As preparations for the 2008 season continue at Monaghan United, Mick Cooke took his squad to Dalymount Park to play against league giants Bohemians on Saturday last. Armed with new signings and new assistant manager Graham Doyle, Cooke and some familiar faces put up a good and determined performance against a team full of league stars.
Within seconds of the game kicking off centre back Brian Gartland gave Bohs a scare as he almost found keeper Chris Konopka wanting. United’s Paul Whelan seemed to shake off the cobwebs of the closed season easily and as Northern Ireland International player Chris Turner tried to make use of a fine pass, “Whealo” rounded him and cut him off. Whelan frustrated Turner on many occasions after this but Turner was to turn out to be Bohs hero when he scored the only goal of the game in the 68th minute.
As new signing Philip Sheppard tried to find his stride he was unlucky not to find the back of the net early in the game. The Gypsies ‘keeper Konopka badly palmed down a Sheppard strike but managed to secure the ball before Sheppard could go in for the kill.
Veteran striker Glen Crowe was the first of the hosts to really threaten new net minder Brendan Kennedy between the Monaghan posts. He missed a sitter much to the relief of the United defence who had been caught on the hop and his shot went well wide of the mark. Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon’s first day at the office was tainted as he had to watch Ken Oman limp off the pitch with only 6 minutes on the clock. Mark Rossiter was called upon to replace Oman but failed to make a major impact on the game.
Bohemians seemed to struggle with finishing as yet another opportunity to go ahead presented itself. A Killian Brennan corner landed well for John Paul Kelly who sent it back to the oncoming Brennan but he sent it too far across the Mons goal and United’s defence were able to push the Dubliners back out of the box.
Brennan tried to make amends for his mistake a few minutes later when he took a free but once more he was well wide and the score stayed level. Sheppard sprung into action once more for the Mons and robbed a slack Bohemians defence to give himself a chance for glory but his shot went just wide.
Brennan stepped up to take another free shortly after and found Crowe’s head but Kennedy was ready for him and easily caught the incoming ball. As Bohs battled on they found it hard to break down the Mons defence and although Neale Fenn found himself in front of goal, the pressure from United’s back line caused him to shoot wide.
Kennedy was called upon again when Crowe sent in a thundering low shot. Brendan made no mistake and dived on the ball preventing any further attempt by Crowe to secure an opener. Fenn came close again, but once more sent the ball wide. Undeterred he came at the United goal mouth again but the quick work of Whelan and Ian Malone ensured that he was shut down and went away empty handed.
The burgeoning partnership of James Hand and Philip Sheppard almost paid dividends when Hand sent a perfect ball in to Sheppard. It was not to be though and Sheppard could only watch as his shot went wide.
A quick and agile move from Kennedy ensured that he kept a clean sheet when he managed to get a toe to Crowe special. The fast and hard incoming ball was spun out of danger and cleared by Aaron Mooney’s head much to Crowe’s dismay as it must have seemed certain to hit the back of the net. Crowe thought he had finally succeeded in securing a goal when almost immediately he attacked the visitors net. Kennedy was beaten but luckily the net rattler was ruled off side. Kennedy looked set to become Crowe’s arch nemeses as yet again he made a fantastic save much to the irritation of the goal hungry striker.
United really started to come into their own then with Sheppard causing all sorts of problems for the Bohemians back four. They just about had the measure of him and he will have been disappointed not to have been able to make better use of his chances. Kevin Williamson showed a flash of the skill that earned him The Supporters Club Player of the Year award in 2007 when he casually robbed the ball from Crowe and fled up the pitch before you could blink. Bohs came back into it though and seemed to enjoy a relaxing kick about in the midfield until United came at them again.
A superb ball in from Robbie Collins landed beautifully for Sheppard. The speed with which Sheppard bore down on goal startled the Bohs keeper into action and he was forced to come well off his line to prevent United from taking the lead. United again showed that they were not to be trifled with when Mooney appeared to make a joke of Crowe by cheekily stealing the ball and heading up the pitch before a mistake led to Bohs being awarded a throw.
Fenn still seemed determined to prove his worth but as he turned to strike Brian Gartland closed him down and the ball tamely fell to Kennedy. As Bohs continued to try and break the deadlock Crowe tried to reach a high ball with his head but it went over him and Gartland was there to mop up the mess.
Collins went on a rampage for United but he was unable to break through the host’s defence in what was to be United’s last push of the first half. As the half came to a close an almost comedic show was played out in front of the fans when the unrelenting Crowe tried his hardest to slot the ball past the United defence. Every time he struck the ball it was blocked and returned to him. Clearly frustrated he persisted until Gartland managed to clear the ball from the line but in the process sent it back to Crowe. His final strike of the half was gathered up by a relieved Kennedy.
United made some major changes for the second half with Danny Woods taking over from Kennedy in goals and Ian Malone stepping into Gartland’s shoes. As United tried to settle in again, Bohs came close on two occasions. The whistle had barely been taken out of the referee’s mouth when Fenn crossed the ball to Kelly with the precision expected from a full time professional footballer. Kelly’s resulting shot floated well over the goal without troubling Danny Woods.
The game became duller as time elapsed but there were occasional spurts of interesting play. Bohs seemed to be more in command but were still finding it difficult to get the ball into the back of the net. Meenan and Whelan worked tightly together to close up any holes in the defence and prevented Brennan from getting a shot on goal on more than one occasion.
Whelan showcased his talent with a fine run up the wing before sending the ball to the waiting Collins. The ball went out for a throw but United had the ball back immediately and Malone almost became the man of the day when his neat header seemed goal bound. The ball deflected off a Bohs player in the packed box and out for a Mons corner. Meenan’s corner kick fell short of its potential when Konopka plucked it out of the air.
The away fans got a fright when a reinvigorated home side headed for United’s goal with Woods beaten. Malone somehow had managed to get back and cleared the ball from the line. United were not beaten yet and once more Whelan with deer-like nimbleness shot up the wing to pass to Sheppard who sent the ball across the pitch to Williamson but he was wrong footed and unable to collect the pass.
The game did what it was supposed to do and showed up the areas that need working on before the season begins. United’s set pieces were messy and too many corners were wasted at a time when they could have gotten ahead of the opposition. Both managers made substitutions when Meenan came off to allow new signing Hanaphy join the game and John Paul Kelly was replaced by Harpal Singh.
In a moment of madness on Malone’s part United gave away a free and were pushed to the limit to try to contain the Bohs onslaught. Luckily Brennan’s free was not to be the moment Bohs got their first goal of 2008 but within minutes Turner had broken their duck. Some messy moments when United’s defence gave the impression that they had forgotten why they were on the pitch ensued and Turner took advantage of the disarray to slide the ball into the back of the net.
Within a minute of scoring Turner was replaced on the pitch by Stephen O’Donnell. Malone was forced to compensate for the momentary lack of cohesion within minutes of the game’s resumption when he was forced to mop up Boh’s next attempt on goal. The threat of goal was present once more when Singh glided the ball into the Monaghan box but Woods, having found his composure, made light work of catching the ball.
Cooke gave another new signing Chris Dyson a run out in the 77th minute when the former Notts County player took to the pitch in place of Hand. Dyson never really got into the game and his lack of football over the past year hampered whatever potential is there.
Singh tried to make it 2-0 to the home side when he bolted towards Woods but his shot went across the goal and was swiftly taken back up the pitch by United. Fenlon tried to freshen up his side by bringing on Michael McGinlay for the tired looking Crowe as the game moved into the 80th minute. McGinlay instantly tried to make an impression but his shot was well off and skimmed across the pitch.
As the game went into the final few minutes, the Mons looked like they may have found their magic but a Collins shot went wide and Konopka had the measure of Hanaphy as he tried to find the equaliser and the opportunities were wasted.
The game ended 1-0 to Bohemians but there were a lot of positives to be taken from the game by United. Bohs are one of the “big clubs” with a strong financial position and are able to play quality players like Jason Byrne, Owen Heary and Glen Crowe. United on the other hand are on a very restricted budget and Cooke must be complemented on the quality of player he has been able to attract to the club. To battle hard and only just be beaten by one of the top clubs in the country is no shame and if United can find some consistency this season they may well surprise some teams in 2008.
TEAMS
Bohemians: Chris Konopka, Owen Heary, Conor Powell, Jason McGuinness, Ken Oman (Mark Rossiter 6), Glen Cronin, John Paul Kelly (Harpal Singh 68), Chris Turner (Stephen O’Donnell 70), Neale Fenn, Glen Crowe (Michael McGinlay 80), Killian Brennan (Philip McDonagh 85)
Monaghan: Brendan Kennedy (Danny Woods 45), Paul Whelan, Kevin Williamson, Aaron Mooney, Brian Gartland (Ian Malone 45), Dom Tierney, Darren Meenan (Darragh Hanaphy 68), Stephen McCrossan, Robbie Collins, Philip Sheppard, James Hand (Chris Dyson 77)
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