Shelbourne -v- Monaghan United

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Aug 12 2010


Possibly the most interesting tie of the weekend will be in the Airtricity First Division at Tolka Park on Friday night. Shelbourne, resurgent under new boss Alan Mathews, meet a second placed Monaghan United who have just beaten leaders Derry City and look like the most likely side to threaten the Candystripes’ march towards the division title. (Kick-Off, 8pm)

Derry City were unbeaten in eighteen league games before they met Monaghan last Friday night at the Brandywell but goals from Cathal O’Connor, Brian Gartland and Philip Hughes put paid to that and Mick Cooke’s men now have a ten game unbeaten run of their own to protect.

Cooke was without striker Karl Bermingham in Derry but he is expected to return for Friday’s match although Brian Gartland is doubtful and both Aidan Lynch and Ian Maher are definitely out. Gartland is particularly important in this Monaghan side and Cooke, under no illusions about the task that his side face on Friday, will be hoping that the defender declares himself fit.

“Tolka is a tough ground to get a result in and we know that from our last trip there. Again we will have to firing on all cylinders to get a result. It is great to see the numbers of supporters swelling and I know there is a good few Dublin based followers so hopefully they will turn out in strength and get behind the lads at Tolka Park.”

The Mons have now closed the gap between themselves and Derry City to just seven points and, intriguingly, these sides will meet on the final day of the season at Gortakeegan. But if it is to be a genuine title decider then Monaghan will surely need to beat a Shelbourne side that been revitalised since the departure of former manager Dermot Keely.

It was Keely’s assistant, Collie O’Neill, who initially took over the reigns and led the Reds through a seven game unbeaten run before Mathews was installed as the club’s permanent manager. The former Drogheda boss has since had two wins and two defeats in his four league games, failing to win either of his two home fixtures, and overseen Shelbourne’s victory over Bray in the Leinster Senior Cup final.

The fact that Mathews has a fully fit squad to choose from should benefit Shels pursuit of greater consistency (last week’s 3-0 win over Waterford followed a 4-0 defeat against Limerick just seven days previously) but they could not face a tougher obstacle than a Monaghan side that are beginning to realise just how good they are.

Shelbourne
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

UCD
Injured: Aidan Lynch, Ian Maher.
Doubtful: Brian Gartland.
Suspended: None.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Extratime prediction: Honours even; a 2-2 draw.