Mons predicted for 9th place finish

Leading football blog BackPageFootball reckons Monaghan United will avoid the drop on their return to the Premier Division this season:

“Many pessimists are tipping Monaghan to go straight back down but I think the Roddy factor will be key and if his belief in youth is to repay him yet again we could see quite a few new stars unearthed at Monaghan.”

Eric Foley joins exodus to Drogheda

That makes it six of last season’s team who are now with Mick Cooke at Drogheda United.

Bobby Ryan to play for Mons against Newry

Via the Evening Herald:
“ VETERAN winger Bobby Ryan will line out for Monaghan United tonight in a bid to win a contract for next season.”

Aidan Collins' latest column

Aidan looks ahead to the start of pre-season training.

Mons line up Newry City friendly

This has yet to be confirmed by the club but several sources including former Monaghan United and current Newry City striker Darragh Hanaphy report that Newry City will host Roddy Collins’ new-look Premier Division side in a pre-season friendly at the Showgrounds on 24 January.

United begin their pre-season training this weekend in Monaghan and are expected to line up a number of pre-season clashes with Irish League oppostion.

Roddy writes for An Phoblacht

Monaghan United manager Roddy Collins is now penning a regular column for the Sinn Féin newspaper An Phoblacht. Check out his latest article here.

"I got a text last night about the centre-half from Bolton, Mark Connolly, but, no disrespect to him, I’ve never heard of him. That’s not to say he’s not a good player."

—Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell on former Monaghan United player Mark Connolly.
Mark  - reserve team captain at Bolton - has been linked with a move to Ipswich as well as Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace.

New Monaghan United signing Conor Murphy video interview with The Star’s Mark McCadden from last year when he was still with Bray.

Foley re-signs for 2012

ERIC FOLEY has become the first of the 2011 promotion-winning squads to put pen to paper and sign for Monaghan United for the 2012 season.


Another 3 United players are on the verge of recommitting to the club while the club is expected to shortly announce the signing of a new goalkeeper and one other new player.

"I know Ryan’s been approached by other clubs, and to be quite honest I don’t understand how Sean has never been approached.
For the last couple of seasons he has been the most outstanding player in the First Division, and he is more than capable of stepping up to the Premier. His work ethic and professionalism are second to none.
I managed Sean for two or three years at Monaghan and I feel maybe they feel I gave them a start, and the other attraction is that it’s their home-town club, with less travelling to training and things like that"

—Mick Cooke on his plundering of former club Monaghan United

Drogheda plunder Mons for four players

Monaghan United have been dealt a huge blow with the decision of Sean and Ryan Brennan, Shane Grimes and Gabriel Sava to sign for Drogheda United.

The Drogheda-based trio and former Dundalk player Grimes join former Mons manager Mick Cooke at Hunky Dory Park.

Sava was arguably the division’s best keeper last season; Sean Brennan was Monaghan’s top league scorer last term and was nominated for the PFAI player of the year; while Ryan starred on midfield in his debut senior soccer season.

The latter pair join brother Gavin at Drogheda.
Grimes excelled at left-back at United for the past number of seasons.


The quadruple defection leaves Mons manager Roddy Collins with a major rebuilding job as Monaghan make their Premier Division return in 2012.

Roddy Collins on the Newstalk Saturday panel

Monaghan United manager Roddy Collins was on the panel for the Newstalk FM show The Panel on Saturday - along with Monaghan’s Frank McNally and Mick O’Keefe.

Main man Donagh Corby of the League of Ireland Interview show speaks to Declan “Fabio” O’Brien about his career and Monaghan United.

"I do have to admit it was strange whenever I was standing in the tunnel alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Nani. It was a bit strange, considering I was playing against the likes of Monaghan United and Salthill Devon a few years ago"

—Sunderland AFC’s former Derry City player James McClean in The Sunday Life. Cheeky fecker.

Monaghan United mention in Gazzetta dello Sport

Late to the party with his one but Monaghan United’s promotion was covered in the print edition of the esteemed Italian sports daily and pink paper Gazzetta dello Sport last week:
“Vi ricordate il Galway United, la squadra che ha stabilito il record di 22 k.o. consecutivi nella Premier irlandese e di oltre 100 gol subiti 115 per la precisione, mai successo in 89 anni di storia del campionato? Beh, non ce l’ha fatta a salvarsi. Dopo aver chiuso all’ultimo posto la stagione regolare, il Galway ha infatti perso anche il playoff contro il Monaghan United: 2-0 in trasferta e 3-1 al ritorno in casa, chiudendo la stagione senza aver mai vinto a Terryland Park. Dove però, per l’ultima sfida, c’erano comunque 1.500 tifosi.”

Its more about Galway and their poor record in 2011 to be fair but good to see Monaghan registering further afield.