BOHS NEXT PRE-SEASON OPPONENTS
Monaghan United’s senior team travel to Dalymount Park on Saturday for a pre-season friendly against Premier Division side Bohemians. The friendly game kicks off at 1pm at the Phibsboro stadium and Mick Cooke will be using the exercise as another opportunity to try out various players and test their fitness.
United also have a game planned for Friday 29th of February against UCD at the new Belfield Bowl. The game against UCD kicks off at 7.45pm.
MCGLONE STAYS ON AS CHAIRMANMonaghan United’s long standing and much respected Chairman Jim McGlone was elected to a further term as Chairman of the FAI eircom League of Ireland Club. McGlone was instrumental in securing FAI backing for the Regional Development Centre at Kingspan Century Park and is looking forward to the fruition of the plans.
“I am happy to stay in office for a further year and see the development continue.” McGlone stated.
JUVENILE NEWS
Monaghan United’s Juvenile teams face into a busy weekend of football with the Under 13’s facing Salins Celtic in the National Cup away from home and the Under 15’s taking on Lagan Harps at home on Saturday. The kick off time for the Under 13’s is to be confirmed while the Under 15’s kick off at 2pm.
In the National Cup the Under 14’s face the tough opposition of St. Joseph’s Boys at home with a 12.30pm kick off while the Under 12’s travel to Drogheda to play Drogheda Town at 11am on Sunday. The Under 14’s last Saturday defeated Trim Celtic on penalties (4-3) after extra time to set up their meeting with St Josephs while the Under 12’s despatched of Blackrock team Granada to secure their place in the next round by putting 2 goals past them without reply. (see match report elsewhere)
The Under 16’s were not so lucky and went down 3-0 to Malahide and bowed out of the National Cup last Sunday
The Under 18’s will also be in action on Sunday when they play Muirhevnamor at Oriel Park in the Under 18 Cup Semi Final at 7.15pm.
NORTON CUP
UNDER -12'S IN THE LAST 16 OF NATIONAL CUP
Granada is a small South Dublin Schoolboy League team, they play in the Premier Division of the league. They won their division last year without dropping a point and until Sunday last they had maintained their 100% record. The game was played at a ferrous pace and the tackling was hard, a step above the DDSL, and it was a joy to see the United lads rise to the challenge.
In the DDSL this team have been afforded time and space to knock it about and open up teams, on Sunday it was a scrap, it took 10 minutes for the mid-field quartet of C. McCarthy, K Loughran, F. McMahon and C. McQuaid , to rise to the pace of the game and although it was never comfortable they were the reason United are in the next round of the Norton Cup.
Playing into the wind in the first half possession was the key and front men G McKenna and J Turley held on every thing that was delivered to them, the returned passes was the only comfortable ball the mid field received in the game. Unusually at this level both goals were from headers in the middle of each half, C.McCarthy met a corner on the edge of the six yard box which he rocketed back across the keeper to silence the large local support. Genuine chances were very scarce, but when G McKenna skinned two defenders on the left wing, the classy D McAllister met the low cross with a diving header to beat the keeper at the near post. The defence were well protected by the mid-field , but in the final quarter Forde, Donnelly, Dolan, Hedrington, Clerkin and Boylan stepped up to the plate and stamped out the final onslaught.
The reward for this victory is Shelbourne in the next round , just three steps from a National Cup Final, this will be another step up in pace and strength. Shelbourne's form this season has not been good, so with a bit of hard work at training and the addition of a new logistics manager, these young locals and their crafty management team have a good opportunity of progressing in the Norton Cup.
The Granada management team was headed by Castleblaney man, Fintan O'Reilly ( Mel O'Reilly) and United would like to wish him continued success with his young team and to thank him for a hard and fair welcome to SDSL football, but most importantly for their fantastic hospitally after the game.
29/01/2008, 5:14 PM
Magicme
UNDER 14’S BEAT TRIM BY PENALTIESMonaghan United’s Under 14’s went through to the last 32 teams in the National Cup after a penalty shoot out against Trim Celtic in Navan on Saturday last. The game, played in blustery conditions, proved to be a thriller with both teams very evenly matched. Trim Celtic started well and using the wind advantage kept United pinned in their own half for 20 minutes. Towards the end of the first half Monaghan began to assert themselves and James Clarke was unlucky on two occasions after superb work from both central defenders Cian Byrne and Shane McKiernan.
The second half was a tit-for-tat affair played at a ferocious pace. Both teams had chances but failed to convert. Towards the end of the match Shane Larkin scored what appeared to be a legitimate goal only to be ruled off side. The extra time period provided much of the same with both teams out on their feet at the final whistle.
United held their nerve in the penalty shout out and with Cian Byrne, Conor Moynagh, James Clarke and Tommy Dooley scoring, Monaghan took the plaudits with a 4-3 score. Team mentors Seamus Deeney and Kevin Maguire paid tribute to Trim Celtic who proved to be an outstanding footballing side. The managers commended the team and paid tribute to all the squad who have worked hard sing the beginning of the season. The team wish players Gavin Farrelly and Karl McQuaid speedy recoveries from their injuries and hope to have them back for the final of the National Cup.
TEAM: Andy Fallon, Niall Askin, Donal Courtney, Shane McKiernan, Cian Byrne, Shane Hannon, Thomas Doody, James McAllister, Paul McConkey, Shane Larkin, James Clarke, Colm Flynn, Darren McMahon, Seadh Deeney, Conor Moynagh, Elliot Maguire.
