UCD -v- Monaghan United
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
UCD go into Friday night’s match against Monaghan United knowing it is
a game that they must win to keep in contact at the summit of
the First Division. Following last week’s disappointing loss away to Sporting
Fingal and with only nine games of the season remaining every point
will be crucial in the push for promotion. They currently lie third on
52 points, level with Fingal, two points ahead of Waterford but a full five behind leaders Shelbourne.
Monaghan have been consistently mid-table all year and while their results have been good against the teams below them in the league they have struggled against the top four clubs, taking only one point from nine matches. This has included two defeats and 6 goals conceded in just two matches against the Students. Monaghan were unlucky last week, in the Ford FAI Cup, taking St. Patrick’s Athletic to a replay only to lose out in extra time to a Bobby Ryan goal. Manager Mick Cooke will have to plan without the suspended Aidan Lynch and Alan Byrne but he will be hoping Don Tierney has recovered from injury and should have a strong squad to choose from.
College will be looking to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat to Fingal, a match manager Martin Russell feels they were unlucky to lose. “The goal was preventable. Other than that we were always in the game. In the second half we created some very good chances to get level but we needed to take them. I was disappointed with the result but not the performance.” Despite the league standings he is wary of Monaghan’s potential to get a result. “This game gives us a chance to stay in a challenging position. Monaghan put in a good performance against Pats during the week. We’ve got to give our best and show that we deserve to go to the next level.”
Russell is missing the services of the still injured Rob Creevy and has Greg Bolger and striker Chris Mulhall suspended. Despite this and considering Monaghan’s current good form I feel that with home advantage and a greater need to win I predict a UCD victory.
Extratime.ie prediction: 2-0 to the Students.
Monaghan have been consistently mid-table all year and while their results have been good against the teams below them in the league they have struggled against the top four clubs, taking only one point from nine matches. This has included two defeats and 6 goals conceded in just two matches against the Students. Monaghan were unlucky last week, in the Ford FAI Cup, taking St. Patrick’s Athletic to a replay only to lose out in extra time to a Bobby Ryan goal. Manager Mick Cooke will have to plan without the suspended Aidan Lynch and Alan Byrne but he will be hoping Don Tierney has recovered from injury and should have a strong squad to choose from.
College will be looking to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat to Fingal, a match manager Martin Russell feels they were unlucky to lose. “The goal was preventable. Other than that we were always in the game. In the second half we created some very good chances to get level but we needed to take them. I was disappointed with the result but not the performance.” Despite the league standings he is wary of Monaghan’s potential to get a result. “This game gives us a chance to stay in a challenging position. Monaghan put in a good performance against Pats during the week. We’ve got to give our best and show that we deserve to go to the next level.”
Russell is missing the services of the still injured Rob Creevy and has Greg Bolger and striker Chris Mulhall suspended. Despite this and considering Monaghan’s current good form I feel that with home advantage and a greater need to win I predict a UCD victory.
Extratime.ie prediction: 2-0 to the Students.
