Monaghan United -v- Galway United

• Gareth Penrose
• Tue, Nov 01 2011




Galway United travel to Monaghan on Tuesday evening attempting to defend their place in the top flight of the Airtricity League (kick-off 7.45pm).

 

The Tribesmen do not have form on their side going into this tie. In their last five games of the season they have lost five, shipped 23 goals and only scored two. Monaghan United on the other hand have won three of the last five, with a narrow loss to Limerick and a defeat to Division winner's Cork City in the losses column.  

 

Mons five nil win against Athlone Town wasn't enough to secure automatic promotion but it did mean they narrowly finished ahead of Limerick to earn a playoff place. Roddy Collins has a strong squad to pick from despite the absences of Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Sean Brennan and Ryan Brennan through injury and Keith Quinn and John Reilly as a result of suspension.

 

Mons manager Collins is not taking the game likely but believes his squad has the quality to win out.

 

"We will need to replicate our performance in Athlone in both these legs against Galway United.  Unfortunately that victory came at a cost to us injury and suspension wise. But I still believe that we have the talent and strength in depth.

 

It would be a great achievement to be joining Cork City and Shelbourne in the Premier Division and after the season we had it would be well earned."

 

Galway United manager John Brennan travels to Monaghan without the suspended duo of Sean Kelly and Rory Gartlan. He will also be without long-term injury victims Johnny Keane (knee) and Victor Collins (achilles tendon). There are doubts over the fitness of Gary Kelly (ankle), Mikey Gilmore (foot), John Egan (knee) and Eric Holland (hamstring).

 

Extratime.ie will have full live updates from 7.15pm

 

Monaghan United:

Injured: Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Sean Brennan, Ryan Brennan

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Keith Quinn, John Reilly

 

Galway United:

Injured: Johnny Keane (Knee), Victor Collins (Achilles tendon)

Doubtful: Eric Holland (Hamstring), John Egan (Knee), Mikey Gilmore (Foot), Gary Kelly (Ankle)

Suspended: Sean Kelly, Rory Gartlan 

 

Paddy Power Odds: Monaghan United 1/4, Draw 4/1, Galway United 8/1

Extratime prediction: Monaghan to win out 3-0.