KILDARE COUNTY NEXT ON HIT LIST
Monaghan United hope to capitalise on their win from last Friday when they travel to Station Road, Newbridge to take on Kildare County on Saturday night coming. In the last meeting of the Mons and the Thoroughbreds, County came out on top with a 3-1 victory at Kingspan Century Park but despite this victory Kildare only sit 4 points ahead of United in the table and Saturday’s game has all to play for.

United have moved up the table as a result of their win against Wexford Youths last week and Mick Cooke’s men will want to keep heading in the right direction.

The following week, United are at home to Kilkenny City at 8pm. United drew with the Cats when they visited them in Buckley Park but Kilkenny had the upper hand in the last game between the two sides at Kingspan Century Park when they beat United 2 nil.

NEW SIGNINGS:
Monaghan United are currently looking at some new players to sign up during the now open transfer window. United have already signed Don Tierney (formerly of Drogheda United), Darren O’Connor (TEK) and Wayne Byrne (Shelbourne) and are looking at a few other players over the coming days.

LADIES KNOCKED OUT OF CUP
Monaghan United Ladies were sensationally knocked out of the WFAI Cup on Monday night in a seven goal thriller at the Golden Ball playing fields, in Dublin. United ladies came off the pitch shellshocked that they had let a place in the Quarter Finals of the National Cup slip through their fingers.

United started off strongly with Wayside Celtic defending deeply for the first 20 minutes, but they were unable to break down the defence. On Celtic’s first attack of the game, a long ball that the Mons defence failed to clear, resulted in Mons ‘keeper Stephanie Keenan conceding a penalty, which was duly slotted home.

Five minutes later United went 2 nil down when another ball was poorly dealt with by the Monaghan defence allowing the Celtic striker to slot home from 10 yards out.

United rallied with Suzanne Gordon, Charlene Graham and Orla Callan (United’s woman of the match) all coming close and on the 4oth minute United pulled on back. Charlene Graham pulled off a rasper of a shot and hit the underside of the crossbar. The ball went over the line to make it 2-1 at half time.

United continued to dominate in the 2nd half and on the 55th minute Orla Callan grabbed the equaliser when she got the ball at the edge of the Celtic and beat two defenders to send the ball home.

On the 63rd minute an attack by Celtic was poorly dealt with once more by the United defence and finished up in the back of the United net to make it 3-2 to Celtic. United pushed up again trying to regain that elusive equaliser when tragedy struck. Goalkeeper Stephanie Keenan ran out to the edge of the box to collect a long range punt but the ball bounced over her head to make it 4-2 to Celtic.

Mons changed tactics and went three at the back and with 5 minutes remaining, Sharon McAree made a run down the left and her ball was met by Orla Callan. Callan sent in a thundering shot to the back of the Celtic goals giving United a glimmer of hope. United could sniff the equaliser and pushed forward but the Celtic defence held tight and United finally ran out of time and found without a place in the Quarter Finals of the Cup.

The ladies will have to pick themselves up and dust themselves off for their league fixture on Monday night when they are at home to Kilbarrack. Kick off is at 7.15 and all players must be at the clubhouse by 6pm.

The ladies also take on Park Villa in the North East Cup tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 7.15 at Kingspan Century Park

FAI SUMMER CAMP FULL
The FAI Summer Camp 2007 is completely full up and no applications will be accepted on the day. The camp runs from the 23rd to the 27th at Kingspan Century Park for all who have registered.