Season Preview: Monaghan United
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Progression will be the key word for Monaghan United this season as they prepare to break into the group of teams pushing for promotion from the First Division.
While they struggled to keep up with the pace-setters last term, 2010 could prove to be different as manager Mick Cooke has made some shrewd signings in the off-season.
It will always be difficult for Cooke to attract big-name players to Gortakeegan, so he tends to bring in personnel who can deliver consistent and whole-hearted performances in the second tier of the Airtricity League.
The likes of Austin O’Neill, Aidan Collins and Philip Hughes certainly tick that box. Although the player that could stand out as their most exciting new signing is Anthony Costigan, who arrives from St Patrick’s Athletic.
Costigan won’t be afforded a settling in period with Monaghan as the games will pile up as soon as the campaign kicks off. But that is probably the best way for the latest recuits to get used to their new surroundings.
Then there will be the welcoming party fronted by defender Aidan Lynch, who will undoubtedly be an essential cog in the Mons machine over the coming months. If he can marshal the defence, then the club will be able to achieve the progression that they have their sights set on.
There are some very good players in this year’s squad with Brian Gartland seen by many as one of the most consistent performers in the division, while Karl Bermingham showed last year that he can be lethal in front of goal.
But a team like Monaghan needs to rely on its youth structure to produce the next batch of graduates that can feature in the first-team. Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey made that step up last season and has since moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
This year the one to watch is attacker Philip Donnelly. He made an instant impact by scoring on his debut against Mervue United last year, but there is much more to come from him. It will be interesting to see if he is used in a wide position or if he can compete with Bermingham, Hughes and Darragh Hanaphy for a place up front.
Cooke knows that it will be a challenge to stay in check with the likes of Derry City, Waterford United and Shelbourne, but his team need to keep improving if they have any ambition of eventually reaching the top flight.
Team: Monaghan United
Manager: Mick Cooke
Players In: Gabriel Sava (Bray Wanderers), Austin O’Neill, Darren Kelly, Philip Hughes (all Kildare County), Anthony Costigan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Aidan Collins (Sporting Fingal)
Players Out: Aaron McCarey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul Whelan (Sligo Rovers), David Freeman (Longford Town), Brendan Kennedy (Lucan United), Ronan McGann (Released)
One to Watch: Philip Donnelly
Prediction: 4th
While they struggled to keep up with the pace-setters last term, 2010 could prove to be different as manager Mick Cooke has made some shrewd signings in the off-season.
It will always be difficult for Cooke to attract big-name players to Gortakeegan, so he tends to bring in personnel who can deliver consistent and whole-hearted performances in the second tier of the Airtricity League.
The likes of Austin O’Neill, Aidan Collins and Philip Hughes certainly tick that box. Although the player that could stand out as their most exciting new signing is Anthony Costigan, who arrives from St Patrick’s Athletic.
Costigan won’t be afforded a settling in period with Monaghan as the games will pile up as soon as the campaign kicks off. But that is probably the best way for the latest recuits to get used to their new surroundings.
Then there will be the welcoming party fronted by defender Aidan Lynch, who will undoubtedly be an essential cog in the Mons machine over the coming months. If he can marshal the defence, then the club will be able to achieve the progression that they have their sights set on.
There are some very good players in this year’s squad with Brian Gartland seen by many as one of the most consistent performers in the division, while Karl Bermingham showed last year that he can be lethal in front of goal.
But a team like Monaghan needs to rely on its youth structure to produce the next batch of graduates that can feature in the first-team. Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey made that step up last season and has since moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
This year the one to watch is attacker Philip Donnelly. He made an instant impact by scoring on his debut against Mervue United last year, but there is much more to come from him. It will be interesting to see if he is used in a wide position or if he can compete with Bermingham, Hughes and Darragh Hanaphy for a place up front.
Cooke knows that it will be a challenge to stay in check with the likes of Derry City, Waterford United and Shelbourne, but his team need to keep improving if they have any ambition of eventually reaching the top flight.
Team: Monaghan United
Manager: Mick Cooke
Players In: Gabriel Sava (Bray Wanderers), Austin O’Neill, Darren Kelly, Philip Hughes (all Kildare County), Anthony Costigan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Aidan Collins (Sporting Fingal)
Players Out: Aaron McCarey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul Whelan (Sligo Rovers), David Freeman (Longford Town), Brendan Kennedy (Lucan United), Ronan McGann (Released)
One to Watch: Philip Donnelly
Prediction: 4th
