MONS LEAVE LIMS IN LIMBO
Monaghan United damaged Limerick 37’s hopes of joining the promotion battle when they beat them 2-0 in Jackman Park last Friday evening in the FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division. United’s goals came from top scorer Robbie Farrell on the 11th minute and Willie Doyle tied the game up on the 74th minute and Mons held on despite being reduced to 10 men with 6 minutes left on the clock.

Moments after kick off United were dealt a severe blow when sprightly midfielder Darren Meenan suffered a nasty injury resulting in a burst blood vessel in his stomach. Meenan had clashed with Limerick’s young goalkeeper and had to be removed to hospital for treatment. The Northern Ireland Under 21 player returned to Jackman Park before the final whistle however and seemed to have recovered well from his knock.

United seemed to be spurred on by the lose of Meenan and all fired up they set about picking holes in the Limerick defence. The Mons push for goal paid off when Willie Doyle set up Farrell to claim his 10th league goal of the season so far. Farrell got to the end of Doyle’s pass and slotted the ball into the back of the net with the instinctive precision of a striker at the top of his game.

Limerick responded but seemed to be happy to just send in long ball after long ball which were duly dealt with by United’s defence. Paul Whelan, Luke Fitzpatrick, Aaron Mooney and Kevin Williamson all worked their socks off to ensure that each time the ball came in it was greeted by the white & green of a Mons jersey and that ‘keeper Alvin Rouse had little to worry about. Rouse had little to do most of the time, but Tommy Barrett did send in a cheeky shot which kept Alvin on his toes.

United came close to going 2 goals up early on when Barry Burke got his head to the end of a corner. Burke’s pot luck chance was saved on the line. Limerick’s best opportunity of the game came from a quickly taken free kick on the edge of the box. John Tierney did well to turn and shoot but his strike hit the crossbar leaving United shaken but still in the lead. The half ended with the northerners 1-0 up.

Limerick’s half time talk seemed to have worked wonders and they came out all guns blazing to try and bring the game back into their grasp. Wayne Colbert sent in a speculative shot but he had to watch the ball go over the bar instead of celebrate. United restored their control over the game and substitute Ian McCluskey, who replaced injured goal scorer Robbie Farrell, came close to increasing United’s lead but his shot rattled the side netting.

As Limerick struggled to come back into the game and showed little or no imagination in their attacks, Robbie Kelleher, against the run of play, almost found them their equaliser. Kelleher’s header spilled wide of the goal in what was to be their last real positive play of the game.

It fell to Willie Doyle to put the game finally beyond Limerick when he skilfully volleyed the ball past David Ryan into the Lims net. His 74th minute cracker left 37 with too much to do and the game died off as they seemed to give up. The game ended on a sour note when Burke received a 2nd yellow card and was given his marching orders. United had done enough however and the game finished with an impressive and hard earned victory for the Mons.

Limerick 37: Ryan, Whyte, Molan, Buckley (Clarke 46), Purcell (Hayes 26), Colbert, Cosgrave, Barrett, McCarthy (Kelliher 65), Tierney, Waters.

Monaghan United: Rouse, Whelan, Williamson, Mooney, Fitzpatrick, Tierney, Meenan (Burke 1), Cousins, Farrell (McCluskey 34), Doyle, McCartney.

MONS AWAY TO WEXFORD
This Friday night, Monaghan United travel to Wexford Youths in the FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division and Cooke’s men will be anticipating a battle as the Youths try to put some distance between themselves and bottom of the table neighbours Kilkenny. So far this season, United have beaten Wexford twice and drawn once. Mons have been on a fine run of form of l and apart from a blip against League leaders Cobh Ramblers and 2nd placed Finn Harps, they have won 5 games and drawn 2 in the last 9 matches.

These results have left United sitting mid-table and confident of remaining there. Mick Cooke’s canny signings in the transfer window have bolstered the strength of the team and his left him able to field a competent squad at times when players are injured. This is crucial as for Friday night’s game Mick will probably be without 4 key players, Farrell, Meenan, Gannon and D’arcy who are all struggling with injuries.

United’s next home game is against a buoyant Kildare County the following Friday. Kildare beat struggling Dundalk 3-1 last weekend and sit just one point behind Mons in the table.

Kick off at Wexford Youths Football Complex on Friday night at 8pm.

GOLF SOCIETY CHALLENGE THIS WEEKEND
Monaghan United’s eagerly awaited Golf Society Challenge, takes place at Rossmore Golf Club this Saturday. All team slots have been filled and a great day of Golf is expected. United have run Golf Classics previously and have decided to change the format to a Golf Society Challenge this year.

Teams from Societies all over are taking place and it should be a tough competition with the FAI’s team favourites to win with rumour that Ireland Goalkeeping hero Packie Bonner may lead the team.

The Monaghan United Golf Society Challenge has been sponsored by Moneycare and is anticipated to be the biggest Golf tournament to come to Monaghan.

MONAGHAN CREDIT UNION MINI LEAGUES
Monaghan United’s ever popular mini-leagues are back and registrations will be taken this Sunday from 10am at the Astro Park at Kingspan Century Park. Please bring along 2 passport photographs and registration fee of €30 per child registering.