post by Pete Dooney. Pete is on top of his game at the moment and is making a nice habit of scoring goals from set pieces. Monaghan came close on a couple of occasions, from Philip Donnolly and Cillian Coleman, but the Quay keeper was in top form and saved both shots. (2-0 half time).
Early in the second half Quay tried hard to get back into the game but were no match for this Monaghan defence who only once let Quay through but stand in keeper Darren McKenna took off a wonderful save at the feet of the Quay striker, Darren seemed to enjoy himself in goals. Monaghan brought on James Maguire at right back for Conor Campbell, Conor who is back to his very best, has slight back troubles and James covered very well for him. Ten minutes into the second half Monaghan made it three nil, when Philip Donnolly found Jack McCarron at the edge of the 18 yard and Jack fired a rocket of a shot past the Quay keeper, giving him no chance. Jack is another lad playing the best football I have ever seen him playing and I hope he keeps it up. Monaghan brought on James Clarke and Damien Smith, for Frankie McCooey and Sean Quigley. Damien almost scored with his first kick of the game, when his shot was deflected out for a corner. Monaghan then brought on their last two subs with 15 minutes left in the game, Danny McNally and Dermot Smith came on for Darren Coleman and Philip Donnolly.
Monaghan soon made it 4 – 0 when Peter McFadden headed on a long kick out by Darren McKenna, into the path of Niall Keenan, who floated past the Quay defence and fired home from the edge of the 18 yard. James Clarke made it 5 – 0 when he picked up the ball about 25 yards out, played a lovely 1-2 with Niall Keenan and blasted the goals from 15 yards, no keeper could have saved this shot. Game over and 3 points in the bag. Newt week, we play St Dominics at home and we hope to go a long way to wrapping up the league.
TEAM: Darren McKenna, Conor Campbell, Cillian Coleman, Pete Dooney, Darren Coleman, Sean Quigley, Peter McFadden, Philip Donnolly, Jack McCArron, Frankie McCooey, Niall Keenan, James Maguire, Damien Smith, Dermot Smith, Danny McNally, James Clarke.
MANAGER: Brian Finnegan
Monaghan United Under 14’s are kindly sponsored by Treanor Meats
Mons Under 15’s hit Drumlin for 6
Monaghan United 6 Drumlin Youths 0
Monaghan United under 15’s made no mistakes this time hitting Drumlin Youths for 6. This was a local derby in which a win for the Mons would see them go joint top of the Under 15 Dundalk Schoolboys League. Monaghan and Drumlin drew one each in the last contest in November and this tie meant more than 3 points to both teams. The opening 15 minutes were keenly contested as both sides tried to forge openings in the oppositions' defence. But it was Monaghan who drew first blood when Conor O’Gorman fired home from a tight angle following a good build up of play down the right flank between Paul Sherlock and Niall Mc Keown.
Drumlin pressed hard in search of an equaliser and the Mons defence were made to work hard to maintain their lead. Mark Connolly was in commanding form for the Mons at centre back assisted by Paul Sherlock, Conor Toal, and Dean Mc Mahon, and they denied the visitors frontmen Donal Tierney and Brian Sweeney with some great defending saving Kevin Martin in goal to deal with the odd long range shot. Twenty-six minutes into the half the Mons doubled their advantage thanks to a great-headed goal by Benny Farrelly from Barry Reilly’s corner kick. This was Farrelly’s first for the Mons and one he will remember for a while. The Mons went in at half time two up.
The Mons mid field was dealt a blow at the start of the second half when Farrelly failed to reappear due to injury. Kevin Tierney was an able replacement and along with O’Gorman, Hanley and Reilly they took total control in the second half. Mons third goal was a cracker when Mark Connolly was allowed to run through midfield from the back and as the Drumlin defence backed off he fired a cracker to the top corner from 25 yards giving the keeper David Kerr no chance. Mons fourth followed as Marty Hanley found Jimmy Fallon and his deft flick found Niall Mc Keown free to slot home from 6 yards.
Monaghan brought on Kelvin Mc Entee, Baraat Turker and welcomed Niall Hahassey back from injury. Drumlin pressed hard with John Keogh,Gussie Mc Gorman,Paul Kelly and Charlie Mc Donald giving their all but were caught on the break when Kevin Tierney found Kelvin Mc Entee on the left and his inch perfect cross was knocked home by Jimmy Fallon to make it 5-0.Just before the final whistle the Mons scored their sixth when a lovely passing movement down the wing between Niall Hahassey and Marty Hanley delivered a great cross to Baraat Turker who coolly slotted it past the advancing keeper David Kerr for a great goal. Baraat loves scoring goals and his celebrations are a delight to watch.
TEAM: Kevin Martin, Paul Sherlock, Conor Toal, Mark Connolly, Dean Mc Mahon, Conor O Gorman, Marty Hanley, Benny Farrelly, Barry Reilly, Niall Mc Keown, Jimmy Fallon, Kelvin Mc Entee, Kevin Tierney, Niall Hahassy, Baraat Turker.
MANAGER: Kieran McMahon
Monaghan United Under 15’s are kindly sponsored by Metropolitan Finance Ltd.
Under 16’s
Shamrocks ran out 4-0 winners over United’s Under 16’s on Sunday last. The scoreline was not a true reflection of the game as Monaghan had about 60% of the possession and about 20 attempts on target. They also had the ball in the net in what would have been a very good goal only for the referee to disallow it.
United should have had at least a draw out of this game but the referee’s decisions went against us and that led to three of the goals for Shamrocks.
This was a disappointing result for United but they will learn from this and come out with renewed determination for the next game.
TEAM: Matt Maguire, Conor Finnegan, Liam McKenna, Niall Flynn, Shane Murphy, Pauric Redden, Darren Keely, Fintan Galligan, Declan McKenna, Darren Rooney, Niall Cosgrove, Conor Beggan, David McEntee.
MANAGERS: Paul Rooney and Declan O’Sullivan
Monaghan United Under 16’s kindly sponsored by Barry Healy & Company Solicitors
