Athlone Town -v- Monaghan United

Monaghan United travel to Athlone for their final game of the season knowing that a win against Mike Kerley’s men will guarantee them a promotion play-off against Galway United.  (Kick-off 7.45pm)

Should Monaghan secure the play-off spot it would be their second successive time to do so. At the end of 2010, under previous manager Mick Cooke, the Mons beat Waterford United in a four way play-off, before losing dramatically to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

This season Roddy Collins has maintained the momentum and succeeded in keeping his side in the promotion hunt right up until the last day. Indeed, Monaghan had hopes of gaining one of the two automatic promotion places until last weekend when a 1-0 home defeat to Limerick ended those ambitions, leaving only the play-off route available.

Of course, the significance of the defeat to Limerick is heightened by the fact that just one point separates the two clubs and that Limerick are the only side that can steal away Monaghan’s third place. Should Collins’ men slip up against Athlone they must hope that Limerick fail to get anything from their game at home to Waterford United.

One of the impediments Monaghan suffered last weekend was the suspension of top scorer Sean Brennan, along with that of his brother Ryan and Keith Quinn. All three return for this game with only long term injury victim Conor McMahon being absent.

Athlone also have a largely fit squad with Brian Collopy and Niall Scullion the only players unavailable to Mike Kerley. Athlone’s task is probably best expressed by the statistic that they exactly half the amount of points that Monaghan do. Coupled with the fact that they have lost both of their previous league meetings and failed to score in either game, it’s not a surprise that Monaghan are he bookies favourites to emerge from this one with the three points.

In their last seven games Athlone have won three, lost three, and drawn once. In among those figures lies conflicting evidence of the club’s progress. A 7-0 hammering by Cork City 

was followed by a 2-0 win over derby rivals Longford Town, while they also managed a 4-1 home win against a much improved Mervue United.

Monaghan’s form had been the picture of consistency until recent weeks when crucial defeats against front runners Cork City and Limerick derailed what looked like a viable challenge for the First Division title.

Perhaps the most relevant Monaghan statistic is that they have failed to score in just two league games all season. Between them, Derek O’Brien and Sean Brennan have bagged 23 league goals, with Ryan Brennan and John Reilly weighing in with another eleven.

Clearly the figures add up to a win for Monaghan but the task ahead of them has as much to do with psychology as it does ability. Perhaps their consistent ability to snatch crucial late goals indicates that the Mons have what it takes.

Athlone Town

Injured: Brian Collopy, Niall Scullion.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Monaghan United

Injured: Conor McMahon.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Referee: Keith Callanan.

Paddy Power Odds: Athlone 8/1, Draw 4/1, Monaghan 1/4.

Extratime prediction: Monaghan are strong enough to do what has to be done, a 3-1 away win.