Monaghan United vs Wexford Youths

• Gareth Penrose
• Fri, Aug 22 2008




Monaghan United will entertain Wexford Youths on Friday night in their eircom First Division game (kick-off 20:00). Both teams will be looking to bounce back from FAI Cup exits last weekend.

Despite that Cup exit, Monaghan have been going strong in the league, winning their last three games and will be hopeful they can get the better of the team current bottom of the division.

Sean Brennan, Barry Clancy and Brian Gartland all missed out last week, but return for the Wexford game. Ian Malone misses out due to suspension after picking up a red card at Wayside Celtic.

Wexford Youths FC manager Mick Wallace will have an even younger squad than usual for this Friday's First Division trip to Monaghan United, as he is missing a number of key players through injury and suspension.

Wexford will be without their captain Anthony Russell and defender Joey Wadding, who are both suspended, while Stuart Lawlor, Shane Dempsey and Kyle Dempsey are all ruled out through injury.

"We've probably got the youngest team in the league as it is," Wallace said, "but with the injuries and suspensions to our key, experienced players, our squad will be even younger this weekend.

"I'll be bringing an under-17 player in to the panel - Shane Sinnottt - and I'm also going to have an under-16 player in the senior squad, as I've included Gareth Wallace for the Monaghan trip as well. So in total, we'll have eight under-18 players in our squad tomorrow night."

Wallace is a big admirer of Monaghan and their manager Mick Cooke.

"They're having a good season and Cooke does very well with limited resources. We've an under strength side with a lot of experienced players missing, so it's going to be tough up there."

Extratime.ie Prediction: Monaghan may have been dumped out of the cup by non league Wayside, but Extratime think they will bounce back and have too much for a very young Wexford side. We think Monaghan will win 2-0.