Name: Shane McMahon

No: 11

Position: Centre Back

Year Born: 1998

Tournament: Milk Cup

Name: Jason McBride 

No: 14

Position: Centre Midfield

Year Born: 1998

Tournament: Milk Cup

Name: Conor Leonard 

No: 20

Year Born: 1998

Tournament: Milk Cup

Position: Midfield

Name: Michael Bannigan

No: 18

Year Born: 1998

Position: Striker

Tournament: Milk Cup

All four players have played a major role in the U-15′s recent campaigns. Michael Bannigan scored 6 goals at last years Kennedy Cup while Shane McMahon captained the team to the Bowl finishing 9th and is a commanding centre back for both club and league teams.. Jason McBride only joined United this season stamping down the position of centre midfield as his own alongside Tyler O’Hanlon. Conor Leonard captained Monaghan this season lifting both the league and cup, remaining unbeaten throughout the season. All four took part as the CMUL reached the Semi Final of the Inter-County Cup where they lost narrowly to South Tipperary.

Name: Eli Ward

Age: 12

Tournament(s): Galway Cup and Kennedy Cup

Eli has played with the club since he was 6 or 7 in the Mini Leagues (now Soccer Schools). He has had huge success with both United and the CMUL squads, winning the Galway and Foyle Cup in the last 2 years. Eli was also part of the U-13 team last season that won a brilliant unbeaten league and cup double. Agile, skillful and a great reader of the game Eli has a bright future in the game.

Name: Conor Doyle

Age: 13

Tournament(s): Kennedy Cup

Conor’s speed, finishing and physical strength has helped make him the main threat up front for both club and league team. He scored over 30 goals this season for both club and league. This will be his second tournament with the CMUL as he was part of the team who won the Galway Cup last August.

Name: Abraham Dixon 

Age: 14

Tournament(s): Kennedy Cup

Abraham is an outstanding young ‘keeper, another player with a bright future in front of him. He has been ever-present in goal for Monaghan and the CMUL for the past 2 seasons. A keeper with great feet is as capable of stepping outfield if necessary and is a very versatile young player.

On Saturday 1st June we held our schoolboys awards evening which went very well indeed. The majority of our players showed along with their parents with food and drinks freely available. Each team had three awards each, Player of the Year; Players’ Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. Below are pictures of each team’s player awards along with their managers and presenters.

Bunty McCabe with Aaron Mulligan (Most Improved Player), Cormac McKenna (Player of the Year), Jack O’Hanlon (Players’ Player) and Brian Finnegan who presented the awards.

Noel Murray with Terence McDonald ( Players’ Player), Elijah Dixon (Player of the Year) and Charlie Graham (Ladie’s Captain) who presented the awards. Missing from the photo is Jacob Fryzlewicz who was awarded Most Improved Player in the U-12 side.

John Crudden (FAI RDO) presented Conor Doyle (Player of the Year), Niall Crawley (Most Improved Player), Abraham Dixon (Players’ Player) with U-14 manager Morgan O’Hanrahan.

Aaron McCarey (Wolves) presented Shane McMahon (Players’ Player), Keelan O’Reilly (Most Improved Player), Tyler O’Hanlon (Player of the Year) with their awards along with U-15 manager Packie Cooney.

Aaron McCarey (Wolves) presenting Kevin Fitzpatrick (Most Improved Player), Nathan Lavery (Players’ Player) and Tiernan O’Rourke (Player of the Year) with their awards along with Morgan O’Hanrahan. Missing from photo Seamus Deeney coach of the U-11 team.

Attendances low this afternoon due to Blackwater 10km. Will be back to regular numbers next week no doubt as numbers continue to grow. Added some photo’s of the action this morning with our guest from Manchester United Ciaran Donnelly who coaches with their Soccer Schools.

Morgan

Monaghan United 2-1 Blayney Rovers

CMUL U-13 Premier Cup Final

This was the young Monaghan side’s last chance of silverware this season and they grabbed the opportunity with two hands. Monaghan were the stronger side for most of the game with large periods of the game spent in Blayney’s half of the pitch. However when Blayney broke they threatened Monaghan on several occasions. Cormac McKenna and Martynas Pilvinis were on hand to protect their goal and were solid as a unit in defense for most of the game. Jack O’Hanlon who has made the left back position his own put in a typical hard working performance, while also breaking forward at any opportunity. The first real chance for United came down the left hand side from Leon McCabe. Gary Myers played him down the byline from which he sent in a cross across the goalmouth, Patrick McCarron was on hand to strike a wicked shot towards goal only for a good save from Blayney’s keeper. Aaron Mulligan started pulling the strings in midfield and dictating the tempo of the match. His first real effort from long range found the top corner of the Blayney goal after he was set up by Adam O’Neill. This goal boosted the confidence of the Monaghan side but led a a lapse in concentration also. On one occasion Rovers’ broke and had a shot on goal saved by Ryan Aughey in goal. Cormac McKenna came closest to the Mons second when his header was cleared off the line from a beautifully delivered corner by Leon. Aaron then had two more shots from outside the box, on both occasions the Blayney keeper caught them comfortably. Blayney then scored against the run of play somewhat, a penalty was awarded for a push in the box which Rovers’ converted. This led to a nervous half time as thought of the previous occasions they had let their lead’s slip.

In the second half most of the play was in Rovers’ half. Monaghan had a number of corners and free-kicks which threatened but nothing was converted, Leon put a free-kick over the bar from long range. Then from a kick-out, Gary Myers nearly scored a brilliant goal, he caught the ball on the volley from the kick-out only for the ‘keeper to greatly snatch the ball on the goal-line. Gary then again came close as he struck the crossbar with a powerful shot from the right hand side of the box. On the right wing Patrick McCarron was having a stormer of a game. He made some good deliveries and was played through on gola by Aaron only to see his shot well saved yet again.

Cormac McKenna had another header go close, this time from a Gary Myers corner. Darren Geoghegan was now partnering Aaron in midfield replacing Adam O’Neill late in the first half. He took a while to get into the game but influenced play heavily once he found his feet. He had a shot from far out caught in the air by the ‘keeper who was having a very good game. It was from an Aaron Mulligan corner that Monaghan gained some deserved luck. They were awarded a penalty for a handball which Gary Myers fired home to put the Mons in the lead once again. Blayney had a very good chance late on to equalize, Monaghan gave away possession cheaply in midfield and Rovers’ countered. Only for some last ditch defending from Cormac and Martynas it could have been worse. Though this was to be the last of Blayney’s efforts as the game finished on 2-1 to United.

Well done to the whole team who have had a great all round season playing some excellent football along the way. They were very unlucky to miss out on the league and the other cup. On account of his goal and general play Aaron Mulligan gains the Man of the Match award for his superb performance.

Monaghan United Soccer Schools are starting their summer term this Sunday and it will run until August.

• Players receive quality coaching and learn loads of new skills
• For kids aged 4-10 years of age
• Players will make new friends and develop their self-confidence
• Facilities at Gortakeegan are some of the best around Cavan/Monaghan with 4 small astro courts, a full sized synthetic UEFA standard pitch and two grass pitches.
• Registration fee is minimal compared to many other clubs Soccer Schools programmes
• Will run every Sunday morning, age groups might be split depending on numbers

If interested in joining your child show up on the morning. My number is 0870685844 (Morgan – Head Coach)

Ballyjamesduff JFC 2 – 3 Monaghan United

CMUL U-13 Premier Cup Semi Final

Coming up against their bogey team of this season Bunty’s team were missing several key players such as Darren Geoghegan, Colin Peppard and Fearghal Kearns. This didn’t prevent them playing some superb football in the opening 20 minutes. Cormac McKenna and Martynas Pilvinis dominated the game from centre back as Aaron Mulligan slick passing caused Bally’duff’s defense no end of problems. Cormac has been a revalation for United this season, only joining the club in the summer he has been mister consistent, even making the step up to U-14′s where he has also impressed. He justified the high praise he has received when he put the Mons in front after heading home from a Gary Myers corner.

After the goal Monaghan continued to play well, although Ballyjamesduff sneaked a goal back when a long shot rolled into the bottom corner eluding Ryan Aughey who could do nothing about the goal. Ryan later pulled off a very good save when the goalscorer bore down on goal but his effort was well saved. However some good work from Oisin Cawley disposed a Cavan defender when Adam O’Neill struck an effort against the crossbar only for Patrick McCarron to tap in the rebound.

United maintained their high pressure game on their opponents and it paid dividends again before half time. Gary Myers was brought down for a penalty, his effort was well saved but he gratefully tucked home the rebound. Half time was welcomed relief for their opponents who were under severe pressure in the first half of the game.

Ballyjamesduff had a much improved second half but Monaghan still had several chances to put themselves beyond sight. Oisín Cawley had a few chances of his own, first Gary Myers set him up but instead of shooting he tried to knock the ball back to young Gary but the attack broke down. Then after more good hassling inside the box he had an effort go wide from close range. Gary then had two good chances of grabbing another goal. First his curled effort was brilliantly saved by the Cavan ‘keeper and a free-kick just outside the box drifted a few yards wide of the far post.  When Oisín dropped into midfield to mark Adam O’Connor, Gary was left up front on his own. He held the ball up well and ran the channels causing many problems for the Cavan back-line. Jack O’Hanlon had a solid game at left back against Ballyjamesduff’s tricky winger.

All wasn’t finished though when the opposition nicked a goal back when a long upfield ball was latched onto by the Cavan striker who chipped the ‘keeper from close range. It led to a nervy ending to the game but Monaghan deservedly won the game reaching the final where they will play Blayney Rovers.

An excellent team performance by the young Mons builds the exitement for next season for Monaghan who were unlucky to miss out on the league. Man of the Match goes to Gary Myers who led his team from the front. A goal and an assist capped off his game though Cormac McKenna wasn’t far off the accolade.