Monaghan v Galway - relegation playoff

We(Galway) have been keeping ourselves for this game for months now.  Tbh, I cannot see us beating any team and our results and goals conceded show this.

1/4 monaghan
4/1 draw
8/1 galway

Match pointers
•Monaghan have won 10 of their last 12 league matches.

•The home side go into the game buoyed by recording their highest ever points total in league football – 67.

•Galway, in contrast, endured a miserable season and recorded the lowest top division points total (6) since 1965/66 (Drogheda United 5 – two points for a win, 22 games).

•They have also shipped a record 115 goals in league football thsi season.

•However, the Tribesmen have an excellent record against Monaghan United. In league football, Monaghan’s overall record against Galway United reads: played 37, won 5, drawn 12, lost 20, scored 34 and conceded 78.

•Mons sustained their heaviest ever defeat – 8-0 – at the hands of Galway in a Premier Division clash at Terryland Park on 26 October 2001.

•Galway also hammered Monaghan 7-2 in the first meeting of the sides on 25 October 1992 and have also enjoyed 6-2 and 5-2 wins over the Mons.

•The last league meeting between the sides came on 22 September 2006 when goals from Billy Clery and Davey O’Dowd gave Galway a 2-0 win at Terryland.

•The sides last met more recently than that in the League Cup – in April 2007 at Gortakeegan – and the outcome was a familiar one. Monaghan actually led 2-1 at half-timen through a Willie Doyle brace but goals from Wesley Charles, John Lester and Barry Moran – to add to Alan Murphy’s earlier striker – gave the visitors victory.

•United’s

•Monaghan United won 11 of their 15 home league matches in 2011, with defeats coming against Shelbourne, Mervue United and Limerick.

•Galway lost 16 of their 18 away league matches with their sole win a 1-0 victory over Bohemians in March.

•United top scorer Sean Brennan has now scored 14 league goals this season with Declan O’Brien on 12 (16 in all competitions).

•Despite their ultimate penalty shoot-out failure last season, Monaghan have never lost a play-off match in regulation play. They overcame Waterford United 2-2 and 3-0 in 1993, defeated Waterford 3-1 and drew with Bray 0-0 and 1-1 (aet; Bray won 7-6 on penalties) in 2010.

•Galway went through their own play-off pain in the 2002/2003 season. After finishing third in the First Division and overcoming Finn Harps 2-1 in the semi-final, they faced Drogheda United. Galway won 2-o in Terryland in the first leg but went down dramatically 3-0 in the reserve after extra-time. Current Monaghan player Declan “Fabio” O’Brien scored Drogheda’s second.

Mon News:

" Tonight he must cope without Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Sean Brennan and Ryan Brennan because of knocks for the final home game of what the Mons boss hails as one of the most satisfying seasons of his career.

Keith Quinn and John Reilly are suspended but the manager is confident of being able to cope with such key men.

He said: "We will need to replicate our performance in Athlone in both these legs against Galway United.

"Unfortunately that victory came at a cost to us injury and suspension wise. But I still believe that we have the talent and strength in depth.

"It would be a great achievement to be joining Cork City and Shelbourne in the Premier Division and after the season we had it would be well earned."

Galway's boss Brennan is hoping his players can compose themselves and rescue safety from a disastrous year.

"It's going to be a very hard game, Monaghan are a good side. We have got to get ourselves in order, it's a cup final. Anything can happen."

Galway news:

Player news:
Galway United manager John Brennan travels to Monaghan without the suspended duo of Sean Kelly and Rory Gartlan.

United will also be without long-term injury victims Johnny Keane (knee) and Victor Collins (achilles tendon). There are doubts over the fitness of Gary Kelly (ankle), Mikey Gilmore (foot), John Egan (knee) and Eric Holland (hamstring).

List of injured players:
Johnny Keane (Knee)
Victor Collins (Achilles tendon)
Eric Holland (Hamstring)
John Egan (Knee)
Mikey Gilmore (Foot)
Gary Kelly (Ankle)

Suspensions:
Sean Kelly (One match suspension - Accumulation of yellow cards)
Rory Gartlan (Automatic one match suspension - Sent off against Shamrock Rovers)

John Brennan Manager comments:
"It's going to be a very hard game, Monaghan are a good side. We have got to get ourselves in order, it's a cup final. Anything can happen."