Mons out to get Harps
Credit:
Monaghan United sit second in the First Division at the moment, ahead
of the likes of Waterford United, Limerick, Shelbourne and Cork City
Foras Co-op. Their surprisingly excellent campaign has yet to run out
of steam but – this Friday against Finn Harps – Mons’ defender Shane
Grimes hopes to settle a score.
“It’s been going well the last couple of months, but we know we have yet to beat Finn Harps. We lost to them earlier in the season; we lost that game 1-0 to a free-kick. And then we drew with them when really they were the better team and probably deserved the win,” said Grimes of their early loss followed by scoreless draw against Harps.
“Everyone has been surprised by us this season, week in week out people have expected us to drop off the pace. But we kept most of the squad from last season and added some real quality signings like Aidan Collins and that,” he said.
“We have worked hard in training all season. We have a very good coaching set-up, Aidan Lynch gives a hand in that regard too. We have worked very hard on our fitness and you can see that in our work on the ball and chasing when off it.”
Mons are the only side in the league who go with a zonal marking set- up when defending corners. Grimes admits that personnel is important for this to work, but is also happy to be involved in a system that has conceded so few goals.
“The system all depends on your players. We have guys willing to get in there and put their heads on the line to win a ball. So the system is working for us. I can’t remember the last goal we conceded from a corner to be honest, even thinking about it now I can’t remember,” he said.
This Friday as Mons are facing Harps, ‘Third plays First’ as Waterford United host Derry City. Should Derry and Mons each win then a play-off place looks even more likely – yet Grimes has high hopes of automatic promotion and still believes his side can win the First Division.
“In the back of our minds we’ll be hoping Waterford get the win so it gives us a chance to catch Derry – but realistically we’ll just go out and do our own job. We’re concentrating on our own performances – we all know that if we win our games we’ll secure a play-off place. That is all we are concentrating on really,” he added.
Shane Grimes was speaking exclusively to extratime.ie
“It’s been going well the last couple of months, but we know we have yet to beat Finn Harps. We lost to them earlier in the season; we lost that game 1-0 to a free-kick. And then we drew with them when really they were the better team and probably deserved the win,” said Grimes of their early loss followed by scoreless draw against Harps.
“Everyone has been surprised by us this season, week in week out people have expected us to drop off the pace. But we kept most of the squad from last season and added some real quality signings like Aidan Collins and that,” he said.
“We have worked hard in training all season. We have a very good coaching set-up, Aidan Lynch gives a hand in that regard too. We have worked very hard on our fitness and you can see that in our work on the ball and chasing when off it.”
Mons are the only side in the league who go with a zonal marking set- up when defending corners. Grimes admits that personnel is important for this to work, but is also happy to be involved in a system that has conceded so few goals.
“The system all depends on your players. We have guys willing to get in there and put their heads on the line to win a ball. So the system is working for us. I can’t remember the last goal we conceded from a corner to be honest, even thinking about it now I can’t remember,” he said.
This Friday as Mons are facing Harps, ‘Third plays First’ as Waterford United host Derry City. Should Derry and Mons each win then a play-off place looks even more likely – yet Grimes has high hopes of automatic promotion and still believes his side can win the First Division.
“In the back of our minds we’ll be hoping Waterford get the win so it gives us a chance to catch Derry – but realistically we’ll just go out and do our own job. We’re concentrating on our own performances – we all know that if we win our games we’ll secure a play-off place. That is all we are concentrating on really,” he added.
Shane Grimes was speaking exclusively to extratime.ie
About Gordon Hunt
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