Shelbourne -v- Monaghan United

The Reds are in need a win after some erratic performances of late. A loss against Monaghan United would make it three defeats in a row, something Alan Mathews’ side will be desperate to avoid.

 

Last week saw them slump to a loss at home against Cork City through conceding a late goal, but Mathews was keen to emphasise the positives. “While our performance had many positive aspects to it,” he said, “it was disappointing not to take at least a point from the game; we played some very good football, created a number of chances and on another night would have collected the three points.”

 

“Monaghan, like ourselves, are getting used to the demands of the Premier Division and have some very good players at the club”, Mathews said of the visitors to Tolka Park. “We are going to have to produce a really top class performance to achieve the three points on offer, but I firmly believe that we have the players to take on any side this season - and go into this game full of confidence.”

 

A 2-1 win on Monday against Crumlin United in the Leinster Senior Cup might boost confidence around Drumcondra and Shels can welcome back dynamic midfielder Kevin Dawson, who missed that match through injury. Also returning is Stephen Paisley, who was sorely missed at the back last week against Cork.

 

Long-term absentees Lorcan Fitzgerald and Stephen Hurley, who were both injured in the league cup clash against Bray Wanderers last month, will have to sit this one out.

 

Like their opponents tomorrow night, Monaghan United lost last week only thanks to a late goal. Mons will be disappointed that they didn’t carry through the form which saw them pick up their first win of the season at Bohemians the week before, but tomorrow night represents a clear chance to put more points on the board for Roddy Collins’ side.

 

The outspoken Mons manager confessed to being “extremely disappointed” with last week’s performance against Bray Wanderers. “I felt that we could have replicated our performance of the previous week at Dalymount Park and put together back to back wins but instead we ended up with our worst performance of the season…  We have a three week break coming up and it is our intention to have vacated the bottom position in the table. That is my short term aim.”

 

Collins says that he believes tomorrow night is “a good time to be meeting Shels.” 

 

“This week we are in Tolka Park, a venue that I like going to” he said. “It was a very successful ground for me as a manager and continued right up to last season when we won both games there. Shelbourne have done well since promotion to the Premier. Like ourselves they too have had some adjusting to do moving up a division, although they are in a mid-table position they have lost twice recently and drawn once.”

 

Mons will have to do without regular ‘keeper Chris Bennion, who is still suspended. Former Longford Town and Mayo GAA stopper Michael Schlingermann should step into the breach. They are also missing Keith Quinn, sent off last week against the Seagulls, and Gareth O’Connor who is injured.

 

“I felt very aggrieved with Keith Quinn being sent off,” Collins said, “it compounds the sending off of Chris Bennion the previous week, and we have been importuned enough from the start of the season with injuries without having them added to with suspensions. I have never been able to start my favoured eleven this season. Fortunately Aidan Collins featured well in training and Alan Byrne is ready to go, on the flip side Gareth O’ Connor and Paul Whelan are doubtful. Nonetheless there was a good spirit in training when we had exorcised the memory of the Bray game and I believe we can get a positive result at Tolka.”

 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

 

 

Monaghan won both meetings of these two sides in Tolka Park last season. They first defeated the Reds 3-2 in April, before beating them 2-1 in September. Sandwiched in between those two Mons wins, though, was a 1-0 win for Shels in Gortakeegan in July.

 

Alan Byrne, Tony Griffiths, Aidan Collins and Stephen Maher are ex-Shels players who could play for the Mons tomorrow night, with Philly Hughes and Barry Clancy are both ex-Monaghan players who could play for Shels.

 

13 of the 17 league goals that Monaghan have conceded so far have come in the second half. Seven of the 12 league goals Shels have conceded, meanwhile, have come in the first half.  

 

Shelbourne 4/7; Draw 11/4; Monaghan United 9/2.

 

A 2-1 Shels win.

 

 

Shelbourne Injury News: Stephen Hurley, Lorcan Fitzgerald.

Shelbourne Suspensions: None.

 

Monaghan United Injury News: Gareth O’Connor, John Reilly, Paul Whelan (doubtful).

Monaghan United Suspensions: Chris Bennion, Keith Quinn.