In the Ulster Semi-Final of the National Cup, Monaghan United U-14s hosted a very strong Cappry Rovers (Donegal) side at home in Gortekeegan. Cappry had won the Ulster National Cup the previous year so came into the match with a very big reputation. But it was the home side who started the stronger of the two as Monaghan looked to use attack as their best form of defence, as Eoin O’Hanlon, Lewis Brady and Dara McKenna looked to stretch the Cappry defence in the early stages. Cappry had changed from their normal formation and added an extra man into midfield, and this was forcing midfielders Josh Kelly, Patrick Treanor and Tomas Galvin to work tirelessly in the middle of the park. The first chance of the game came when midfielder Tomas Galvin slipped a through ball through to striker Dara McKenna who tried to lob the goalkeeper only to see his effort sail narrowly over the bar. Cappry found their second gear and soon upped the tempo of the game. Monaghans defence was being put under a serious amount of pressure, with defenders Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Cian Brennan & Fionan O’Gallachoir being pushed to their limits, but Monaghans defence denied Cappry on a number of occasions. However, Cappry kept pressing and pressing and soon they managed they managed to find their breakthrough when they worked the ball through the homesides defence before slotting home. The Donegal sides nerves were gone and they showed no signs of slowing down as they kept attacking Monaghan, they near found a second goal only to be denied by two fantastic saves by goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle. Cappry kept a persistent attacking tactic as they kept pushing for a second and they soon found it when their midfielder broke forward and drilled a longe range shot into the roof of the net, showing exactly why he has be selected for the Irish Under 14s team. Monaghan had to retaliate and soon started to up their tempo as midfielders Josh Kelly and Tomas Galvin continued to get on the ball and find our three forwards. 2-0 the halftime scoreline as Cappry put in a very impressive performance.
Monaghan had a big ask to do in the second half as they started the half at a very high pace. Their hopes were soon shattered as Cappry broke forward on the counter attack and found their third goal of the game. Monaghans heads were down and suddenly they nearly fell further behind only for a fingertip save by goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle. Monaghan had no choice but to show some fighting spirit, midfielder Jake McGeough won the ball in midfield with a hard tackle and laid it off to Tomas Galvin, Tomas rocketed a shot at goal forcing a the Donegal goalkeeper to palm the ball out for a corner. Monaghan were desperate to find a way back into the game and soon went close again when Tomas Galvin stroke once again from range, but his shot sailed wide. On the left, Fionan O’Gallachoir, Josh Kelly and Cian Bradley-Gillespie were proving to be a nuisance in the Cappry side as they constantly attacked in the latter stages. Josh received the ball from deep and slipped the ball to Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Cian attacked the end line before striking the ball across the six yard box, all it needed was a tap in, but no-one had arrived on the end of the ball. The last chance of the game came when Fionnan O’Braonian won the ball and fired it forward, allowing Dara McKenna to burst down the right hand side of the pitch, he cut into the box before shooting from a tight angle, only to be denied by the crossbar. 3-0 the final scoreline as Cappry progress into the Ulster final of the National Cup, setting up a trilling counter against Carrick Rovers.
This weeks Man of The Match award goes to midfielder Josh Kelly as he worked tirelessly up and down the pitch, while also playing some very attractive football going forward.
Monaghans United U-14’s Next Fixture to be Announced
Man of The Match: Josh Kelly
Goals: N/A
Team: Ciaran Doyle, Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Cian Brennan, Fionan O’Gallachoir, Patrick Treanor (C), Josh Kelly, Jake McGeough, Tomas Galvin, Fionnan O’Braonian, Lewis Brady, Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Eoin O’Hanlon, Dara McKenna
Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan
Monaghan United U-14's 