Monaghan United -v- Athlone Town

• Gareth Penrose
• Thu, Apr 01 2010


Monaghan United will be looking for their first home win of the season as they welcome Athlone Town to Gortakeegan on Good Friday (kick-off 8pm). An early first half goal from Derry City’s Mark Scoltock last week put an end to Athlone’s unbeaten start of the campaign whilst Monaghan travelled to Wexford and took all three points thanks to an early Barry Clancy strike.

Mons manager Mick Cooke was delighted with last week’s work, beating both Shelbourne and Wexford Youths but the victories came at a cost.

“Any week that our side can achieve two wins I will take. With Shelbourne, having played them already I had a good idea what to expect and was confident of getting a win. As for Wexford Youths I felt going there would be a tough assignment and so it proved. The early goal helped, we were unlucky not to convert a couple of other chances, as the game progressed I believe that we were much the better side. I was glad to have most of the injured players back for that second game, unfortunately we lost Philip Hughes and Brian Gartland again through injury, which hopefully mightn’t be too serious.”

In addition to Hughes and Gartland missing the game, Cathal O’Connor will miss the game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Athlone Town manager Brendan Place was in Wexford to watch this week’s opposition and he will be hoping it will help his side bounce back from the narrow loss to Derry City.

Speaking after the game against Derry Place said “It was the first goal we have conceded from play this season. We have a lot of big guys on the pitch and I would have bet against us conceding from a set piece but it is something we have to learn from and maybe against Monaghan we will turn around and balance it out by scoring one from a set piece.”

Brendan Place will be without Robbie Benson and Tom O’Halloran who are both away with the Republic of Ireland schools while Des Hope is rated less than 50/50 after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 1-0 EA Sports Cup victory over Longford Town but Kevin Williamson and Noel McGee return after sitting out last week’s defeat to Derry City due to suspension.

Venue: Gortakeegan, Monaghan
Paddypower.com Odds: Monaghan United 10/11, Draw 9/4, Athlone Town 5/2

Monaghan United
Suspended: Cathal O’Connor
Injured: Philip Hughes and Brian Gartland
Doubtful: none

Athlone Town
Suspended: none
Unavailable: Robbie Benson and Tom O’Halloran
Injured: none
Doubtful: Des Hope

Extratime Prediction: 2-1 to the home team