SEPT 4th MONS NOTES

UNITED LOSE TO LEAGUE LEADERS
Monaghan United’s recent good home form came to an abrupt halt on Saturday last when Cobh Ramblers came to town. This was United’s 3rd and heaviest defeat to Cobh this season when the Rebel County team managed to put 4 past Monaghan goalie Alvin Rouse without any reply from United. Cobh now stand unbeaten in 24 games and sit 4 points clear of Dundalk on 54 points in the league table.

This was a disappointing dip in form for the Mons but they will have to dust themselves off as they head south to Limerick this Friday night. Limerick also suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Shelbourne on Saturday night last despite having beaten League challengers Dundalk 4-1 recently. This game will present Mick Cooke and his team with an opportunity to turn Saturday’s defeat into a distant memory and move up the table.

Kick off is at 7.45pm in Jackman Park this Friday night.

UNITED LADIES CLEAN LEAGUE SWEEP
Monaghan United Ladies finished off their season on Monday night with a 3-1 win away to Drogheda’s Grove Rangers. United won their league with a record 14 wins out of 14 league games and confirmed their status at the top of the Inter 3 North Section of Dublin Women’s League.

This final came of the league was not as easy at the scoreline suggests as United travelled to Drogheda with a depleted squad due to the injury of some key players. United went 1 up on the 4th minute when a through ball by Charlene Graham was coolly slotted home by Devon Aughey-Evans, who was making her first start of the season. On the 7th minute United went 2 up when a long ball over the top by Captain Pamela Treanor was collected by Suzanne Gordon. Gordon slotted the ball neatly past the Grove ‘keeper, but tragedy struck United on the 14th minute when Chalene was forced to retire from the game with a sprained ankle, leaving United to finish the game with only 10 players.

This brought Grove back into the game and on the 28th minute, United conceded a free kick on the edge of the box which the Grove striker sent to the top corner of the net without a problem leaving stand-in goalie Caroline Griffin no chance. The half ended 2-1 to United.

Both sides battled in the 2nd half and on the 65th minute Nakita Cassidy had a great strike which was just wide of the Grove post. Five minutes later Nakita had another shot that was easily saved by the busy goalie. United’s centrehalf turned keeper for the night, Caroline. Made a couple of fine saves to keep United in the game. The game was wrapped up for United on the 81st minute when winger Nwanneka Chukwuemeka made a great run down the left and crossed to Michela Newell. Michela flicked the ball to Suzanne who in turn passed the ball to Devon Aughey-Evans who’s shot was too hot to handle for the Grove no. 1 and Devon claimed her second of the night.

Well done to all the ladies who worked so hard all season and have brought league glory to United.

NOTES:
Best wishes to Donna Toal, Orla Callan and Aine Mulligan who are all out injured at the moment. We wish them a speedy recovery.

FLAG DAY
Monaghan United ladies will be holding a Flag Day on Saturday 27th October to help raise funds for next season. All help will be greatly appreciated on the day. Please contact Padraig Cassidy on 087 6333503 for details.

MONS MARK MAKES THE U17 TEAM
Monaghan United footballer Mark Connolly has made the grade and been called up to play on the Republic of Ireland Under 17’s for the upcoming UEFA Qualifiers. This is a further endorsement of Mark’s credentials as a footballer of the future and comes on the back of his recent trip with the Ireland squad to the 7-nation Lithuania Invitational tournament which was seen as a warm up for the first phase qualifiers and his pre-season training with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mark intends to make a full time move to Wolves next year and they, like Ireland U17 boss, Sean McCaffery, have kept a keen eye on the talented youngster over the years.

Ireland will host the mini-group qualifying stage starting on September 14th with a game against Ukraine in Galway’s Terryland Park on the opening night and will play their final game in the group on the 19th September against Slovenia in Flancare Park, Longford. In between they will face Denmark at the Athlone Town Stadium on the 16th. This will be a grueling test for the young team and Mark, together with his teammates including Chelsea’s Conor Clifford and Sunderland’s Conor Hourihane, will have their work cut out for them as they try to claim a place in the Second Elite Phase of the competition.

Good luck Mark and well done.

MONS GO GOLFING
Monaghan United’s County Monaghan Golf Society Challenge in association with Moneycare takes place on Saturday 15th September 2007 and is set to be the most successful golfing tournament the club have undertaken to date. All 16 Golf Society team places consisting of 10 players from their Society have been filled and the 15th looks likely to be a great day at Rossmore Golf Club.

If you wish to sponsor a tee or get involved some other way, please contact John Heffernan on 086 8065512.

MINI LEAGUES – REGISTER THIS SUNDAY
Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues are back with registrations being taken for children aged from 5 to 11. This year the Mini Leagues are being separated into 2 sections with coaching and games taking place on the ASTRO Turf at Monaghan United every Sunday Morning starting on the 9th September until March. Then in April the Mini Leagues will move to coaching and playing on the grass pitches at Kingspan Century Park in the evenings until July.

The cost of the sessions is also broken down into 2 payments of €30 with the first payable on Sunday together with completed registration form and 2 passport photographs signed on the back. The 2nd payment will be due in March before the transfer to evening football.

So come along to Kingspan Century Park this Sunday at 11am and sign up to play in the Mini Leagues and have fun while playing football.

How good were we magicme?

I dont know since was at Electric Picnic!

Ah ****, feck you anyway!!! I was hoping youd say we were unbelievable and take back your comment about harps been best football team you seen. Ah ****e anyway.

Ha ha....if you want to slip me a few euro I could delete my comment about not being at the game and do you a glowing report!