Monaghan United U-12’s kicked off their National Cup campaign with a 8-3 win away in Cavan against Ballyhaise. The game started at a very high pace with a goal in the first five minutes from right winger Blake Lees. A few minutes later winger Eoin O’Hanlon was brought down in the box before striker Jamie Cooney converted the resulting penalty making it 2-0. Jamie then added a further two goals along with another own goal making it a 5-0 scoreline to Monaghan United. The Cavan side had very limited chances in the first half as back trio Rory Treanor, Robin Pratt-Clarke & Dylan O’Reilly, along with makeshift goalkeeper Ethan Ballentine kept the Ballyhaise attack at bay.
The second half started off as quick as the first as Michael McMarrow soon added a 6th with a neat finish. Monaghan, with Captain Patrick Treanor and Darragh McKenna dominating midfield, were taking a dominating hold on the game. But with a change of keeper, Monaghan soon gave a way a penalty, but a fine flying save from Cian Bradley-Gillespie kept the clean sheet intact. Though, soon after Ballyhaise added two quick goals, before Eoin O’Hanlon converted Monaghan’s 7th with a fine strike. Another Ballyhaise goal made it 7-3 before the best goal of the match as Eoin O’Hanlon was played through behind the Ballyhaise defence and he squared the ball for another Jamie Cooney goal, which finished the exciting game as Monaghan United ran out 8-3 winners. There were many candidates but with four goals, it was Jamie Cooney who picked up our Man of the Match Award
Man of The Match: Jamie Cooney
Goals: Blake Lees, Jamie Cooney (4), Michael McMarrow, Eoin O’Hanlon, O.G.
Team: Rory Treanor, Ethan Ballentine, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Diarmuid O’Riordan, Patrick Treanor, Darragh McKenna, Dylan O’Reilly, Evan Skinnader, Josh Kelly, Eoin O’Hanlon, Blake Lees, Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Michael McMarrow, Jamie Cooney
Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan
Monaghan United U-14's 