MONS UNLUCKY IN LIMERICK
Monaghan United’s first game against new boys Limerick 37 ended on a disappointing note when Ross Cosgrave capitalised on an Alvin Rouse mistake to put Lims in the lead.
United seemed to have the measure of Limerick for most of the game and were creating plenty of chances and playing some fantastic football. Monaghan Manager Mick Cooke was delighted with the team’s overall performance but gutted at the result. “We played really well and didn’t deserve to lose. We had as much ball up in their half as they had in ours and the lads couldn’t have given more.” Mick continued “I have told the lads to keep playing the kind of football we are playing and our luck has to change.”
Early into the game Brian McDonald was taken down in a nasty tackle and suffered a severe ankle injury which saw him removed from the game. His replacement, Club Coach Thomas Heffernan, was playing his first senior game in almost 2 years as he had been out with a long term injury. Thomas fired the team up and shouted some encouragement which saw the Mons raise their game.
Limerick’s strikers of Kevin Waters, Padraig Moran and Davy Wall all caused the United defence and Alvin Rouse some scary moments as they pushed forward relentlessly. Monaghan’s Cian Mackey and Robbie Farrell repaid the compliment by putting the Limerick 37 defence to sword but the closest United came in this half was when Peter D’arcy and Finbar Heffernan put together a quality attack. D’arcy made a perfect pass for Finbar Heffernan to run onto. Heffernan ran with the ball but before he was able to do anything with the ball, he was taken down with a dodgy tackle from Brian Buckley.
Limerick came back at United but Ross Cosgrave’s shot had little power to it and Rouse in the Mons nets was able to easily gather it up. Just before the half time whistle, Mackey did what he does best and sent in a speedy low cross. Lucky for Limerick Paul Finnucane was on hand to deal with it and the teams went in on level terms at the break.
For the first time this season, United came out all guns blazing in the 2nd half and were really bringing the game to Limerick. Alas, 5 minutes into the 2nd half, Alvin Rouse was regretting coming so far off his line to deal with a back pass. Rouse trying to deal the ball hit it straight to Cosgrave’s feet. Cosgrave lobbed and all that Rouse could do was run back towards goal while watching the ball bounce across the goal line.
With Limerick having thrown down the gauntlet, United accepted the challenge and really began to play. Robbie Farrell came close on goal on a few occasions and Willie Doyle was showing signs of the great striker he is, but all to no avail.
United were forced back to defend however towards the end of the game with Kevin Waters setting Padraig Moran up with a pass, but Kevin Williamson was to the rescue and swiped the ball away before Moran could do any damage.
The game ended on a sour note when United’s Thomas Heffernan was given a dubious red card for a tackle on Kevin Waters. A few players on both sides got into the argument and the referee had a job calming all involved down.
United were once more unlucky to leave the pitch as the losing side and it is hoped that the 2nd round of games in the league, starting with Wexford Youths in Wexford this Friday, will tell a different story and the hard work, effort and heart that the whole squad have shown so far this season, will start to pay off.
Limerick 37: Healy, Keady, Buckley, Finnucane, Purcell, Hayes, Moloney (Goldbey 66), Wall (Molan 66), Cosgrave, Waters, P Moran (Glasheen 78)
Monaghan United: Rouse, McDonald (T Heffernan 15), Williamson, Whelan, Burke, F Heffernan (Meenan 70), Gannon, D’arcy, Farrell, Doyle (O’Connor 85), Mackey.
THOROUGHBREDS NEXT HOME GAME
Monaghan United face Kildare County on Friday 18th May at Kingspan Century Park in the FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division. This will Monaghan’s 2nd time to meet Kildare this season having come away from Station Road with a 1-1 draw. Robbie Farrell was on the mark for the Mons in that game and will be hoping to add to his tally of 4 games so far this season.
Monaghan United – v – Kildare County will kick off at 8pm on Friday. Children under 16 free when accompanied by an adult.
UNDER 21’S – SEASON STARTS SOON
Following from last seasons successes, Monaghan United’s Under 21’s will be hoping to continue to improve their position in the league when their season kicks off in the coming weeks. Some of the Under 21’s participated in the highly entertaining FAI Under 21 Futsal competition in Dublin over the past few months and this has left them fit and raring to go for 2007.
Fixtures are due out in the coming days and more details will be published next week.
SEMI FINALS FOR U15 & U16
Tonight (Thursday 10th May) Monaghan United’s Under 15’s go to Bellew Park to play Seatown in the Paddy McCourt Cup Semi Finals. Kieran McMahon’s team have had a very good season and have the possibility of a double on their hands as they sit in 2nd place in their league with one more game to play.
Paul Rooney’s Under 16’s go into action in their Eamonn Mulvanna Cup Semi Final on Friday evening against either Walshestown or Glenmuir. Rooney and co will be hoping for a Cup win to make up for a disappointing league season.
Good luck to both teams and good luck to Brian Finnegan’s Under 14’s in the Lions Club Final on Sunday.
