CLUB DRAW DATE FIXED FOR 14TH DECEMBER
Monaghan United’s Supporters Club Annual Draw will now take place on the 14th December at Kingspan Century Park. This year the 1st prize in the draw is €10,000 cash with other cash prizes to be won also.
To help support Monaghan United as they develop their facilities at Kingspan Century Park please buy a ticket from any committee member or ring the club office on 047 84798 between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Tickets cost €100 in this important fundraiser.
PRESENTATION NIGHT
Monaghan United will be holding a presentation night for the Ladies team and Under 21’s on the 14th December at Kingspan Century Park. This night is being held to mark the remarkable achievements of the Ladies team in winning the League and the Under 21’s on their Foyle Cup victory.
On the night Monaghan United will also present the Hibernian Healthcare Certificates for the Basic Life Saving Techniques and Automated External Defibrillation course which 10 of Monaghan United’s administrative and coaching staff completed recently.
PAUL & RONAN GO FOR YOUTH CERT BADGES
Monaghan United’s Juvenile Development Officer Paul Oliphant and Under 21 goalkeeper Ronan McGann face their final assessment as they move towards achieving their Youth Cert Coaching badge. The Youth Cert is the foundation for the UEFA “B” badge and both Paul and Ronan have put themselves one step closer to achieving this goal.
Paul and Ronan’s qualifications will help ensure that Monaghan United have some highly trained coaching staff on hand and they are wished all the best as they move up the coaching ladder.
Good luck to them both and also to Monaghan United supporter Ollie Martin who is also due to qualify with the Youth Cert in his role as Carrick Rovers Under 14’s manager.
SYMPATHIES
Monaghan United FC would like to extend their sympathy to Paddy Owens and his family on the death of his uncle Laurence Macklin. RIP.
MINI LEAGUES CHRISTMAS BREAK
Monaghan United’s highly popular Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues will close up shop for the Christmas break after this Sunday’s session (2nd December). The Mini Leagues have brought over 130 children to the club on a Sunday morning for coaching sessions since September.
Mini Leagues organiser John Heffernan and his team of coaches have worked very hard with the children over the past months and Monaghan United would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and dedication.
Mini Leagues will return in February, watch local press and www.monaghanunited.ie for details.
JUVENILE’S FLAG DAY
Monaghan United’s Juveniles will be holding their annual flag days on the 7th and 8th of December in Monaghan town. Please support this fundraiser and help provide the children of Monaghan with football.
All help appreciated. Please contact Paul Oliphant on 087 2760228 for further details.
UNDER 12’S KNOCK BALLYMUN OUT OF NATIONAL CUP
Monaghan United 2 -1 Ballymun United
It took 20 minutes of extra time for the Monaghan United Under 12’s to get a winner in round 4 of the National Cup in Belgium Park on Sunday morning. Credit for this must go to two excellent goalkeepers, who showed great bravery in a few 1 on 1 saves.
The home side deserved their victory and domineered the midfield with a great display by Fergal McMahon, he crowned his performance with a 25 yard drive into the roof of the net. The visiting keeper was well tested with shots from Garban McKenna, Jack Turley and Kevin Loughran. The support given by the fullbacks, Tony Ford and Mark Hedrington enabled Conor McCarthy and Francis Maguire to flood the box with crosses which kept the keeper busy.
The equaliser came halfway trough the second half, Conor Ford was finally beaten when the racy centre forward slipped the ball past him in one of those 1 on 1 situations. The center backs Niall Donnelly and Donnacha Dolan had their best display of the season, confirming that this partnership looks great for the future.
An inspired double substitution for extra time of David McAllister and Jason McHugh, saw the two sets of fresh legs combine to get the winner via McHugh's boot. United deserved their victory and with a bye in the next round they are in the last 32 of the Norton Cup. This means they could be travelling to any club in the country! Well done to all as this was a real team effort.
MANAGER: John Turley and Mick Hannon
UNDER 13’S PROGRESS AT BLACKWATER/KELLS EXPENSE
Monaghan United U13s played host to Blackwater/Kells in the third round of the national cup last Saturday. It was a thrilling encounter at Kingspan Century Park and although the score line of 4-0 to Monaghan suggested otherwise, Monaghan did not get it all their own way. The game started off with both sides holding their own with each team getting fair possession of the ball. Kells very nearly broke the deadlock with a break through the middle and only for a great save from Ryan Shields Mons would have been 1-0 down.
This seem to waken Monaghan up and they were passing the ball much better, pushing the ball out wide and it was one of these plays that produced a wicked cross which David Mc Bride half volleyed into the Kells net. Monaghan were producing more chances and one of these from Shane Power, went just past the post. Eventually the pressure paid dividends and their second goal was very similar to the first but this time it was down to Myles Dwyer to slot it home. It was 2-0 at half time but the game was far from over.
Kells were playing with the wind in the second half and it started as expected with Kells on the attack and Monaghan on the defensive but the Monaghan back four of Conor Lavelle, Bryan Harraghy, Kevin Murray and Shane Owens played exceptionally well and kept Kells out. Monaghan were getting tired and a change was necessary. Fergal Mc Mahon came on in midfield and Conor Forde went out to the right. This seem to steady Monaghan and soon paid dividends with Conor Forde making a great individual run up the right andsticking the ball in the roof of the net. Kells battled on but when Conor Forde scored his second, a carbon copy of his first the game was up for Kells. Final score 4-0 to Monaghan and the man of the match was Conor Forde.
Team: R Shields, C Lavelle, B Harraghay, K Murray, S Owens, M Galligan, C Forde, M Dwyer, D Mc Bride, B Devlin, S Power, F Mc Mahon, E Doherty, C Nesson and C Lynch.
Manager: Paddy Owens
UNITED’S TEAMS THROUGH TO FINAL 32 IN NATIONAL CUP
Monaghan United’s Under 12’s, 13’s, 14’s and 15’s have progressed to the last 32 of the National Cup in their various age categories. The Under 12’s knocked Ballymun United out with a 2-1 victory last Sunday and the Under 13’s beat Blackwater/Kells 4-0 to move into the next round of the Cup (see match reports elsewhere).
The Under 14’s had a busy weekend with the Lions Club Tournament on Friday night and the National Cup on Sunday. On Friday night they beat Sword’s Celtic in the first round of the Lions Club competition and they continued their winning ways on Sunday when the beat Clontarf 1-0 in the SFAI National Cup.
United’s Under 15’s came out on top a local derby beating Carrick Rovers 3-1 to claim their spot in the next round.
