Monaghan United -v- Dundalk

MONAGHAN UNITED

Monaghan United will be without the services of Keith Quinn due to a suspension carrying over from last season. Other than that, Mons have a full strength squad to choose from as they look to make home advantage count in their opening league match.

Speaking ahead of the game, manager Roddy Collins is looking forward to the task ahead.

“It is exciting to take Monaghan United back into the Premier Division after their 10-year exile and I hope to get off to a winning start to ensure that they get to stay there for the foreseeable future. Friday night is the first game of the season and all the hard work that the team have put in over the pre-season will be on display for the fans to see. I hope that a large crowd will come out and show the team that they believe in them and also show their appreciation for the considerable dedication and training that the squad have shown over the past number of weeks.”

DUNDALK

Dundalk’s are likely to be without the services of Eoghan Osbourne(broken leg) and Mark Griffin(groin)as they recover from injury while manager Sean McCaffrey also has douts over captain Chris Shields(knee),Stephen McDonnell(calf),Derek Foran(tonsillitis),Shane O'Neill(knee) and Gary Shanahan(achilles). McCaffrey will no doubt give the players every chance to prove their fitness while the squad will also feature some players from the under 19 squad.

Assistant manager Darius Kierans doesn’t think that the Lilywhites poor recent record at Gortakeegan will make much difference.

“We have a whole different group of players and a whole different mindset going into Friday’s game. These players don’t know about history or anything like that between the clubs. These are a different group of players with a different mentality. I don’t think it’s going to affect the game – the result will be on the basis of these two teams at present. “It’s a big first game for us, but it’s a great opportunity for us, and hopefully we can get the win. Everyone is waiting with anticipation for the league to start. “

Referee: Rob Rogers

MATCH STATS

This will be Monaghan United’s first game in the top flight since 2002; their opponents that day were incidentally Dundalk.
 

Seán McCaffrey is making his league of Ireland return after 25 years which is also his first competitive outing as Dundalk manager. He last managed Monaghan United way back in 1987.
 

First derby since League Cup tie last season, and first in the league since a 2-2 draw in September 2008

Dundalk are searching for their first victory at Gortakeegan since July 2006 when they won 3-1. Since then there have been three draws and four victories for Monaghan United, most notably in 2010 when Monaghan won their league cup semi-final 1-0.
 

BETTING

Monaghan United 15/8; Draw 11/5; Dundalk 11/8.
 

PREDICTION

Monaghan's home advantage to secure them a draw. 1-1

Live Updates Link: http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17850/1/