Monaghan United F.C. (Irish: Cumann Peile Mhuineacháin Aontaithe) is an Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1979 and elected to the league in 1985, hails from Monaghan and play their home matches at Gortakeegan, Monaghan. Club colours are Blue and White, and go by the nickname The Magic Mons.
[edit] History
Monaghan United played their first League of Ireland game in 1985 against Derry City at Belgium Park before moving to move to their current home at Gortakeegan in 1987. They secured a sponsorship deal with the nearby building firm, Century Homes, changing the ground name to Century Homes Park in 2000.
In the 1992-1993 season, Monaghan United finished third in Division One and defeated Waterford United by 5-2 on aggregate (2-2 away and 3-0 at home) winning promotion to the Premier Division. They competed in the Premier Division until the end of the 1994-1995 season, where they finished last and as a result were relegated to the First Division. Monaghan United regained promotion to the Premier Division in the 2000-2001 season, finishing second to Dundalk that season. But their stay was short lived as they finished last in the Premier division the following season managing only two league victories in the whole season.
In 2010 Monaghan United reached their first senior cup final in the EA Sports Cup. The same season the team finished in the play-off positions of Division 1, beating Waterford United before losing to Bray Wanderers on penalty kicks. However in 2011 they won promotion to the Premier Division, beating Galway United 5-1 over two legs.
Belgium Park was the first stadium used by Monaghan United FC, from 1979 to 1987, at which time the team moved to Gortakeegan; its current location.
[edit] Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Players of Note
- Jonathan Douglas was a member of the Ireland squad that won the U16 European Championship in 1998. He joined Blackburn Rovers in 2000 from Monaghan United and had loan spells with Chesterfield, Blackpool and Gillingham before moving to Leeds United on loan at the start of the 2005/’06 season and returning to Blackburn Rovers for the 2006-2007 season. Jonathan made his debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2004 in a goalless draw against Poland. He has earned eight caps representing the Republic of Ireland.
- Stephen Finnegan is a current member of the Monaghan United squad and has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-19 level and also received a call up to the Northern Ireland Schools squad in 2006 .
- James Hand is a former Monagahan United player who received a call up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team which won the Madeira Cup in 2006, playing in all three games. He is currently playing for League One outfit Huddersfield Town.James played for Monaghan United from Under-12 right through to Under-15 level.
- Keith Foy was a Republic of Ireland Under-21 International and played with English League outfit Nottingham Forest until his release in 2003. He returned to Ireland and signed for St. Patricks Athletic before moving to Monaghan United in 2004. He was awarded Monaghan United's Player of the Year for the 2005 Season as well as Supporters Player of the Year. He signed for Sligo Rovers for the 2006 season.
- Mark Connolly - signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers and later moved to Bolton Wanderers in 2009.
- Aaron McCarey, goalkeeper, joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2010.
[edit] Records
| Highest league positions |
| Premier Division |
7th - 1993-1994 season |
| Division One |
2nd - 2000-01 season |
| Lowest league position |
| Premier Division |
12th - 2001-02 season |
| Division One |
11th - 2003 season |
| Attendances |
| 2004 |
Average: 182 Highest: 700 |
| 2005 |
Average: 183 Highest: 550 |
| 2006 |
Average: 175 Highest: 800 (v Shamrock Rovers) |
| Record |
2,000 v Derry City 1985. |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
