Monaghan United FC face 2006 eircom League of Ireland champions Shelbourne for the final time this season at Kingspan Century Park on Friday night. Dermot Keely’s team will want to put the nightmare of their 4-0 defeat at KCP earlier in the season behind them and his strengthened squad will be expected to perform much better this time around.
The FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division game will be hotly contested with a rejuvenated United, putting massive defeats by Kilkenny and Finn Harps into the past by coming close against local rivals Dundalk last week, intending to show Shelbourne that the result in June was by no means a fluke. The last time the teams met in Tolka Park they had a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw. Mons goal scorer on the night was the then new signing Jason McCartney who will be missing the game this Friday having sustained ligament damage in the game against Dundalk.
Shels are sitting 10 points clear of United at present as a result of the Dubs recent run of good form with the only blips being a goalless draw against Kilkenny and a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Dundalk. Athlone Town were the last victims of Shelbourne’s rampages when Shels beat them 4-1, scoring 3 goals in a 10 minute period.
United have had a tough few weeks when they suffered defeats at First Division Champion contenders Finn Harps and Dundalk and also were surprisingly beaten by Kilkenny City. Mick Cooke has been without some key players including goal keeper Alvin Rouse and top goal scorer Robbie Farrell. "Since the time of our good run when I had a full squad to pick from our team seems to have been obliterated by injuries, one after another.” he said earlier today.
United will be again without goalie Alvin Rouse (leg), Peter D’Arcy (groin) and Stephen Finnegan (knee) and add Jason McCartney and Willie Doyle to the injured list. Barry Burke is serving out a suspension but Paul Whelan returns to the squad. Mick was happy with the performance last Thursday and said "I felt that our performance against Dundalk warranted a point and it was good to see the team back to the good form of mid-season. We need to get back on track now for the rest of the season.”
LIST OF INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS: Injuries:
Alvin Rouse (Leg)
Peter D’Arcy (Groin)
Stephen Finnegan (Knee)
Jason McCartney (Ankle ligaments)
Willie Doyle (Knee)
