- Monaghan United F.C.
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Monaghan United 
Full name Monaghan United Football Club Nickname(s) The Magic Mons Founded 1979 Ground Gortakeegan, Monaghan,
County Monaghan
(Capacity: 5,600 (620 seats))Chairman Jim McGlone Manager Roddy Collins League LOI Premier Division 2011 3rd 
Home colours
Away coloursMonaghan 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.
Contents
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.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 
GK Gabriel Sava 
GK Jake Rossiter DF Philip Byrne DF Aidan Collins DF Shane Grimes DF Conor McMahon DF Paul Whelan MF Ryan Brennan MF Alan Byrne MF Eric Foley 
MF Jordan Keegan (on loan from St. Patrick's Athletic) MF Jason Marks MF Willo McDonagh No. Position Player MF Keith Quinn MF John Reilly MF Don Tierney MF Michael Isichei 
MF Roberts Zagorskis FW Shane Barrett FW Sean Brennan FW David Byrne FW Paul Byrne FW Jimmy Fallon FW Andy Haran FW Kevin Loughran FW Declan O'Brien 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.
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. References
- ^ "United's 2010 Squad". Monaghan United Web. 2010-01-28. http://www.monaghanunited.com/SQUAD2010no5.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
External links
League of Ireland · 2011 teams Premier Division First Division Athlone Town · Cork City · Finn Harps · Limerick · Longford Town · Mervue United · Monaghan United · Salthill Devon · Shelbourne · Waterford United · Wexford YouthsCategories:- Republic of Ireland football clubs
- Association football clubs established in 1979
- Sport in County Monaghan
- League of Ireland First Division clubs
- Former League of Ireland Premier Division clubs
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