Roddy rules out Mons promotion
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Although Roddy Collins’ Monaghan United side took a point away from Turner’s Cross last Friday night, the outspoken Dubliner still thinks Cork City have more than enough to be promoted at the end of the season.
Declan O’Brien had given Mons the lead twice, with two headed goals either side of the break but in the end the draw was the fairest result in front of the biggest attendance of the weekend in both divisions at the Cross.
“I’m delighted with the draw. I could easily turnaround and say we’re disappointed not to win after scoring twice but that would be unfair on Cork because they were excellent.
“We scraped a draw to be honest, because they’re a very good side. They were very well organised, very fit and I would put money on them to get promoted for sure.
“Declan is a goal machine. All you have to do is put the ball in the net, he got two chances and put both of them away. He hadn’t played since November, so he’s still not match fit. We’ll have to give him seven or eight games to get him to full strength.”
Dave Rogers also had a storming game at the heart of defence for Mons, and Collins still considers the 35 year old to be very underrated by managers in the league.
Rogers had been with Cork last season, only to fall out with the manager before departing and signing with Limerick soon after. He was in top form on his return to Leeside.
“I tried to sign Dave for every club I’ve ever been at. I signed him at Carlisle, tried to bring him over to Malta and I did my best to sign him when I was with Shamrock Rovers. Dave Rogers is overlooked by Premier League managers and I don’t know why.
“He is a diamond. He’s very professional, very fit and a great person to have in your dressing room and I’d pin my life on him.”
The draw means Monaghan remain unbeaten and currently in fourth place two points behind current leaders Shels. Roddy is ruling out the chances of his side being in with a shout of automatic promotion at this early stage, though, stating that the Tolka Park side and Cork will be the top two.
“Shelbourne or Cork will get promoted automatically. We’d be hopeful of third place, but it’s between Waterford, Limerick, Shels and Cork really. They’re the strongest squads in the league.
“If we could hang in until July and get three or four bodies in, we’ll give it a bash at getting to the play-offs. Let’s be real here, this is Monaghan. We got to the play-offs last year but six of that squad are gone now.
“Three went to Shelbourne, one to Portadown, one went to Canada and the other retired. We haven’t got the man-power but what we do have is a bunch of honest fellas that work hard. And you could see that on Friday night.”
Declan O’Brien had given Mons the lead twice, with two headed goals either side of the break but in the end the draw was the fairest result in front of the biggest attendance of the weekend in both divisions at the Cross.
“I’m delighted with the draw. I could easily turnaround and say we’re disappointed not to win after scoring twice but that would be unfair on Cork because they were excellent.
“We scraped a draw to be honest, because they’re a very good side. They were very well organised, very fit and I would put money on them to get promoted for sure.
“Declan is a goal machine. All you have to do is put the ball in the net, he got two chances and put both of them away. He hadn’t played since November, so he’s still not match fit. We’ll have to give him seven or eight games to get him to full strength.”
Dave Rogers also had a storming game at the heart of defence for Mons, and Collins still considers the 35 year old to be very underrated by managers in the league.
Rogers had been with Cork last season, only to fall out with the manager before departing and signing with Limerick soon after. He was in top form on his return to Leeside.
“I tried to sign Dave for every club I’ve ever been at. I signed him at Carlisle, tried to bring him over to Malta and I did my best to sign him when I was with Shamrock Rovers. Dave Rogers is overlooked by Premier League managers and I don’t know why.
“He is a diamond. He’s very professional, very fit and a great person to have in your dressing room and I’d pin my life on him.”
The draw means Monaghan remain unbeaten and currently in fourth place two points behind current leaders Shels. Roddy is ruling out the chances of his side being in with a shout of automatic promotion at this early stage, though, stating that the Tolka Park side and Cork will be the top two.
“Shelbourne or Cork will get promoted automatically. We’d be hopeful of third place, but it’s between Waterford, Limerick, Shels and Cork really. They’re the strongest squads in the league.
“If we could hang in until July and get three or four bodies in, we’ll give it a bash at getting to the play-offs. Let’s be real here, this is Monaghan. We got to the play-offs last year but six of that squad are gone now.
“Three went to Shelbourne, one to Portadown, one went to Canada and the other retired. We haven’t got the man-power but what we do have is a bunch of honest fellas that work hard. And you could see that on Friday night.”
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile