First Division

[Battery Rover]

As for the third, is it Limerick???

Seeing the averages he means us. A lot going on here at the moment. Plenty of promotions being put in place for the rest of the season including an event at the match vs Shelbourne on the 25th May with over 200 invatations being sent out to local businesses and the local community.

200 full colour posters being put up for every home match.
In the process of doing 192 free season tickets for one on the underage clubs in the area.
On the radio 5 times a week minimum.
50 free copies of our match day programme being dropped round to the local pubs every Monday morning.
Local underage league given the use of the stadium for matches when we arent using it.

Building for the future and not short term gain

[L37Ultra]

Seeing the averages he means us. A lot going on here at the moment. Plenty of promotions being put in place for the rest of the season including an event at the match vs Shelbourne on the 25th May with over 200 invatations being sent out to local businesses and the local community.

200 full colour posters being put up for every home match.
In the process of doing 192 free season tickets for one on the underage clubs in the area.
On the radio 5 times a week minimum.
50 free copies of our match day programme being dropped round to the local pubs every Monday morning.
Local underage league given the use of the stadium for matches when we arent using it.

Building for the future and not short term gain

Personally, I wouldnt put Athlone in that catergory of clubs who are seriously struggling to survive. They have a top class stadium and great plans for the future. There situation is very similar to that of Limericks (without the nice ground). They over spent last season and are now concentrating on matters off the pitch. Attendances will improve once the results do. Results will only improve once things are sorted off the pitch.

Athlone are in a better situation than the likes of Monaghan and Kildare I think. They dont have the fan base to be sustainable but the potential is there if they get a lucky break. I can't see any of the new clubs in the A Championship adding anything to the League that these clubs dont have.

[oldyouth]

When fully fit we have a smattering of players that would walk on to any team in the division and will give anyone a game on their day..

Yet Lim you seem to think that that other clubs don't lose players to injury or suspension. Every club out there would give any other a run for their money with a full squad

[L37Ultra]

Yet Lim you seem to think that that other clubs don't lose players to injury or suspension. Every club out there would give any other a run for their money with a full squad

Ya spot on. I think any team could beat anyone on their day.For example, last season, Limerick lost 2-1 to Kilkenny at home (who came last) and then the next week beat Dundalk 2-0 away.

[Footsoldier]

Ya spot on. I think any team could beat anyone on their day.For example, last season, Limerick lost 2-1 to Kilkenny at home (who came last) and then the next week beat Dundalk 2-0 away.

Now, that is a turnaround!

[Magicme]

Personally, I wouldnt put Athlone in that catergory of clubs who are seriously struggling to survive. They have a top class stadium and great plans for the future. There situation is very similar to that of Limericks (without the nice ground). They over spent last season and are now concentrating on matters off the pitch. Attendances will improve once the results do. Results will only improve once things are sorted off the pitch.

Athlone are in a better situation than the likes of Monaghan and Kildare I think. They dont have the fan base to be sustainable but the potential is there if they get a lucky break. I can't see any of the new clubs in the A Championship adding anything to the League that these clubs dont have.

You my dear dont have a clue what you are talking about. Monaghan United are very secure financially and are well able to sustain themselves without a massive fan base. The fans will build though as United have just hired a full time CPO to ensure that they do.

The fact that Monaghan United have taken the slow route and built up the facilities before concentrating on the team will stand them in good stead in the coming seasons and I see Athlone following in a similar vein. Makes good business sense to get your house in order and build your facilities before you attempt to recapture the imagination of the doubting GAA loving public.

[Schumi]

The fact that Monaghan United have taken the slow route and built up the facilities before concentrating on the team will stand them in good stead in the coming seasons.

I very much hope it works for you but everyone said that about Kilkenny too.

[Monkfish]

The fans will build though as United have just hired a full time CPO to ensure that they do.

In fairness (and im not winding you up) but who in Monaghan wants to see a team of Dubs representing their town and getting beat every second week while their at it? I agree theres a lot of things being done right up there but while your team has to get a bus to its home matches I cant see many locals supporting the cause.

Not having a go, just how I see it.

[monutdfc]

Experience - and not just at Monaghan - has shown that a successful team is needed to bring in the crowds. Team doing well= crowds up, team doing poorly = crowds are down. It's a universal truth at most sides. Look at Longford before and after Stephen Kenny for example.

[monutdfc]

I've just looked at the attendances thread. Limerick's 4 year average is just over twice MUFC's (472 versus 215). The relative size of Limerick is more than twice the size of Monaghan, not to mention the catchment areas with no League team for probably 100km in any direction from Limerick (how far is Galway?); and the 4 year period is a period when Monaghan finished in the bottom 3 for each of those years. But we did keep our name, stay in our ground, keep our licence and not go bust in any of those 4 years.

[Magicme]

In fairness (and im not winding you up) but who in Monaghan wants to see a team of Dubs representing their town and getting beat every second week while their at it? I agree theres a lot of things being done right up there but while your team has to get a bus to its home matches I cant see many locals supporting the cause.

Not having a go, just how I see it.

Again - not having a go but you dont know what you are talking about. The Monaghan United team are not made up of just Dubs as your post infers. There are some dubs but certainly not all. Also they dont get a bus to home games, they drive. Even our local lads live in Dublin where they go to college/work btw. Mons team this season:

Brendan Kennedy - Dublin
Danny Woods - Ardee
Paul Whelan - Monaghan
Kevin Williamson - Offaly
Aaron Mooney - Dublin
Ian Malone - Dublin
Brian Gartland -Dublin
Don Tierney - Dublin
Stephen McCrossan - Dublin (?)
Eoin Lanigan - Lucan
Darren Meenan - Dublin (via Derry!)
James Hand - Carrickmacross
Kieran Reilly - Cavan
Philip Sheppard - Dublin
Robbie Collins - Dublin
Wayne Byrne - Bray
Brian Murphy - Carlow


Yes there is a large Dublin contingent but there just isn't enough local talent to even keep us in touch with the league. We could field a local team and lose 10 nil every week but that would just be even more pointless as the crowds certainly wouldnt come out for that.

And Schumi, there are not the same kind of problems at Mons that Kilkenny faced. There are major developments and investments at KCP at the mo and we will be around for years to come.

[oldyouth]

I think Magic that you have to call Lucan & Bray as Dublin. Lucan, because it is in Dublin and Bray 'cos Wiclow people hate that.

Seriously though, keep the faith. The LOI needs clubs spread throughout the country

[passerrby]

are we getting lectures from a limerick fan on our sustainability Fcuk me thats like getting driving lessons from steve wonder

[Monkfish]

Brendan Kennedy - Dublin
Danny Woods - Ardee
Paul Whelan - Monaghan
Kevin Williamson - Offaly
Aaron Mooney - Dublin
Ian Malone - Dublin
Brian Gartland -Dublin
Don Tierney - Dublin
Stephen McCrossan - Dublin (?)
Eoin Lanigan - Lucan
Darren Meenan - Dublin (via Derry!)
James Hand - Carrickmacross
Kieran Reilly - Cavan
Philip Sheppard - Dublin
Robbie Collins - Dublin
Wayne Byrne - Bray
Brian Murphy - Carlow

That would make the majority of your team Dubs then. Is there no talent in Mid-Ulster, Belfast or the North Midlands? All im saying that maybe this is a reason why your crowds aint the best?
As for the 4 year averages (why not 1 or 10 years?) how much of your average were acually Mon fans? and not Dundalk and Harps?

[Monkfish]

Fcuk me thats like getting driving lessons from steve wonder

Release the handbrake, clutch, put her into first and slowly press down the right peddle and away you go. Im sure even a blind man could tell you that.

[passerrby]

Release the handbrake, clutch, put her into first and slowly press down the right peddle and away you go. Im sure even a blind man could tell you that.

when do you check your mirror steve

[DmanDmythDledge]

That would make the majority of your team Dubs then. Is there no talent in Mid-Ulster, Belfast or the North Midlands?

There seems to be talent coming up through the ranks- Monghan made the semis of the U18 cup (I think that was it).

[Flawless]

There seems to be talent coming up through the ranks- Monghan made the semis of the U18 cup (I think that was it).

U-18 Cup semi-final Line Up was:

St Pats Athletic Vs Dundalk

Wexford Yths Vs Salthill Devon

Final is on in Ferrycarrig Park on the 18th may, Wexford Vs Dundalk!!

[atfconline]

Mons made it to semi's of the Under-17's I think.

[Sheridan]

Trevor Vaughan once told me the excuse for not following the team in the Premier amongst the natives was that there were too few locals in the team. Then they reverted to a locally-based team and the excuse became that they were tripe!