Sunday dawned like any other Sunday in Monaghan town, children aged 6 to 10 made their way to Astro Park at Century Homes Park for their Sunday morning Mini Leagues and all seemed like an ordinary Sunday. Few would have suspected that Sunday 22nd January 2006 was in fact a very historic day for Monaghan United FC. This was the day when the Monaghan United Women’s team took to the pitch for their first ever match.
From about 1pm the levels of activity at Century Homes Park surpassed the normal Sunday as players, coach, manager and club officials nervously prepared for the women’s debut. The opposing team, Northland Raiders, had made the journey from Newtownards in time and tension was mounting as kick off approached. The team captains exchanged gifts, (thanks Northland for the gorgeous trophy) and Referee John Cagney tossed the coin.
The Monaghan United Women settled themselves well considering it was their first ever game and played some good passing football as the half came to a close. It was unfortunate that Northland Raiders experience shone through and they had managed to snatch 2 goals before the half time whistle. A determined and regrouped Monaghan United came back onto the pitch and within minutes Charlene Graham put the girls back into the game with a well taken free which bounced off the crossbar and landed just behind the line. Jacinta Treanor did her job well and was on hand to ensure that a goal was earned by giving the ball a thump to make sure it stayed in the net!
Unfortunately for the now buoyed up Monaghan women, Northland didn’t take the threatening runs into their half lying down and replied with a third goal to dampen the Mons party. Northland however, hadn’t reckoned with the steely determination and ambition of our ladies and were taken by surprise when Orla Callen brought the game back into United’s reach by striking confidently home to put the game at 3-2. (Nice celebrations by the way Orla!)
Monaghan kept pushing on and came close on a few more occasions but their debut was to end in a defeat goal wise but a victory in achievement. Northland Raiders Manager commented after the game that he found it hard to believe that our team had only been playing soccer together for a few months and still managed to play some really good football.
It was a wonderous occasion and all who witnessed it were well impressed by the standard of football. Women’s football has truly arrived at Monaghan United FC……Watch it grow!
Training is on Monday and Friday nights from 8.30pm at Astro Park at Century Homes Park. Any women interested in joining in please either come along on training nights or contact Liam McCarey (085 1625907) Chris McBride (086 7518321) or Julie-Ann Sherlock (085 7147500).
MANAGERS VIEW- Liam McCarey
The team were superb. They have taken on all the training they have received and showed it out on the pitch. The first two goals we conceded were mistakes on our part but we can learn from that. After all that is the point of these games. We are building up to our first league game in May. The majority of the girls had never played a match before but you would never have guessed that from the display they put on. This was a wonderful achievement in itself. Chris has worked hard to train and gel them together. Steven Funston, the Northlands Raiders found it hard to believe that this was our first ever game. He was surprised at how well we have done over such a short period of time with only 18 girls. Over the next couple of weeks, myself and Chris have our work cut out for us in continuing to develop the team but we are both very proud of how far they have come already. Well done ladies!
PLAYERS VIEW – Pamela Treanor
As the first captain of the first ever Monaghan United ladies team, I was delighted to have the opportunity to captain such a dedicated and high spirited bunch of ladies. When the game began , as it was the majority of the girls first ever soccer game, it took everyone a while to get in to the game.
Half time were heading in to the dressing rooms 2-0 down, but that didn’t dishearten any of us. Everyone of us felt we had more in us.
Some minutes into the 2nd half Charlene Graham hit a brilliant free kick which hit off the crossbar and bounced down behind the line, but just to make sure, Jacinta Treanor (my sister) gave it an extra kick to rattle the back of the net.
Later on in the second half Orla Cullen struck another cracker. In the end we were defeated 3-2 but we feel we may have been defeated score wise but not confidence wise because after our performance on the 22nd, which all the girls should be proud of, we feel we can only learn from our mistakes and with the help of our management team, we can come out on top! Well done girls.
