DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL MATCH PRESS KIT. MONAGHAN UTD FC vs. DUNDALK FC EA SPORTS CUP. Second Round Last 16 Gortakeegan, Monaghan

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1 DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL MONAGHAN UTD FC vs. DUNDALK FC EA SPORTS CUP Second Round Last 16 Monday 25 April 2011, 3pm

2 Contents 2-4 Match background 10 League tables 5 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Match-by-match lineups 6/7 Squad and management information 15/16 Team facts 8/9 Results & fixtures information 17 Head-to-head This press kit includes information relating to this EA Sports Cup match. Match background Dundalk and last year s beaten finalists Monaghan United will meet for the 58th time in all competitions and the 16th in cup competition when they go head-to-head in the League Cup second round at Gortakeegan on Easter Monday afternoon (kick-off 3pm). In the 57 meetings to date, Dundalk hold the upper hand with 31 wins to Monaghan s 12, the Lilywhites scoring 109 goals and conceding 49. Monaghan have won just one of the clubs 15 cup dates so far, but that was in the most recent encounter, in the semi-final of this competition last August when Cathal O Connor scored a late winner at Gortakeegan. Monaghan went on to lose the final to Sligo Rovers on a 1-0 scoreline. Twelve of the previous 14 meetings had come in this tournament, Dundalk winning nine and drawing three. The League Cup saw the very first competitive meeting of these two clubs, when, on 30 August 1987, Dundalk won 3-1 away. The other cup meetings came in the one-off First Division Cup in mid 2002, when David Hoey scored in a 1-0 victory in Gortakeegan, and the FAI Cup in 2005 when the Lilywhites ran out 7-1 winners courtesy of a hat-trick from Ger McCarthy and goals from Alan Murphy, Mickey O Kane, Peter Hynes and Colin Finan. Overall, Dundalk s home record in cup competition vs. Monaghan is: P7 W5 D2 L0 F15 A3. Their away form is: P8 W6 D1 L1 F26 A5. In the League Cup alone, their home form is: P7 W5 D2 L0 F15 A3. Their away form is: P6 W4 D1 L1 F18 A4. Dundalk, however, have not won at the Ulster venue since 7 July 2006, seven visits ago, when goals from Seán Finn, Philip Hughes and Christy Doran in the final 23 minutes gave John Gill s side a 3-1 victory. In the six subsequent meetings, Monaghan have won three and drawn three. Dundalk come into the game in confident mood after their first away win in the league this season as they defeated Drogheda United 2-1 on Friday night. Monaghan, meanwhile, beat Wexford Youths on the same scoreline. Dundalk s top scorer after 15 competitive games this year is Mark Quigley, with eight goals. In total: 8 Quigley, 6 Daniel Kearns, 5 Jason Byrne, 3 Ross Gaynor, 1 2

3 Shane Guthrie, Johnny Breen & Colin Hawkins. Dundalk s top creator is Gaynor who has five assists. Byrne is co-highest scorer in the Premier Division along with Shamrock Rovers Gary Twigg, Bohemians Anto Flood and Derry City duo Gareth McGlynn and James McClean, who all sit on four goals after eight games. Quigley is close behind, one of five players on three goals. Monaghan s top scorer after seven matches is Seán Brennan with five goals, and the midfielder is also the most productive player, creating three goals. Dundalk have been awarded one penalty this season, Byrne netting away to Shamrock Rovers on 4 March. Monaghan are yet to have a spot kick. Dundalk have conceded five spot kicks, including two at home to Glentoran on 21 March and two away to Linfield on 14 February. For Glens, Andrew Waterworth missed the first but Matthew Burrows netted the second. For Linfield, Peter Thompson scored the first but Cherrie saved his second, although Robert Garrett put in the rebound. The other was at home to Galway when Joseph Yoffe scored. Monaghan have conceded one penalty, away to Finn Harps on 18 March when Kevin McHugh converted. Dundalk have received just one red card so far this season, as Peter Cherrie was sent-off in the opening league game against Shamrock Rovers. Monaghan also have one, after Declan O Brien received his marching orders in the dying seconds of their recent 3-2 win over Shelbourne. Mark Griffin is the only member of Ian Foster s 19-man panel yet to start a competitive game this year. He was used as a late substitute in the Leinster Senior Cup (LSC) against Shamrock Rovers in February and again against UCD on 1 April, meaning every player has had a taste of action. Monaghan manager Roddy Collins has used a total of 20 players this season. Captain Simon Madden is the only player to have played every minute of Dundalk s 15 competitive games to date. Monaghan too have only one ever-present, with goalkeeper Gabriel Sava yet to miss a second of action. Dundalk have no ex-monaghan players in their ranks. Monaghan have four ex-lilywhites in their squad Shane Grimes, Declan O Brien, Dave Rogers and Conor McMahon. Ryan Brennan was on trial at Oriel Park in 2011 pre-season, while the management team of Roddy Collins and Aidan Lynch both played for Dundalk, the latter captaining the Louth club to promotion in Dundalk are the only team in the Premier Division that still boast an unbeaten home record, with two wins and two draws from four outings. Away from home, they have won one and lost three. 3

4 While last Friday saw them pick up their first away win of the season in the league, they have a 100 percent record on the road in cup competition this term having beaten Linfield (5-3), Glentoran (1-0) and Cliftonville (3-1). Monaghan have a 100 percent record at Gortakeegan this season, winning four out of four, scoring eight goals and conceding just once. They have won one and drawn two of their three away games, their only victory so far coming at Shelbourne on 15 April. At the half-time break, in their 15 competitive outings, Dundalk have been winning just twice, drawing nine times and losing four times, scoring eight and conceding ten. The only times they have led were against Saint Patrick s Athletic, which they lost, and UCD, which they won. Monaghan, meanwhile, have been ahead four times, drawing twice and losing once, scoring eight goals and conceding four. The only time they have been behind at the interval was against Finn Harps, a game they went on to draw. In the second half, Dundalk have won six, drawn six and lost three, scoring 17 and conceding 12. Monaghan have won four and drawn three, scoring seven goals and conceding four. Dundalk are the third-highest scorers in the Premier with 12 goals, sitting behind Derry City (13) and Shamrock Rovers (14). They also have the third worst defence, conceding 13 goals, behind only Galway United (14) and Drogheda (15). Monaghan are the third-highest scorers in the First Division with 15 goals, behind only Shelbourne (16) and Cork City (17). They have conceded seven goals. Four teams in the second tier have a better defensive record. Dundalk have scored in 12 of their 15 games only failing to net against Shamrock Rovers (in LSC), Bohemians and Derry. They have kept just two clean-sheets away to Glentoran and at home to Bohs. Monaghan have scored in all seven of their games, and kept three clean-sheets along the way. In the league, Dundalk have done most of their scoring in the minute bracket, netting three of their 12 goals in that time. They have also conceded most of their goals in that period, shipping four of their total of 13. In the Setanta Sports Cup, Dundalk have scored most of their goals in the minute section, netting four of their 13 in that period, while they conceded two of their seven in the minute bracket. In total, six of their 25 goals have come between 61 and 75 minutes, while they have conceded five goals in both the and brackets. Monaghan have scored a third (5) of their goals in the minute bracket, and conceded two of their total of seven in the minute period. Collins has yet to name a settled side this season. 4

5 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Dundalk Last Match: Friday 22 April: Drogheda United 1-2 Dundalk (Corcoran 25; Hawkins 56, Kearns 83) Daniel Kearns 83rd-minute header completed a vital comeback for Dundalk as they defeated local rivals Drogheda United 2-1 at United Park on Friday night, as the Lilywhites earned their first away points of the season. Drogheda, despite holding little possession, had taken the lead through Daniel Corcoran on 25 minutes. However, the visitors responded in good fashion after the break and were back on level terms within 11 minutes of the restart as Colin Hawkins powered home a Ross Gaynor corner. The North Louth club then snatched all three points with just seven minutes remaining when Gaynor again provided the delivery, Kearns getting up brilliantly to loop a header over Steven Trimble. Injury/Disciplinary news For the short trip to Monaghan, Dundalk manager Ian Foster will again be without leftback Eoghan Osborne, who is out until July at the earliest with a fractured tibia. Central midfield duo Greg Bolger (thigh strain) and Stephen Maher (torn groin muscles) are sidelined until next month. Fellow midfielder Dean Bennett (hamstring) continues to struggle for fitness, while centre half Shane Guthrie (blurred vision & concussion) is also unlikely to feature. Foster has no suspension worries. Miscellaneous Having had four between them in March, no Dundalk player has a birthday in April. Monaghan United Last Match: Friday 22 April: Monaghan United 2-1 Wexford Youths (R Brennan 40, S Brennan 50; Furlong 64) Goals either side of the break from brothers Ryan and Seán Brennan saw Monaghan United extend their winning run to three games and their unbeaten start to the season to seven as they kept hot on the heels of Cork City with a 2-1 win over Wexford Youths at Gortakeegan on Friday night. Monaghan had to wait until five minutes before half-time to break the deadlock as Shane Grimes cross-field ball gave John Reilly space and his cross from the by-line was met by Ryan Brennan who shot to the net, the effort going in off the post. It was 2-0 shortly after the interval as Seán stepped up to strike a magnificent freekick from all of 30-yards, giving visiting keeper Packie Holden little chance. Wexford pulled one back on 64 minutes when Danny Furlong finished off David Grincell s cross, and the youngster could have snatched a late point but Paul Whelan did well to clear off the line. Injury/Disciplinary news Monaghan United manager Roddy Collins can welcome back four-goal striker Declan O Brien from suspension. Miscellaneous Monaghan s Jason Marks will celebrate his 22nd birthday next Monday, 2 May. 5

6 Squad and management information Dundalk (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Peter Cherrie SCO Paul Murphy IRL Defenders 2 Simon Madden IRL Eoghan Osborne IRL Colin Hawkins IRL Michael Hector ENG Nathan Murphy IRL Shane Guthrie IRL Midfielders 4 Dean Bennett ENG Daniel Kearns IRL Stephen Maher IRL Ross Gaynor IRL Greg Bolger IRL Stephen McDonnell IRL Keith Ward IRL Forwards 9 Mark Quigley IRL Jason Byrne IRL Mark Griffin IRL Johnny Breen IRL Management - Ian Foster ENG Darius Kierans IRL

7 Squad and management information Monaghan United (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers - Gabriel Sava ITA Jake Rossiter IRL Defenders - Philip Byrne IRL Aidan Collins IRL Conor McMahon IRL Dave Rogers ENG Paul Whelan IRL Shane Grimes IRL Niall Flynn IRL Midfielders - Alan Byrne IRL Ryan Brennan IRL Seán Brennan IRL Shane Fitzgerald IRL Don Tierney IRL Jason Marks IRL John Reilly IRL Keith Loughran IRL Garbhan McKenna IRL Forwards - Eric Foley IRL Declan O Brien IRL Andy Haran IRL Shane Barrett IRL Michael Isichei IRL James Fallon IRL Management - Roddy Collins IRL Aidan Lynch IRL

8 Results & fixture information Dundalk (Formline: WDDLWWLDWW) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers SSC 14/02/11 Linfield (A) 5-3 Kearns 31, 66, 92, Quigley 54, 75 LSC 22/02/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) 0-2 SSC 28/02/11 Linfield (H) 1-1 Gaynor 11 League 04/03/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) 1-3 Byrne 44 (pen) SSC 07/03/11 Glentoran (A) 1-0 Quigley 82 League 11/03/11 Galway United (H) 3-2 Quigley 18, Byrne 71, Guthrie 87 League 18/03/11 Bohemians (H) 0-0 SSC 21/03/11 Glentoran (H) 1-1 Gaynor 80 League 25/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 2-3 Quigley 17, 48 League 01/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Gaynor 42, Kearns 45, Byrne 72 SSC 04/04/11 Cliftonville (A) 3-1 Quigley 48, 82, Kearns 73 League 08/04/11 Derry City (A) 0-2 League 15/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 1-1 Byrne 7 SSC 18/04/11 Cliftonville (H) 2-1 Byrne 67, Breen 90+3 League 22/04/11 Drogheda United (A) 2-1 Hawkins 56, Kearns 83 LCup 25/04/11 Monaghan United (A) League 29/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 02/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 06/05/11 Galway United (A) League 09/05/11 Bohemians (A) SSC 14/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 20/05/11 UCD (A) League 26/05/11 Derry City (H) League 30/05/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 10/06/11 Drogheda United (H) League 13/06/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 17/06/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 20/06/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 24/06/11 Galway United (H) League 01/07/11 Bohemians (H) League 08/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 15/07/11 UCD (H) League 22/07/11 Derry City (A) League 05/08/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/08/11 Drogheda United (A) League 19/08/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 03/09/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 09/09/11 Galway United (A) League 12/09/11 Bohemians (A) League 23/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 30/09/11 UCD (A) League 08/10/11 Derry City (H) League 15/10/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 21/10/11 Drogheda United (H) League 28/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) 8

9 Results & fixture information Monaghan United (Formline: WDWDWWW) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers League 11/03/11 Waterford United (H) 2-0 A Byrne 33, Reilly 88 League 18/03/11 Finn Harps (A) 2-2 Foley 55, 73 League 25/03/11 Salthill Devon (H) 3-0 S Brennan 3, 44, Marks 36 League 01/04/11 Cork City (A) 2-2 O Brien 6, 60 League 08/04/11 Longford Town (H) 1-0 O Brien 45 League 15/04/11 Shelbourne (A) 3-2 S Brennan 45, 67, O Brien 77 League 22/04/11 Wexford Youths (H) 2-1 R Brennan 40, S Brennan 50 LCup 25/04/11 Dundalk (H) League 29/04/11 Mervue United (A) League 06/05/11 Limerick (H) League 14/05/11 Athlone Town (A) League 26/05/11 Waterford United (A) League 30/05/11 Finn Harps (H) League 11/06/11 Salthill Devon (A) League 17/06/11 Longford Town (H) League 25/06/11 Longford Town (A) League 01/07/11 Shelbourne (H) League 08/07/11 Wexford Youths (A) League 15/07/11 Mervue United (H) League 22/07/11 Limerick (A) League 05/08/11 Athlone Town (H) League 19/08/11 Waterford United (H) League 03/09/11 Finn Harps (A) League 09/09/11 Salthill Devon (H) League 16/09/11 Cork City (A) League 23/09/11 Longford Town (H) League 30/09/11 Shelbourne (A) League 08/10/11 Wexford Youths (H) League 14/10/11 Mervue United (A) League 21/10/11 Limerick (H) League 29/10/11 Athlone Town (A) 9

10 League tables Premier Division Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers Bray Wanderers Derry City Bohemians Sligo Rovers Dundalk Saint Patrick s Athletic UCD Galway United Drogheda United First Division Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Cork City Monaghan United Shelbourne Longford Town Athlone Town Limerick Mervue United Waterford United Wexford Youths Finn Harps Salthill Devon

11 Match-by-match lineups Dundalk Linfield Dundalk 3-5 Windsor Park, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Kearns 31, 1-1 Thompson 43 (pen), 1-2 Quigley 54, 2-2 Garrett 62, 2-3 Kearns 66, 2-4 Quigley 75, 3-4 Allen 81, 3-5 Kearns 92 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (McDonnell 85), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Maher, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 O Neill 35, 0-2 Corcoran 78 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (N Murphy 78), Guthrie, Hawkins, McDonnell (Kearns 67), Ward, Gaynor, Bolger, Quigley (Griffin 78), Breen. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK) Dundalk Linfield 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 11, 1-1 Gault 45+1 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Guthrie, Hawkins, Osborne, Bennett, Bolger (Ward 81), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor (Maher 61), Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Breen Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 3-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Byrne 44 (pen), 1-1 McCabe 45, 2-1 Twigg 50, 3-1 Twigg 56 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (Hector 50), Hawkins, Guthrie, Kearns, Bennett, Bolger (Maher 81), Gaynor, Byrne, Quigley (P Murphy 24). Unused Subs: N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Breen Glentoran Dundalk 0-1 The Oval, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hector, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, Maher, Kearns, Quigley, Ward (McDonnell 90), Byrne (Breen 88). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Bolger, Griffin Dundalk Galway United 3-2 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Quigley 18, 1-1 Yoffe 21 (pen), 2-1 Byrne 71, 2-2 Seán Kelly 77, 3-2 Guthrie 87 Dundalk: P Murphy, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett (Maher 45+1), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: McDonnell, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Bohemians 0-0 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: - Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Maher, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, McDonnell (Breen 70), Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, McSorley, Duffy, Trainor, Hutchinson. 11

12 Dundalk Glentoran 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 Burrows 60 (pen), 1-1 Gaynor 80 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bolger (Maher 65), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen St. Patrick s Athletic Dundalk 3-2 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Quigley 17, 0-2 Quigley 48, 1-2 D McMillan 59, 2-2 E McMillan 62, 3-2 Mulcahy 90 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (Maher 63), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen Dundalk UCD 3-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 42, 2-0 Kearns 45, 2-1 Corry 69, 3-1 Byrne 72 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley (Griffin 87), Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 83). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector Cliftonville Dundalk 1-3 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 25, 1-1 Quigley 48, 1-2 Kearns 73, 1-3 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 82). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin Derry City Dundalk 2-0 The Brandywell, Derry Goals: 1-0 McGlynn 31, 2-0 Zayed 36 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, McDonnell (Ward 76), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Sligo Rovers 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Byrne 7, 1-1 Peers 32 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bennett (Ward 38), McDonnell, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 81). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy Dundalk Cliftonville 2-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 O Connor 59, 1-1 Byrne 67, 2-1 Breen 90+3 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns (Breen 77), Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr. 12

13 Drogheda United Dundalk 1-2 United Park, Drogheda Goals: 1-0 Corcoran 25, 1-1 Hawkins 56, 1-2 Kearns 83 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward (Breen 73), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr. Match-by-match lineups Monaghan United Monaghan U Waterford U 2-0 Goals: 1-0 A Byrne 33, 2-0 Reilly 88 Monaghan United: Sava, McMahon, Rogers, Collins, Grimes, R Brennan (Reilly 60), Tierney, A Byrne, Marks, S Brennan, Barrett (Foley 89). Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), P Byrne, Whelan, Haran, Isichei Finn Harps Monaghan U 2-2 Finn Park, Donegal Goals: 1-0 McHugh 45 (pen), 1-1 Foley 55, 2-1 McHugh 65, 2-2 Foley 73 Monaghan United: Sava, McMahon (Fitzgerald HT), Rogers, Collins, Grimes, Whelan, Foley, Reilly, A Byrne (Loughran 64), S Brennan, Marks. Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), McKenna, Isichei Monaghan U Salthill Devon 3-0 Goals: 1-0 S Brennan 3, 2-0 Marks 36, 3-0 S Brennan 44 Monaghan United: Sava, Whelan, Rogers (Haran HT), Collins (P Byrne 64), Grimes, Foley (Loughran 76), McMahon, Reilly, Marks, S Brennan, Fitzgerald. Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), Fallon, Isichei, McKenna Cork City Monaghan U 2-2 Turner s Cross, Cork Goals: 0-1 O Brien 6, 1-1 Cummins 24, 1-2 O Brien 60, 2-2 O Neill 83 Monaghan United: Sava, McMahon (P Byrne HT), Rogers, Grimes, Fitzgerald (Isichei 57), Foley, R Brennan, Reilly, Marks, O Brien, S Brennan. Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), Fallon, Loughran, Haran, Tierney Monaghan U Longford Town 1-0 Goals: 1-0 O Brien 45 Monaghan United: Sava, Whelan, Rogers, Collins, Grimes, R Brennan (Tierney 70), Reilly, Foley, S Brennan (Loughran 88), O Brien, Isichei (Marks 72). Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), Fitzgerald, Fallon, P Byrne Shelbourne Monaghan U 2-3 Tolka Park, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Cassidy 3, 1-1 S Brennan 45, 2-1 McGill 48, 2-2 S Brennan 67, 2-3 O Brien 77 Monaghan United: Sava, Whelan, Grimes, McMahon, Collins, Foley, Reilly, R Brennan, S Brennan (Fitzgerald 90), Marks, O Brien. Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), Tierney, Isichei, P Byrne, Fallon, Haran. 13

14 Monaghan U Wexford Youths 2-1 Goals: 1-0 R Brennan 40, 2-0 S Brennan 50, 2-1 Furlong 64 Monaghan United: Sava, Whelan, Collins, McMahon, Grimes (Rogers 71), Reilly, R Brennan, Foley (Tierney 74), Marks, Isichei, S Brennan (P Byrne 89). Unused Subs: Rossiter (GK), Fitzgerald, Haran, Fallon. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 14

15 Team facts Dundalk Domestic club competition honours Dundalk FC has won nine Premier Division titles since joining the League of Ireland in They won their first league in the 1932/33 season but had to wait until 1963 for another one, before winning seven more in a 28-year spell from 1967 to 1995, their last top-flight triumph. They have, however, won two First Division titles in the meantime, the first of those coming in 2001 and the latest in November The Lilywhites have also won nine FAI Cups, the latest coming in their last cup final appearance in Also on the club s roll of honour are four League Cups, although they have not won that competition since Dundalk competed in Europe last July for the first time since Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division sixth 2009: Premier Division fifth 2008: First Division champions, promoted to the Premier Division 2007: First Division third, beaten by Finn Harps in promotion/relegation playoff semifinal 2006: First Division runners-up, defeated Waterford United in promotion/relegation final 2005: First Division sixth 2004: First Division sixth 2003: First Division ninth 2002/03: First Division tenth 2001/02: Premier Division tenth, relegated to the First Division 2010 season Dundalk made a lightening start to 2010, going unbeaten in their opening six games, during which time they showed a steely determination by coming from 2-0 down at Sligo Rovers to draw 2-2. They were at the top of the pile for close to three months but lost their place at the summit in the final game before the midseason break in June. After returning from two weeks off, Dundalk won just one of their subsequent ten league games, before a run of five wins in seven including a 5-1 hammering of eventual champions Shamrock Rovers and a first victory at Richmond Park in 21 years over a five-week period in September and October ensured a sixth-placed finish. In the FAI Cup, Dundalk exited at the first hurdle, falling to Saint Patrick s Athletic. They made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing 1-0 at Monaghan United. In the Leinster Senior Cup, they defeated Ballymun United before losing on penalties at Bray Wanderers. Meanwhile, in their return to Europe after an eight-year absence, the Lilywhites defeated CS Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 5-4 on aggregate before bowing out to Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) on an 8-0 scoreline. Records Record League Victory 9-0 (H) vs. Jacobs, 6 February (H) vs. Shelbourne, 27 January 1980 Record League Defeat 1-9 (A) vs. Limerick, 17 December

16 Team facts Monaghan United Domestic club competition honours Monaghan United FC played their first League of Ireland game in 1985 against Derry City at Belgium Park, before moving to their current home at Gortakeegan in In the 1992/93 season, Monaghan United finished third in the First Division and defeated Waterford United 5-2 on aggregate (2-2 away and 3-0 at home) to gain promotion to the Premier Division. They remained in the top flight until the end of the 94/95 season, when they finished bottom. Monaghan regained their place in the Premier Division in the 2000/01 season, after finishing second to Dundalk. But their stay in the top tier was shortlived as they again finished at the foot of the table, managing only two wins in the whole season. Their highest placing in the league to date was seventh, which was achieved in the 93/94 campaign. Ten-year league record 2010: First Division third, defeated Waterford United in playoff semi-final, lost to Bray Wanderers in playoff final 2009: First Division fifth 2008: First Division sixth 2007: First Division eighth 2006: First Division ninth 2005: First Division ninth 2004: First Division ninth 2003: First Division 11th 2002/03: First Division eighth 2001/02: Premier Division 12th (bottom) 2010 season Monaghan United enjoyed a fine 2010 season which saw them achieve their highest league position since last winning promoted back in The club also enjoyed two superb cup runs before they eventually fell to Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup quarter-finals and League Cup final. Monaghan took just two points from their opening three league games, but a League Cup victory over Shelbourne in late March was the catalyst to success, as they went on to enjoy an eight-match unbeaten run in the league, a sequence ended at home to eventual champions Derry City. Another loss followed quickly after, at home to Shels a penalty shootout victory over Bohemians in the League Cup sandwiched in between but following that, Monaghan never looked back. They would enjoy a ten-match unbeaten run until they next faced Shels. Their overall form would worry onetime runaway leaders Derry, though in the end they fell short by seven points, even missing out on runners-up spot. However, they beat Waterford United in the RSC in a one-off playoff semi-final. The playoff final proved incredible, with Bray Wanderers eventually defeating them 7-6 on penalties, after the tie had finished 1-1 after 210 minutes of action Records Record League Victory 5-0 (H) vs. Longford Town, 4 October 1992 Record League Defeat 0-8 (A) vs. Galway United, 26 October

17 Head-to-head Overall All Comps P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United Overall League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United At Dundalk League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United At Monaghan U League P W D L F A Pts Monaghan United Dundalk Neutral (At Mons) League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United Cup Competition P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United Last 10 meetings All competitions Comp. Date Res. Goalscorers LCup 17/08/10 Monaghan 1-0 Dundalk O Connor 87 League 28/09/08 Monaghan 2-2 Dundalk Brennan 44, Scully 90+3; Farrell 17, 87 League 24/07/08 Dundalk 3-0 Monaghan Flanagan 1, 38, Vaughan 54 (pen) League 16/05/08 Monaghan 0-0 Dundalk LCup 25/03/08 Dundalk 3-0 Monaghan Crowley 22, Mulvenna 34, 63 League 13/03/08 Dundalk 3-0 Monaghan Martin 8, 87, Cassidy 44 League 11/10/07 Dundalk 1-0 Monaghan Vaughan 67 League 03/08/07 Monaghan 2-0 Dundalk Doyle 80, 85 League 31/05/07 Dundalk 3-1 Monaghan Doran 1, Smyth 8, O Connor 90; Doyle 52 League 06/04/07 Monaghan 1-1 Dundalk Farrell 37; Flanagan 25 Last 10 meetings All Comps P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United Last 10 meetings League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Monaghan United