Monaghan United vs. Kildare County

Monaghan United will move to within four points of a top half placing in the League of Ireland First Division if they defeat bottom-of-the-table Kildare County at Kingspan Century Park on Friday night (kick-off 8pm), as both sides continue their quest for contrasting goals between now and the end of the campaign next month.

While Monaghan still harbour hopes of catching Limerick 37 in fifth, Kildare look destined to finish as table proppers. The Thoroughbreds have lost five of their last six games, with their only win in the past six weeks coming against the team they are currently chasing, ninth-placed Athlone Town, at Station Road in mid-September.

Monaghan too have had their problems lately as they are winless since the end of August when they defeated Longford Town by 3-1 at Flancare Park. Subsequently, in five outings, the Ulster side have taken just two points. Draws against the top two Waterford United and Dundalk were sandwiched in between losses to Sporting Fingal, Limerick 37 and, last weekend, Shelbourne.

However, in his programme notes for the game, Monaghan manager Mick Cooke has stated that he fully expects to pick up maximum points. “Since our first meeting with Kildare this season, their form and results have left them at the wrong end of the table,” Cooke said. “From their form against us, it is hard to understand why this is so.

“There is nobody who understands how hard it is to get the points and results as I do. The last two games against Dundalk and Shelbourne are cases in point. From the two games, we came away with just one point. I am disappointed because I believe four points would have been a truer reflection of our play in both matches.

“I suppose the one positive note from all of this is that we are playing well and if we can sustain it, we will have to start getting the results. Again, the last two games were against two sides who are strong promotion contenders. A controversial penalty decision was all that separated us against Shelbourne.

“They didn’t score from play and although Brendan Kennedy did well when he was called on he has had busier nights. Judging from both teams’ recent form, this is a game I expect to collect all the points from. It was great to see the strong support we had against Dundalk I hope to see the same turnout for this game. It gives the team a tremendous lift.”

The sides have already met three times this season, with both teams winning once and the other game ending in a scoreless draw. That stalemate came the last time Kildare travelled to Monaghan back in May. Prior to that, at Station Road, second-half goals from Cathal Brady, Ciaran Kilduff, John Brophy and Philip Gorman gave Kildare a facile 4-0 win. Since then, Monaghan gained revenge at the Newbridge venue with a 2-1 victory in August, with Brian Gartland and Sean Brennan supplying the goals.

Team News: Monaghan are at full-strength as they have a fully fit squad to choose from and have no suspensions to contend with. Visitors Kildare are in the same boat.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Monaghan tend to let their guard slip against the lesser teams, and they could well do that again here. We’re going for Kildare to grab a lifeline with a 2-1 win.