MONS FACE DUNDALK IN FIRST ROUND OF LEAGUE CUP
Monaghan United face old rivals Dundalk in the first round of the League Cup 2008. The game will be played in Oriel Park with a date and time to be fixed at a later date.
DERRY CITY FRIENDLY TIME CHANGE
The time for the Monaghan United’s pre-season friendly against Derry City has been changed with a 5pm kick off likely. The time will be confirmed by the FAI in the coming days.
MONS LADIES BACK IN TRAINING
Monaghan United’s highly successful Ladies team take to the training pitches again when pre-season training begins on Saturday 1st March. Ladies hoping to get a place on the squad are invited to attend at 5pm.
Please bring boots and runners. No experience required and everyone is welcome. Contact Padraig on 087 6333503 or the club office on 047 84798 for more information.
FUTSAL
Monaghan United’s young Futsal team, with guest appearances by 3 Glaslough Villa players, Mark Mulligan, Jim Murphy, Gerard McCrudden, and 2 players from Sleibh Beagh, Ryan Boyle and Ivo Queiris, headed to Letterkenny with a mixture of Monaghan United Youth Players to take part in the FAI Futsal Competition.
United lost their first game to a Sligo Rovers side who played their full-time professional Premier Division first team and despite United holding out well in the first half they went 2 down at half time.
In the 2nd half, Monaghan regained their composure, pulled a goal back but Sligo scored a couple more goals when their professionalism shone through. Former Monaghan United left back Keith Foy was playing for a strong Sligo squad as they warmed up for the season by playing in the Futsal competition.
This United team were playing in this competition for the first time and are determined to get points on the board next week.
Monaghan United would like to thank Glaslough Villa and Sleibh Beagh for allowing their players to participate. Your co-operation was much appreciated.
Monaghan United: Ronan McGann, Mark Mulligan, Jim Murphy, Darren Rooney, Conor Callan, Gerard McCrudden, Aurimas Meidus, Ivo Querios and Ryan Boyle.
MONS JUVENILE ROUND-UP
Monaghan United’s under 12’s got a win under their belt over the weekend by beating Quay Celtic 1-0 away.
The Under 13’s had a tough day when they met Glenmuir United at home but managed to get a point on the board with a 1-1 draw. Glenmuir were lucky to equalise by scoring in the 90th minute.
In the Under 14’s First Division, Monaghan Celtic battled hard and were rewarded with a 2-2 draw against Quay Celtic away. See match report elsewhere.
Monaghan United Under 14’s were disappointed to go out of the National Cup when they went up against top juvenile club St Joseph’s boys. St Joey’s secured their place in the next round of the cup by beating Monaghan 4-1. United had been 1-0 up at half time but the Dublin side came out in the second half with a clear mission and they achieved it.
United’s Under 17’s moved into the quarter finals of the Umbro Under 17’s Challenge Cup by beating Marino FC at home. They move on to play South East United who beat Ashbourne United to book their game against the Mons.
MON CELTIC DRAW AGAINST QUAY CELTIC
Monaghan United’s Under 14 Celtic team took one point from a very good Quay Celtic team in Clancy Park on Friday night last. The Mons team were very unlucky not to take all 3 points as they totally dominated ¾ of the game. The Quay team put 5 past the Mons the last time they played them 4 months ago so this was proof of the massive improvement in this team.
The Monaghan lads have worked really hard and are unbeaten in the last 4 games and it was no shock that they took the lead in the 10th minute with a Stephen Keenan goal. Quay levelled the game with a well take goal from a free kick in the 22nd minute. Monaghan regained the lead when Michael O’Mordah got his head to the ball and headed home from 10 yards.
By half time Monaghan could have been 5-1 up but they did not take their chances. Stephen Rooney in the Monaghan goal pulled off some very good and brave saves to keep Monaghan 2-1 up at the break.
In the second half Quay really came at the Mons and the lads had to battle hard. With 15 minutes to go, Quay once more levelled the game and it stayed at 2-2 to the end. Monaghan had 3 good chance in the last 10 minutes when they could have won the game but the Quay team held out to earn a very lucky 2-2 draw.
It would be very unfair to name a man of the match because there were 16 of them on Friday night. All the Monaghan lads played as a unit and when the substitutes came on, they all performed really well too. Well done to the lads on the night and keep up the good work.
TEAM: Stephen Rooney, Adrian Prunty, Michael McCurran, Shane McQuaid, John McPhillips, Michael O’Mordah, Sean McGonnell, Conor Blacklock, Shea Gaffney, Mark Caulfield, Stephen Keenan, Conor Boylan, Daire Connolly, Stephen Keelaghan, Ryan Lee, Karl Mooney, Brendan McQuaid, Dylan McPartland.
MANAGERS: Paul Rooney and Declan O’Sullivan
MINI LEAGUES TO RESUME
Monaghan United’s Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues will kick off again on Sunday week (2nd March). Registrations will take place from 11am for all children aged from 5-11 years old.
