Monaghan United Notes 2. 2. 2010
AGM
There was a very well attended AGM on Thursday night last at the Clubhouse. In the election of the new Management Committee there were a few new names added however the same officers were re-elected unopposed in each case which was indeed a vote of confidence in the work they carried out in the past year. So for another year the club will again be under the capable stewardship of Jim Mc. Glone-Chairman and he will be ably assisted by Secretary-Pauric Cassidy and Treasurer- Ann Carroll

CHAIRMANS REPORT
I would like to welcome you all to tonights Annual General Meeting and to thank you for all your support over the last twelve months.

Monaghan United are celebrating our 25th year in senior League of Ireland this year having first entered senior football in 1985 in Belgium Park. We now, after years of hard work, find ourselves in a ground worth €3+ million having spent over €1 million in the past 2-3 years.

It has long been our aim to improve the infrastructure of our ground and we have made upgrading our facilities our priority over the years. Thanks to our shrewd investment, Gortakeegan is now one of the finest football facilities in the country.

Read all of Chairmans report on www.monaghanunited.com

Pre –Season Activities.
Monaghan United’s manager-Mick Cooke is determined to be in a promotion position at the end of this season. With this in mind he has organised his pre-season friendlies against premier Division sides. Starting this week-end against Drogheda United away at United Park, kick off on Friday evening at 7.45.p.m. On Saturday Sporting Fingal are the opposition at Portmarnock kick off at 2.30.p.m. the following Saturday they travel to the Belfield Bowl to play UCD. Our final friendly (is that the correct description?) match will see our greatest rivals Dundalk FC who come to Gortakeegan on 26th. February

2010 SEASON TICKET ON SALE NOW
Monaghan United Season Tickets for 2010 are now on sale. Prices for 2010 are the same as last year and they are available in the online shop also by cheque (made payable to Monaghan United FC) to Kingspan Century Park, Monaghan.
Prices: Adult €140 Family €180 (2 adults & up to 4 children under 16 yrs)
1/2 Season ticket: Adult €70 Family €90
Season tickets offer great value for the fan who wishes to come to all or most of Monaghan United's home FAI League of Ireland games for 2010 season.


ASTRO
Bookings
There is an excellent uptake on Astro facilities. To make a booking on the Monaghan United Astro pitch phone Kevin @ 087 7665669.



LOCAL SCHOOLS GET FREE COACHING

Monaghan United FC have been in a position to offer 3 schools in Monaghan town a free soccer coach for a programme within their schools. St Louis Girls National School, The Model School and St Mary’s Boys National School have availed of the extra help from Monaghan United in bringing football and fitness to their schools.

Coach David Kerr has been working with the schools to bring football fun to the pupils and encourage them to get out and play more football.

On Tuesday, 2 classes from St Mary’s Boys school had the added bonus of Monaghan United Senior Manager Mick Cooke dropping in to have a chat with them about the importance of working hard at school and at football. He told them that if they wished to follow in the footsteps of past pupils like Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Aaron McCarey or League of Ireland Mons legend Paul Whelan, they need to work hard and do what their coach tells them to do.

He invited the boys and girls of Monaghan to come to the Monaghan Credit Union Mini Leagues on Sunday mornings and told them of the upcoming open day (February 21st) where they will get a chance to meet Monaghan United’s squad and train with them. The senior players will take a squad of juvenile players to mentor for the year and the children will be brought in to meet the players in the dressing room prior to games with a lucky boy or girl getting selected each week to be mascot.

Mick is determined that any child who wishes to play football at Monaghan United will be supported and mentored by a Senior player to encourage their development and help produce more talent for the future Monaghan United League of Ireland teams.


Mini -Leagues
Mini Leagues will continue again on Sunday next weather permitting.
Registration of €30 for the second have of the season may be made to Julie Anne o Sunday morning.
Times
Boys 5yrs – 8yrs, 11.a.m. to 12 noon and 9yrs. To 12yrs noon to 1.p.m.
The league is also open to girls as unusual and if there is a good enough uptake there will be an Astro pitch hired for their sole use.



MONAGHAN UNITED UNDER 15’S

Walshestown 3 - 3 Monaghan United

Monaghan United under 15’s were on their travels again last weekend when they went to Walshestown (Co. Louth). Monaghan were missing two players and the most of the rest of the team were suffering the ill-effect of some extra curricular activities which were neither encouraged or sanctioned by the team management.

Monaghan got off to an ideal start with a great goal from Benin Devlin. The score was created by Conor Forde who made good progress down the right wing and then his perfect pass picked out Devlin to latch onto and finish well. A score that should have inspired United and spurred them on instead appeared to have the opposite effect and they went to sleep.

The home side took full advantage of the visitors’ lack of enthusiasm and they scored a hat-trick of goals before the halftime whistle sounded. The Monaghan side trooped of the field for the half-time interval looking more like Dolls than Guys. One would have liked to have been the proverbial fly on the United dressing room wall for the half-time team talk. Whatever stern warnings and admonishments were uttered by the management had the desired effect.

Just as in the first half it was Benin Devlin who got United off the scoring mark with a brilliant goal, this time he did all the hard work himself when he rounded three defenders before burying the ball in the back of the net to complete his brace. Monaghan upped the tempo and had some excellent attempts on target particularly from Evan Doherty and David Mc. Bride, one converted effort was ruled off side for what appeared a harsh decision but it was no surprised when they got back on parity with a fine strike from Shane Loughran after a crisp pass from captain for the day- Fergal Mc. Mahon. Monaghan were now in control but they wouldn’t add to the score because shortly after they scoring the equaliser the referee blew his whistle for full time so they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

This was a tough encounter for both teams and it shows nothing can be taken for granted in this league. We must keep training hard and work for each other on the pitch.
Man of the match was Benin Devlin.


Monaghan United Newsletter

Any Juvenile or underage teams wishing to get an item into the bi-monthly Monaghan United News letter contact the office at Monaghan United. With the success of this publication the pressure is on to make a monthly publication.

Maureen Neeson – R.I.P.

We would like to extend our sympathy to Management Committee member Nora Mc. Glone on the death of her sister Maureen Neeson, Milltown, Monaghan. Maureen was also grandmother of our former underage and senior keeper Aaron Mc. Carey. We also extend our sympathy to the Neeson and Forde families and to our Chairman – Jim Mc. Glone. May Maureen rest in peace.