Monaghan United -v- Athlone Town

• Brendan White
• Sun, Sep 12 2010


Athlone Town are again on their travels as they face Monaghan United on Monday evening just three days after a spirited 2-2 draw away to Derry City. Kick Off: 8pm.

Monaghan United are on a run of five consecutive victories, including EA Sports Cup and FAI Cup wins. Last Friday Monaghan beat Wexford Youths 4-1, Karl Bermingham (2), Aidan Collins and Paul Whelan grabbing the goals. Athlone Town come into the game on the back of an encouraging 2-2 draw away to league leaders Derry City after mid-week clear the air talks between manager and team mates.

Monaghan United manager Mick Cooke knows his side have an important few games ahead. ““We commence what will be one of the most important fortnights in Monaghan United’s club with our participation in the two cup games; however for the moment our most pressing performance will be this game against Athlone Town in the first Division, indeed a win would put us on top of the table for the moment.”

“We had another good performance against Wexford Youths with many of the players having personal bests. We were probably a bit slow to start and maybe showed Wexford too much respect in the opening quarter of an hour but after that I felt we were in full control and weren’t flattered by the winning score line. We will require more of the same against Athlone”, Cooke said.

Finn Harps manager James Gallagher met with his players during the week to try find the reason for his side’s inconsistencies. “I spoke to the players before the game and I didn’t hold back at all,” he said. “I was as honest as I could be with them with how I feel some of the performances are going. The inconsistency thing is just not good enough.”

Gallagher’s Harps went ahead against Derry City when Tommy Bonner headed them into a fourth minute lead and although Shane Clarke produced a fine leveller, it was a decent encounter with no quarter given. “Things haven’t been going as well as we would’ve liked but that was a great example of what it takes to grind out a result,” Gallagher continues. “That’s a team going for promotion and we had to battle with them. I’ve played in loads of them games. For me, it was a typical First Division game.”

Monaghan United have no injuries but Karl Bermingham is suspended having been red carded on Friday night against Wexford Youths.

Extratime Prediction: Monaghan United to win 2-0.