Match Report v Cappry Rovers (A) 29th Oct ’17

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

Match Report v Milford United (A) 7th Oct ’17

In their first game of the National Cup, Monaghan United U-14s travelled up to Donegal to face a very strong Milford United side.  Both teams came with high reputations but it was the away side who started the strongest, with Cian Bradley-Gillespie, Lewis Brady and Fionnan O’Braonain stretching the Milford defense in the early stages.  Monaghan were rewarded for their early pressure when midfielder Jake McGeough won the ball in midfield and worked it to midfielder Tomas Galvin.  Tomas sent through forward Lewis Brady who fired home the first goal of the game.  1-0 to the visitors after an impressive start.  But even though Monaghan started stronger, the Donegal side retaliated as they began dominating alot of the game in the middle of the field.  Their domination was rewarded when they soon found themselves level after a fine strike.  1-1 midway through the first half.  Things went from bad to worse just after the goal, as Monaghan were forced into a substitution when midfielder Jake McGeough was forced off through injury. The team and management would like to wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.  Milford were pushing on with confidence after scoring their equaliser and Monaghans defence were 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 stood tall to deny Milford on a number of occasions.  Milfords continued dominance forced Monaghan into a tactical change as Fionnan O’Braonian was asked to drop deeper into midfield.  This proved an important decision as Monaghans midfield had an extra man in the middle of the park to battle for possession as midfielders Patrick Treanor, Josh Kelly, Tomas Galvin now along with Fionnan O’Braonian were beginning to dominate.  Monaghans last chance of the half fell to Tomas Galvin as he was narrowly denied with a direct free-kick.  1-1 the scoreline at half time.

The second half kicked off with both teams battling for the next goal as each side cancelled each other out.  Monaghan were starting to grow in confidences as Lewis Brady, Cian Bradley-Gillespie and Tomas Galvin all went close with efforts. Monaghans midfield were working very hard as Captain Patrick Treanor, along with Josh Kelly & Fionnan O’Braonian were forced to play more defensively than they are use to, but they were able to stand up to the task in hand.  It was the away side who managed to get the next goal when Tomas Galvin broke forward, his cross found forward Lewis Brady who volleyed home his second of the game. Monaghan confidence was lifted as Captain Patrick Treanor roared his team on from the middle of the pitch as Monaghan started to believe in themselves.  The away side were back playing their normal footballing game and nearly found a third when Tomas Galvin headed down for Lewis Brady who fired just narrowly wide.  The Donegal side were forced to work hard for an equaliser but defenders Robin Pratt-Clarke and Cian Brennan along with midfielder Patrick Treanor were playing out of their skin to deny the Milford attack.  Milford were forced to shoot from range as they went close from a direct free kick, but goalkeeper Ciaran Doyle was in no mood to let them back into the game as he pulled off a top corner world class save.  Monaghan were being pegged back defensively as the home side near found their equaliser only for last minute defending by Blake Lees as he cleared the ball off the Monaghan line before sprinting out and blocking the next shot fired in.  Milford were working hard but Monaghan used this to their advantage as Monaghan soon broke on the counter attack, Lewis Brady ran down the right hand side, he swung in a cross to substitute Eoin O’Hanlon, who took the ball on his chest before firing home as Monaghan celebrated their third.  A front three of Eoin O’Hanlon, Tomas Galvin and Lewis Brady were proving to be a nuisance in the Milford defence as they were causing alot of problems on the counter attack as they continued to stretch the Milford defence late on.  In the final attack of the game the latter two combined once again as Tomas fired a long ball through to Lewis Brady who lobbed the goalkeeper sending his ball into the top corner, to round off a fine hattrick as Monaghan ran out 4-1 winners after a very hard fought match in Donegal.

The were a lot of contenders for the Man of the Match award with some very strong performances in the Monaghan team but our Man of The Match award goes to forward Lewis Brady, after he put in a very hard working shift upfront, capping off his fine performance with 3 goals and an assist.

Next Saturday (14th October) Monaghan United U-14’s travel away to a strong Carrickmacross side, their first meeting since a very entertaining CMUL Shield Final last year. The club & management 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 (3), Eoin O’Hanlon

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

Managers: Conor Finnegan, Brian Finnegan