UNDER 12s ADVANCE IN CUP
Monaghan United 3 -2 Duleek
Monaghan United advanced to the next round of the Norton Cup when they defeated Duleek, from Meath, 3-2 on Sunday last. United got off to a flyer when Jamie McCarey picked out the unmarked Míchael Bannigan who easily beat the opposing ‘keeper to put United 1 up after just 5 minutes of the game. With Kelly and McMahon winning the mid-field battle United kept the pressure on with some good passing football, but they were caught out when the Duleek striker beat the off-side to score a good equaliser. However, minutes later, Duleek could have made it 2-1 only for good defending from Ryan Drayne. At half time the sides were level at 1-1.

In the 2nd half, Monaghan started to apply even more pressure with attack after attack. This finally paid off when Shane McMahon scored United’s 2nd goal after a mix up in the Duleek defence. With the young boys playing with confidence Kevin Sheridan slipped a great pass through Duleek’s defence for Míchael Bannigan to score a great solo effort for United’s 3rd goal. At this late stage of the game, United looked home and dry but Duleek had different ideas when in the last few minutes, they scored their second goal. Monaghan United however held on for their victory.

This week’s Man of the Match goes to Ryan Drayne for his solid defending as always.

Panel used: D Hannon, R Drayne, S Kelly, P Hickey, A McNally, J McCarey, S McMahon, J Kelly, C Leonard, S Finnegan, M Bannigan, K Sheridan, J Owens, R Slater, D McNally and S Geoghan.

The Under 12’s and their manager would like to than John McNally Taxis for sponsoring the new footballs for the season.


National Cup

MONAGHAN UNITED UNDER 13'S HIT CLONTARF FOR SIX

Monaghan United's Under 13's team comfortably progressed to the next round of the National Cup with an outstanding 6-1 victory over Dublin team Clontarf FC. United travelled to St Anne's Park, in Dublin on Sunday and showed how much this team has to offer when they managed to put 6 goals past Clontarf.



United found the back of the net 10 seconds into the game, following a Clontarf kick off. Garbhan McKenna stole the ball and dinked past the Clontarf defence to find the back of the net. United continued to pile on the pressure and came close again within minutes only to be denied by the Clontarf defence when Anderson's ball in was cleared off the line.



Clontarf steadied themselves somewhat and looked like they would find an equaliser but a poorly judged cross was just out of their strikers reach. Undeterred, Clontarf tried again but had a header cleared off the line before the Mons went back on the rampage. A well executed kick out from goalkeeper Ciaran McGuirk found David McAllister who in turn found McKenna and unleashed him to get his 2nd goal of the game.


United were then on the recieving end of some pressure from Clontarf when they strung together some attacks but Mons keeper McGuirk dealt confidently with everything that was thrown at him. United got their 3rd goal thanks to some great work from Richard Wilkie, Francis Maguire and Ryan Ingram which set Ingram up to rattle the back of the net.

The first half ended as it had started with United firing home to make it 4-0 when McAllister sent the ball in over the keeper.

United wrapped up the game in the 2nd half with 2 more goals with McKenna and McAllister causing havoc to the Clontarf defence. Using his left foot McKenna got his hattrick having been set up by McAllister and United's 6th goal came when Anderson, having worked hard throughout the game, got his just rewards, after Clontarf had gotten a consolation goal through a free kick.

This was a fantastic display from United and Managers John Turley and Mick Hannon were very pleased with the teams efforts.

Team: McGuirk, Burke, Turley, D McKenna, Wilkie, McAllister, Anderson, Ingram, G McKenna, Hanley, Maguire, Loughran, McElwaine, Lavelle, Ross, Lucas.



UNDER 15’S BEAT CAVAN CELTIC IN NATIONAL CUP
Monaghan United 2 -0 Cavan Celtic
Monaghan United played host to Cavan Celtic in the first round of the National Cup Under 15’s at Kingspan Century Park on Saturday last. United were at full strength and hoping to build on the previous week’s performance. Monaghan played good attacking football in the first half and had a few chances to go in front. Cavan were well organised at the back and their goalkeeper had a very good first half to ensure that the sides were level at half time with no score.

An Alex Ferguson style team talk at half time and two changes early in the second half and Monaghan could see the game turning in their favour. Good performances from Conor Forde, Shane Owens and Michael Galligan kept the pressure on Cavan. A perfect cross from Conor McCarthy to Bennon Devlin enabled the latter to shoot past the keeper. This score settled Monaghan down and some nice football from Fergal McMahon, which ended in a pass to Kevin Loughran, who coolly slotted home Monaghan United’s 2nd goal. This was no more than Monaghan deserved and there was a good all round performance from each player. Man of the match went to Conor Forde.

Managers: Paddy Owens and James Forde.