Monaghan United -v- Bray Wanderers

• Simon O'Gorman
• Fri, Nov 05 2010


Bray Wanderers travel to Gortakeegan on Friday night where they will face Monaghan United in the first leg of the play-off final which will decide which of these two teams takes part in next years Airtricity Premier Division (Kick-off, 7.45pm)

This promotion/relegation play-off is familiar ground for Bray Wanderers who, this time last year, lost out to Sporting Fingal by an aggregate score of 2-4. But any comparison with the circumstances of last years play-off appearance shows the Seagulls to be in a distinctly stronger position this time around.

At the end of 2009 Bray won only one of their last ten league games and, finishing in last place, they should have been relegated automatically. However circumstances intervened and they jumped up into the play-off positions thanks to the expulsion from the league of Derry City. Then, having lost to Sporting Fingal and been duly relegated, they gained a second reprieve with the implosion of Cork City.

This year Bray's end of season form has been altogether more impressive, losing only three of their final ten league games. Anyone who saw their sterling performance against champions Shamrock Rovers on the final day of the regular season will be aware that Bray are not the lost cause that they represented twelve months ago.

However, manager Pat Devlin will have to plan without central defender Adam Mitchell who was sent off in the play-off semi-final defeat to Galway United. Dave Webster will also miss this crucial game through suspension, a fact made more worrying by the continued absence through injury of fellow centre back Derek Prendergast.

Monaghan United have their own suspension issue and will be without influential midfielder Barry Clancy with striker Karl Bermingham, who has bagged twelve goals this year, doubtful through injury.

Monaghan could be considered favourites for this tie having finished third in the First Division and having made the final of the EA Sports Cup where they fell to Sligo Rovers by a single goal at the Showgrounds. Momentum is key on occasions such as this but there have been signs of fatigue in the Monaghan camp as demonstrated by the fact that Mick Cooke's men won only one of their final five league games.

Cooke is certainly aware that his side face a tough challenge if they are to overcome their Premier Division opponents. “Having watched Bray against Shamrock Rovers last weekend I was very impressed with them and was therefore surprised to see them go down to Galway United. It will be their performance against Rovers that I will be expecting, so we will have to be at our best if we are to account for them.”

Looking only at their last outings, Monaghan's 3-1 win against Waterford out-trumps Bray's 0-1 defeat in Galway, but if this season has taught us anything it is to expect a wild card in every hand.

Monaghan United
Injured:None.
Doubtful:Karl Bermingham.
Suspended:Barry Clancy.

Bray Wanderers
Injured:Derek Prendergast, Sean Houston, John Mulroy.
Doubtful:None.
Suspended:Adam Mitchell, Dave Webster.

Referee: Richie Winter.

Extratime Prediction: A 2-1 home win for the Mons.