2011 Preview: Monaghan United
Credit:
Monaghan United
Founded: 1979
Major Honours: None
Stadium: Gortakeegan
Manager: TBA
Captain: TBA
Transfers In:
Transfers Out: Cathal O'Connor (moved abroad), Dean McMahon (Dungannon Swifts), Philip Donnelly (Dungannon Swifts) , Karl Bermingham (Shelbourne), Darragh Hanaphy (Released), Phillip Hughes (Shelbourne), Barry Clancy (Shelbourne), Brian Gartland (Portadown).
Last season was one of so close but yet so far as Monaghan United failed in their promotion bid at the final hurdle after a penalties defeat to Bray Wanderers. Monaghan finished 3rd in the First Division and defeated Waterford United in the First Division playoff. A last gasp equaliser from Bray forced a penalty shootout which Mick Cooke’s men failed to win.
The pre-season has seen a raft of players being tried out, with Declan O’Brien, Andy Haran and Shane Barrett looking likely to be in the blue and white of Monaghan next season.
But with just a week to go to the start of the season, manager Mick Cooke was announced at the new manager of Drogheda United following Bobby Browne’s resignation days earlier. The timing will certainly anger Monaghan fans but with a no game in week one of the league, they have an extra week to secure a manager and finalise a competitive squad. Whoever comes in will have the bones of last season’s squad with a few more sure to be added.
Having come so close last season, the loss of players such as Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Barry Clancy and centre-half Brian Gartland will certainly make it difficult to match the pretty successful last season of a quarter final place in the FAI Cup and a losing appearance in the EA Sports Cup.
Extratime prediction:5th
Founded: 1979
Major Honours: None
Stadium: Gortakeegan
Manager: TBA
Captain: TBA
Transfers In:
Transfers Out: Cathal O'Connor (moved abroad), Dean McMahon (Dungannon Swifts), Philip Donnelly (Dungannon Swifts) , Karl Bermingham (Shelbourne), Darragh Hanaphy (Released), Phillip Hughes (Shelbourne), Barry Clancy (Shelbourne), Brian Gartland (Portadown).
Last season was one of so close but yet so far as Monaghan United failed in their promotion bid at the final hurdle after a penalties defeat to Bray Wanderers. Monaghan finished 3rd in the First Division and defeated Waterford United in the First Division playoff. A last gasp equaliser from Bray forced a penalty shootout which Mick Cooke’s men failed to win.
The pre-season has seen a raft of players being tried out, with Declan O’Brien, Andy Haran and Shane Barrett looking likely to be in the blue and white of Monaghan next season.
But with just a week to go to the start of the season, manager Mick Cooke was announced at the new manager of Drogheda United following Bobby Browne’s resignation days earlier. The timing will certainly anger Monaghan fans but with a no game in week one of the league, they have an extra week to secure a manager and finalise a competitive squad. Whoever comes in will have the bones of last season’s squad with a few more sure to be added.
Having come so close last season, the loss of players such as Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Barry Clancy and centre-half Brian Gartland will certainly make it difficult to match the pretty successful last season of a quarter final place in the FAI Cup and a losing appearance in the EA Sports Cup.
Extratime prediction:5th
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile