Monaghan’s road to success
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Monaghan United, riding high in second place in the Airtricity League First Division table, face yet another tricky test on their travels on Friday as they face Shelbourne, the last team to beat them 10 matches and three months ago, at Tolka Park.
Fresh from defeating league leaders Derry City 3-2 at the Brandywell last week, United will once more be putting their proud away record on the line in Drumcondra. Mick Cooke’s men are the only remaining side in either division of the league yet to taste defeat away from home this season.
In fact, United are unbeaten in all competitions since a league defeat by UCD at Belfield on 11 September 2009. We look back at some of the highlights and facts and figures from United’s record run.
Facts:
- Monaghan’s run has spanned 17 matches in all competitions.
- In that run, United have scored 36 goals and conceded just 16.
- The run has included 10 wins and seven draws so far.
- 1-1 has been the most popular scoreline in the run, occurring four times in the run so far.
- In the same period of time, United have lost three home games.
- Monaghan’s run has included matches against 12 clubs: Limerick FC (3 matches), Athlone Town (2), Finn Harps (2), Waterford United (2), Shelbourne, Wexford Youths, Salthill Devon, Cork City Foras Co-op, Mervue United, Longford Town, FC Carlow and Derry City..
Highlights:
25 September 2009, Limerick FC 3-3 Monaghan United
United’s run has included many impressive comebacks so it started fittingly as United bounced back from going 3-1 down at Jackman Park. Karl Bermingham’s 61st-minute penalty gave United hope before Stephen McCrossan secured the draw with nine minutes remaining.
9 October 2009, Waterford United 0-2 Monaghan United
United had lost to the Blues 6-0 earlier in the season so this was a hugely impressive win. Monaghan were always in control in one of the best performances of the Mick Cooke era. Brian Gartland opened the scoring with a header after seven minutes and David Freeman made the points safe when he pounced on a defensive error after 53 minutes.
7 November 2009, Finn Harps 0-2 Monaghan United
United had not won in Ballybofey since the Billy Bagster era, but produced another excellent performance for their fifth successive win. David Freeman headed home Darragh Hanaphy’s cross to make it 1-0 after 20 minutes and the provider turned scorer after 61 minutes to secure the three points.
23 April 2010, Cork City Foras Co-op 0-1 Monaghan United
A result to rank up with the best in the club’s history, as Monaghan finally recorded their first win on Leeside. United produced a stunning defensive display and were rewarded three minutes into injury time when Brian Gartland rose to power home Cathal O’Connor’s cross.
1 June 2010, Limerick FC 0-3 Monaghan United
A fine win in its own right, but also for what it represented for Monaghan United, as the club qualified for the semi-final of a national senior competition for the first time with a comprehensive win in the EA Sports Cup. Philip Hughes sent Monaghan on their way with a stunning free kick on the half-hour mark. Competition specialist Sean Brennan then popped up in the second half with a fine brace, the second a spectacular individual effort.
26 June, Athlone Town 4-4 Monaghan United
Quite possibly the most bizarre match in the club’s history, as they scored four times in the final 19 minutes to come back from 4-0 down. Philip Hughes struck from the penalty spot after 71 minutes to restore hope for United and Alan Byrne added a second with five minutes of normal time remaining. Darragh Hanaphy pulled another goal back from a corner at the end of regulation time and then, five minutes into injury time, Hughes stepped up to convert his second penalty of the match with the last kick of the game.
9 July, Waterford United 1-2 Monaghan United
For the second time in nine months, Monaghan overcame one of their main promotion rivals on their own patch. Philip Hughes again struck from the spot after 14 minutes to give the Mons the lead and he effectively sealed the win three minutes into injury time with a calm finish. Willie John Kiely pulled a goal back for the home side even later, but United’s amazing away record was never under threat.
6 August, Derry City 2-3 Monaghan United
Derry went into the game unbeaten in 18 league matches but the runaway league leaders saw their advantage at the top reduced to seven points after a match that had five goals, three penalties and one sending-off. United made the perfect start when Cathal O’Connor pounced on a goalkeeping error to give the visitors the lead after just three minutes. Nine minutes later, Gabriel Sava saved Mark Farren’s penalty to preserve that lead and it was doubled after 27 minutes when Brian Gartland headed home. Emmet Friars scored from a second penalty in the second half and Derry drew level with just 12 minutes remaining when Farren atoned for his penalty miss. Derry looked the likely winners at this stage with United’s run in serious jeopardy. But Philip Hughes once more showed he has ice in his veins, as he won a penalty himself with seven minutes to go and clinically converted in front of the home support.
Fresh from defeating league leaders Derry City 3-2 at the Brandywell last week, United will once more be putting their proud away record on the line in Drumcondra. Mick Cooke’s men are the only remaining side in either division of the league yet to taste defeat away from home this season.
In fact, United are unbeaten in all competitions since a league defeat by UCD at Belfield on 11 September 2009. We look back at some of the highlights and facts and figures from United’s record run.
Facts:
- Monaghan’s run has spanned 17 matches in all competitions.
- In that run, United have scored 36 goals and conceded just 16.
- The run has included 10 wins and seven draws so far.
- 1-1 has been the most popular scoreline in the run, occurring four times in the run so far.
- In the same period of time, United have lost three home games.
- Monaghan’s run has included matches against 12 clubs: Limerick FC (3 matches), Athlone Town (2), Finn Harps (2), Waterford United (2), Shelbourne, Wexford Youths, Salthill Devon, Cork City Foras Co-op, Mervue United, Longford Town, FC Carlow and Derry City..
Highlights:
25 September 2009, Limerick FC 3-3 Monaghan United
United’s run has included many impressive comebacks so it started fittingly as United bounced back from going 3-1 down at Jackman Park. Karl Bermingham’s 61st-minute penalty gave United hope before Stephen McCrossan secured the draw with nine minutes remaining.
9 October 2009, Waterford United 0-2 Monaghan United
United had lost to the Blues 6-0 earlier in the season so this was a hugely impressive win. Monaghan were always in control in one of the best performances of the Mick Cooke era. Brian Gartland opened the scoring with a header after seven minutes and David Freeman made the points safe when he pounced on a defensive error after 53 minutes.
7 November 2009, Finn Harps 0-2 Monaghan United
United had not won in Ballybofey since the Billy Bagster era, but produced another excellent performance for their fifth successive win. David Freeman headed home Darragh Hanaphy’s cross to make it 1-0 after 20 minutes and the provider turned scorer after 61 minutes to secure the three points.
23 April 2010, Cork City Foras Co-op 0-1 Monaghan United
A result to rank up with the best in the club’s history, as Monaghan finally recorded their first win on Leeside. United produced a stunning defensive display and were rewarded three minutes into injury time when Brian Gartland rose to power home Cathal O’Connor’s cross.
1 June 2010, Limerick FC 0-3 Monaghan United
A fine win in its own right, but also for what it represented for Monaghan United, as the club qualified for the semi-final of a national senior competition for the first time with a comprehensive win in the EA Sports Cup. Philip Hughes sent Monaghan on their way with a stunning free kick on the half-hour mark. Competition specialist Sean Brennan then popped up in the second half with a fine brace, the second a spectacular individual effort.
26 June, Athlone Town 4-4 Monaghan United
Quite possibly the most bizarre match in the club’s history, as they scored four times in the final 19 minutes to come back from 4-0 down. Philip Hughes struck from the penalty spot after 71 minutes to restore hope for United and Alan Byrne added a second with five minutes of normal time remaining. Darragh Hanaphy pulled another goal back from a corner at the end of regulation time and then, five minutes into injury time, Hughes stepped up to convert his second penalty of the match with the last kick of the game.
9 July, Waterford United 1-2 Monaghan United
For the second time in nine months, Monaghan overcame one of their main promotion rivals on their own patch. Philip Hughes again struck from the spot after 14 minutes to give the Mons the lead and he effectively sealed the win three minutes into injury time with a calm finish. Willie John Kiely pulled a goal back for the home side even later, but United’s amazing away record was never under threat.
6 August, Derry City 2-3 Monaghan United
Derry went into the game unbeaten in 18 league matches but the runaway league leaders saw their advantage at the top reduced to seven points after a match that had five goals, three penalties and one sending-off. United made the perfect start when Cathal O’Connor pounced on a goalkeeping error to give the visitors the lead after just three minutes. Nine minutes later, Gabriel Sava saved Mark Farren’s penalty to preserve that lead and it was doubled after 27 minutes when Brian Gartland headed home. Emmet Friars scored from a second penalty in the second half and Derry drew level with just 12 minutes remaining when Farren atoned for his penalty miss. Derry looked the likely winners at this stage with United’s run in serious jeopardy. But Philip Hughes once more showed he has ice in his veins, as he won a penalty himself with seven minutes to go and clinically converted in front of the home support.
