Monaghan United U-14s kicked off their ninth league game of the season away to a strong Cootehill Harps side. The away side started the stronger of the two when forward Cian Bradley-Gillespie found the ball out wide, he played a one-two with Tomas Galvin before seeing his effort sail over the bar. The tide soon turned as Cootehill started to battle for every ball, they were now dominating the game but couldn’t get in behind a defence of Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Aodhan McQuaid and Fionan O’Gallachoir. Monaghan were struggling to get a foothold on the game but against the run of play they managed to take the lead. Centre back Robin Pratt-Clarke fired in a deep freekick into the box and midfielder Tomas Galvin smashed the ball into the top corner of the net with a left footed volley. A fantastic opening goal. However, Cootehill attacked in numbers straight from the kick off and found themselves with a free kick just outside the penalty area. Their midfielder came up and unleashed an unstoppable freekick into Monaghans net. 1-1 and game on. Cootehill were again looking the better of the two sides and near went infront when they fired in a shot from long range, but goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle was on hand with a fine save. Monaghan were now set up on the counter attack and went close to taken the lead when Fionan O’Gallachoir and Eoin O’Hanlon worked the ball to midfielder Josh Kelly who just struck wide from range. Monaghan were now taking the upper hand with midfielders Patrick Treanor, Cian Brennan and Josh Kelly now taking a stronghold on the game. Minutes before half time Monaghan went infront. Again Robin Pratt-Clarke fired a long ball forward, Fionnan O’Braonian got the ball inside the box and tied up midfielder Cian Brennan who smashed the ball into the back of the net. 2-1 to Monaghan at half time.
Monaghan kicked off the second half looking to increase their lead as midfielder Cian Brennan went close with a long range free kick. Cootehill upped the game and were starting to play some impressive football with Monaghan seeming to be second to every ball. The away side were pegged back and had to opt for a counter attacking strategy as Cian Brennan broke forward down the right hand side, he found Fionnan O’Braonian who sent in a fantastic cross but no Monaghan player was able to get onto the end of it, in what was a great goalscoring chance. From here on in the game was pretty much one sided as Cootehill grew in strength. Their winger broke forward and unleashed an effort from wide which was going into the net only for a finger tip save from goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle. Luck was not on Monaghans side however as Cootehill scored from the resulting corner kick. Monaghan were now throwing everyone forward in search of a winner an near found one when Cian Brennan slipped the ball out wide to Eoin O’Hanlon, he found Tomas Galvin with the cross but Tomas’ effort sailed narrowly over the bar. In the dying moments, Cootehill capitalised on Monaghans all out attack and broke forward themselves, firing in a goal sealing an impressive 3-2 victory as Monaghan slipped to their second league defeat of the season.
Our Man of The Match award goes to centre back Robin Pratt-Clarke who put in an impressive performance at the heart of the Monaghan back line, while also being heavily involved in both Monaghans goals.
Next Saturday (24th February) Monaghan United U-14’s host Cavan Celtic at home in Gortekeegan in the CMUL League. The club & management would like to ask all the parents and family members to come out and support the team.
Monaghan United U-14s management and players would also like to thank defender Cian Brennan for his three years with the team and we would like to wish him all the best in the future as he joins the Monaghan United Cavan FP under 15 Airtricity squad.
Man of The Match: Robin Pratt-Clarke
Goals: Tomas Galvin, Cian Brennan
Team: Ciaran Doyle, Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Aodhan McQuaid, Cian Brennan, Fionan O’Gallachoir, Patrick Treanor (C), Tomas Galvin, Josh Kelly, Eoin O’Hanlon, Fionnan O’Braonian, Cian Bradley-Gillespie
Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan
Monaghan United U-14's 