Monaghan United kicked off their tenth and final league match at home in Gortekeegan against Cavan Celtic. The game kicked off with the home side on the front foot as they went close early on when midfielders Josh Kelly and Jake McGeough worked the ball towards Tomas Galvin who seen his effort sail narrowly wide. The next effort also fell to Tomas when Jake McGeough read a poor Cavan kickout and slipped through Tomas who seen his effort go wide once again. Monaghan were truly dominating in the early stages and were desperate for an opening goal, Josh Kelly and Tomas Galvin linked up well out the left hand side and tied up Jake McGeough whos effort went close. Monaghan were getting closer and nearly broke the deadlock when forward Eoin O’Hanlon broke down the left into the box, he pulled the ball back finding Jake McGeough who was denied by a fine save. Monaghan found their goalscoring touch when Josh Kelly and Cian Bradley-Gillespie smartly worked a short corner before Josh set up Captain Patrick Treanor at the edge of the box, Patrick looped the ball into the air and over the goalkeepers head, 1-0 to Monaghan with the Captains first goal of the season. Cavan were barely able to get their breath back before Monaghan found their second. Fionan O’Gallachoir drove down the left wing, he found Tomas Galvin in the middle of the park, Tomas lobbed the ball over the Cavan defence finding midfield runner Jake McGeough who volleyed the ball past the Cavan goalkeeper. A fantastic goal for the home side! The famous saying “A team is at its most vulnerable when they’ve just scored” came into play when the away side found themselves back in the game as they broke down the centre of the pitch and fired into the Monaghan goals. 2-1. Monaghan, however, found their second breath and upped the tempo once again with midfielders Josh Kelly, Patrick Treanor and Jake McGeough dominating the middle of the pitch. Cavan Celtic were doing everything they could to get back into the game but were struggling to get any joy as centre backs Robin Pratt-Clarke and Aodhan McQuaid were clearing every attack that managed to come their way, and were determined that no shots were fired at the Monaghan goal. The home side again upped the tempo and soon found their third when centre back Robin Pratt-Clarke sweeped up a Cavan attack and drove down the right hand side, he found Eoin O’Hanlon who neatly slipped a through ball through the Cavan defence to Tomas Galvin who made no hesitation and smashed the ball into the back of the net off the post. The home side had nothing else in their minds but to attack! attack! attack!, and they nearly increased their lead when Eoin O’Hanlon broke into the box, the goalkeeper had his angles correct so Eoin recycled the ball back to Jake McGeough who seen his effort saved. But moments later they did increase their lead, youngster Aodhan Doyle pumped the ball down the right hand side sending Cian Bradley-Gillespie down the right, he beat the full back and sent in a dangerous cross leaving Tomas Galvin with a simple tap in at the back post. 4-1 to Monaghan after another well worked goal. Monaghans next attack Cian broke down the right once again and this time his cross found fullback Fionan O’Gallachoir who smashed a rocket of a volley, only to be denied by a fantastic save. 4-1 the scoreline at half time.
The second half kicked off as the first half finished with Monaghan dominating the early stages. The home side soon made it 5-1 when Josh Kelly and Aodhan Doyle worked the ball down the right hand side and found forward Cian Bradley-Gillespie, again he beat the defender and sent in a dangerous cross and just like the last goal, he found Tomas Galvin who fired home his hat-trick with a brilliant finish. Chances were few and far between for the away side but midway through the second half they broke through 1v1 with goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle, but their effort one goal was claimed by the Monaghan goalkeeper with a fine save. The game was nearly coming to an end but the home side showed no signs of slowing down. Eoin O’Hanlon made a mazy run down the left, he pulled the back to Patrick Treanor who smashed a shot from rang, the keeper saved the shot and then again saved the rebound from Cian Bradley-Gillespie. Monaghan nearly increased their lead when Tomas Galvin linked up with Cian Bradley-Gillespie before finding Patrick Treanor who was denied by the Cavan goalkeeper. The home side soon made it six when Patrick Treanor and Cian Bradley-Gillespie linked up down the right hand side, they reversed the ball into the centre finding Josh Kelly who slipped the ball towards Tomas Galvin who gave the goalkeeper the slip before firing home his fourth goal of the game, and his fifteenth goal of the season. And yet Monaghan still weren’t finished. Minutes before full time the ball fell to Josh Kelly who again slipped the ball through the Cavan defence, this time finding Jake McGeough who fired home his fifth goal of the season. Monaghan in seventh heaven as Josh Kelly ramped up his third assist of the game. There was still time for one more attack as Cian Bradley-Gillespie fired in a dangerous corner kick, Captain Patrick Treanor fired in a rocket of a header only to be denied on the line by a header from a Cavan defender. 7-1 the final scoreline as Monaghan ramped up one of the performances of the season.
There was a serious amount of players in the running for the award but Our Man of The Match award goes to Tomas Galvin who out in a fantastic display upfront for Monaghan capping a fine performance with 4 goals and an assist.
Monaghan’s United U-14’s Next Fixture to be Announced
Man of The Match: Tomas Galvin
Goals: Patrick Treanor, Tomas Galvin (4), Jake McGeough (2)
Team: Ciaran Doyle, Aodhan Doyle, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Aodhan McQuaid, Fionan O’Gallachoir, Patrick Treanor (C), Jake McGeough, Tomas Galvin, Josh Kelly, Eoin O’Hanlon, Cian Bradley-Gillespie
Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan
Monaghan United U-14's 