Match Report: v Carrick Rovers (Home) 9th Oct ‘16

In the second round of the National Cup, Monaghan United U-13s hosted Carrick Rovers in a mouth-watering tie at Gortekeegan.  The game kicked off with the home side providing the early pressure with forwards Lewis Brady and Cian Bradley-Gillespie being a danger in the Carrick defense.  However, against the run of play Carrick were rewarded a direct freekick.  From the resulting freekick goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle managed to pull off a fantastic top corner save, but unfortunately the Carrick attack was alert and fired home the rebound, making it 1-0 to the visitors.  Carrick began to sit back on their lead as midfielders Josh Kelly, Patrick Treanor and Ethan Ballentine started to up the tempo and dominate in possession, attacking down the right handside using fullback Blake Lees as a wide outlet.  But it was once again Carrick Rovers who found the net as they brought in a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The second half kicked off with Monaghan stepping it up a gear in tempo, fighting for a way back into the game.  Monaghans first goal of the game came when forward Dylan O’Reilly broke down the left and fired in a fantastic cross into the box which found Lewis Brady who fired home. 2-1 and game on.   Monaghan nearly found an equaliser when Michael McMarrow won the ball in midfield with a fantastic tackle before finding Lewis Brady, who set up forward Dylan O’Reilly only to be denied by the Carrick goalkeeper.  Monaghan were up for it and Carrick were struggling to get in behind a defence of Ethan Ballentine, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Cian Brennan and Fionan O’Gallchoir.  Monaghan were dominating the game with forward Eoin O’Hanlon, Dylan O’Reilly and Lewis Brady doing the damgage, but were unable to find the equalising goal.  However, minutes before the final whistle, the home side found a bit left in their tank and attacked once again.  The ball came to Dylan O’Reilly whos effort came back off the bar before falling to the feet of Lewis Brady who fired home the rebound.  2-2 and the match was going to extra time.

Extra time kicked off with Monaghan looking the most likely to score in the early minutes with Dylan O’Reilly going close, however, the breakthrough came to the away side when they  scored from a corner kick.  Carrick were making the most of their set-piece plays as mintues later they soon scored another goal, rocketing a top corner direct free-kick.  Monaghan had to push for goals, forcing a formation change, with Robin Pratt-Clarke, Cian Brennan and Conal Harpin looking solid at as a back three.  The home side were given everything they had to get back into the game as midfielders Michael McMarrow and Fabian Kaminsky both went close. But Carrick were buzzing and the final goal of the game went to the away side when they fired home a penalty kick given them a 5-2 win over Monaghan United.

Monaghan gave everything they had but Carrick rose to the occasion and we would personally like to wish them the best of luck in the National Cup.

Each Monaghan United player gave their all for the team but our Man of The Match award goes to forward Lewis Brady who was a constant threat throughout the entire game.

Next Sunday (16th October) Monaghan United U-13’s travel away to Ballyjamesduff in Cavan for a League tie. The club would like to ask all the parents and family members to come out and support the team.

Man of The Match: Lewis Brady

Goals: Lewis Brady (2)

Team: Ciaran Doyle, Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Ethan Ballentine, Cian Brennan, Conal Harpin, Fionan O’Gallchoir, Patrick Treanor (C), Josh Kelly, Darragh McKenna, Michael McMarrow, Fabian Kaminksy, Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Lewis Brady, Dylan O’Reilly, Eoin O’Hanlon

Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan

Match Report: v Letterkenny Rovers (Away) 24th Sept ‘16

In the first round of the National Cup, Monaghan United U-13s travelled to Letterkenny Rovers in a mouth-watering tie.  The game kicked off with Letterkenny dominating in the early stages and nearly went in front on numerous occasions only for some fantastic defending by Robin Pratt-Clarke and some vital saves from Goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle.   However, against the play, Monaghan were given a free kick outside the box.  Forward Dylan O’Reilly stepped up and his long shot beat the goalkeeper and sent the visitors 1-0 up.  Letterkenny responded well and continued to dominate in possession as Monaghan were limited to counter attacking efforts from Lewis Brady and Cian Bradley-Gillespie.  A defence of Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Cian Brennan and Fionan O’Gallchoir were proven to be a curse in the Letterkenny side as they were equal to any attacking efforts.  The next goal of the game came when Captain Patrick Treanor broke down a Letterkenny attack in midfield, he then drove into the space infront of him and sent a long range effort over the keepers head and into the net.  2-0 and Monaghan were buzzing.  Midfielders Darragh McKenna, Josh Kelly and Patrick Treanor were pilling on the pressure in the middle of the pitch and started to dominate in possession.  This proved vital and minutes before half time forward Dylan O’Reilly received the ball on the left wing and rocketed a wondergoal, looping over the Letterkenny goalkeeper into the top of the net.  3-0 to Monaghan United at half time.

The second half kicked off as the first half finished, with Monaghan on top.  It didn’t take long until Monaghan were further ahead when Eoin O’Hanlon’s looping corner was cleared by the Letterkenny defence only to be met on the volley by defender Ethan Ballentine who sent the ball straight into the top of the net.  4-0 to Monaghan.  Monaghan nearly went further ahead when Cian Brennan made two brilliant tackles before playing in Dylan O’Reilly who’s effort was met by the Letterkenny goalpost.  Monaghan nearly added a 5th when Michael McMarrow broke forward into the box and played in Eoin O’Hanlon, who was just denied and effort in the nick of time by a Letterkenny tackle. The next goal of the game came when defender Fionan O’Gallchoir won the ball with a great tackle and then drove into space feeding the ball to midfielder Darragh McKenna, who was putting in a fantastic performance dominating in midfield, who then fired a long shot past the Letterkenny goalkeeper sending Monaghan 5-0 up.   Monaghan were domianting with Patrick Treanor, Darragh McKenna and Conal Harpin the focal points in midfield.  The away side’s final goal came when forward Eoin O’Hanlon lined up a free kick on the left hand side and fired the ball past the Letterkenny goalkeeper, making it 6-0 to the away side.  However, the final goal of the game fell to the home side as they scored a header minutes before the final whistle, but ultimately Monaghan ran out 6-1 winners after a fantastic team performance.

After a fantastic performance from Monaghan where each player played a vital part, their were a lot of contenders for the Man of the Match award but our Man of The Match award goes to forward Dylan O’Reilly, who was a constant threat the whole game and came up with two goals.

Monaghans United U-13’s Next Fixture is a huge match on Sunday (2nd October) away to local rivals Monaghan Town in the league.

Man of The Match: Dylan O’Reilly

Goals:  Dylan O’Reilly (2), Patrick Treanor, Darragh McKenna, Eoin O’Hanlon, Ethan Ballentine

Team: Ciaran Doyle, Blake Lees, Robin Pratt-Clarke, Ethan Ballentine, Cian Brennan, Conal Harpin, Fionan O’Gallchoir, Patrick Treanor (C), Josh Kelly, Darragh McKenna, Michael McMarrow, Fabian Kaminksy, Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Lewis Brady, Dylan O’Reilly, Eoin O’Hanlon

Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan