Monaghan United F.C.

History

League of Ireland

Monaghan United were founded in 1979. Among the club's founding members was Sean McCaffrey who was also the manager of the club when they joined the League of Ireland B Division in 1983–84. In 1985–86 Monaghan United became founder members of the League of Ireland First Division. United played eight seasons in the First Division before winning their first promotion. After finishing third in 1992–93 they became the first League of Ireland club to gain promotion via a promotion/relegation play off. They defeated Waterford United 5–2 on aggregate and were subsequently promoted to the 1993–94 Premier Division. They survived just two seasons in the Premier Division before being relegated at the end of the 1994–95 season. Monaghan United gained promotion to the Premier Division for a second time in 2000–01 after finishing second to Dundalk. This time their stay in the Premier Division last just one season. After managing to win just two league games, they finished last and were relegated following the conclusion of the 2001–02 season. Monaghan United reached the final of the 2010 League of Ireland Cup but lost 1–0 in the final to Sligo Rovers. They also finished third in the 2010 First Division and qualified for the promotion/relegation play off. They subsequently beat Waterford United before losing to Bray Wanderers on penalties. In 2011, under the management of Roddy Collins, Monaghan United again qualified for the promotion/relegation play off. This time they won promotion after beating Galway United 5–1 on aggregate. However, midway through the 2012 season, Monaghan United withdrew from the league for "mainly but not only financial" reasons.

;Statistics

Source:

Monaghan Cavan League

The club continued to field a women's team in the Dublin Women's Soccer League and, together with the Cavan Monaghan Underage League (CMUL), entered a combined team for the League of Ireland U13, U15, U17 and U19 underage divisions. In 2019, Monaghan United formed a senior team to compete in the Monaghan Cavan League (MCL), entering at the First Division level.

They finished off their 2019–20 debut season by winning the Sean Woods Cup and Jimmy Smith Shield Cup in September 2020, beating Glaslough Villa in both finals. That same year, the partnership with the CMUL ended, although the CMUL continued to field teams in the national underage leagues.

Ulster Senior League

In April 2021, Monaghan United announced they would join the Ulster Senior League (USL) for the 2021–22 season. This made them the first club from Monaghan or Cavan to do so. However, they withdrew from the league after one season to return to the Monaghan Cavan League.

North East Football League

Ahead of the 2025 summer season, Monaghan United joined Monaghan Town in leaving the Monaghan Cavan League for the North East Football League (NEFL). They joined the league at Division 3 level. In their first season, they won the league by finishing top, earning promotion to Division 2.

Women's team

Dublin Women's Soccer League

Monaghan United formed a ladies football team in 2006. They won Division Four of the Dublin Women's Soccer League in their first season and were promoted to Division Two. In 2007 they again won the league along with the Leinster Junior Cup. In 2008 they won the DWSL Intermediate Cup after defeating Santry 3–1 in the final. In 2012 they reached the semi-finals of the WFAI Intermediate Cup.

Grounds

Main article: Gortakeegan

Monaghan United originally played their home games at Belgium Park which served as their home ground between 1979 and 1988. Since 1988 they have played at Gortakeegan, the first ever game being against Drogheda United in the 1988-89 League Cup.

Honours

;Men

• League of Ireland Cup
  • Runners Up: 2010: 1
• League of Ireland First Division
  • Runners Up: 2000–01: 1
• NEFL Division 3
  • Winners: 2025: 1
• MCL Andy Capaldi Cup
  • Winners: 2022-23: 1
• MCL Sean Woods Cup
  • Winners: 2019-20: 1
• MCL Jimmy Smith Shield
  • Winners: 2019-20: 1 ;Women
• DWSL Intermediate Cup
  • Winners: 2008: 1

Source:

Notable former players

Internationals

;Republic of Ireland internationals

• Ireland Jonathan Douglas

;League of Ireland XI representatives

• Ireland Mick Byrne
• Ireland John Coady
• Ireland Joe Hanrahan
• Ireland Brian Mooney

;Republic of Ireland B internationals

• Ireland Brian Mooney

;Republic of Ireland U23 internationals

• Ireland Derek McGrath
• Ireland Brian Mooney
• Ireland Stephen Rice

;Republic of Ireland U21 internationals

;Republic of Ireland U19 internationals

• Ireland Robert Bayly
• Ireland Ricky McEvoy

;Republic of Ireland U17 internationals

• Ireland David Freeman
• Ireland John Lester
• Ireland Ger Robinson

;Other Internationals

• Barbados Alvin Rouse

Goal scorers

;First Division Top Scorer

;Most League Goals in a Season

;Most League Goals

Source:

Others

Ireland Paddy Andrews – All-Ireland football winner with Dublin

Managers

• Republic of Ireland Sean McCaffrey (1979–?)
• Republic of Ireland Bobby Browne (1999–2003)
• Republic of Ireland Mick Cooke (2003–11)
• Republic of Ireland Roddy Collins (2011–12)

References

References

1. "Stadium". monaghanunitedfc.com.
2. "Seán McCaffrey". dundalkfc.com.
3. "‘'To B or not to be'’ Brian Quigley’s thoughts on the League of Ireland B Division". leagueofireland.ie.
4. Lynch, Frank. (1991). "A History of Athlone Town F.C: The First 101 Years". Arcadia.
5. Graham, Alex. "Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005". Soccer Baooks Limited.
6. "(Republic of) Ireland League Tables – Second Level". [[RSSSF]].
7. (20 February 2015). "What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League of Ireland First Division?". balls.ie.
8. "(Republic of) Ireland League Tables". [[RSSSF]].
9. (25 September 2010). "Sligo Rovers v Monaghan United – EA Sports Cup Final Photos". sportsfile.com.
10. (25 September 2010). "Sligo Rovers 1-0 Monaghan Utd". rte.ie.
11. "Ireland 2010". [[RSSSF]].
12. "Ireland 2011". [[RSSSF]].
13. (1 November 2011). "Monaghan United v Galway United – Airtricity League Promotion Relegation Play-off 1st leg Photos". sportsfile.com.
14. (4 November 2011). "Galway United v Monaghan United – Airtricity League Promotion Relegation Play-off 2nd leg". dundalkfc.com.
15. (18 June 2012). "FAQ: What happens next now that Monaghan United are gone?". the42.ie.
16. "FAI Statement Re Monaghan United FC withdrawal". sseairtricityleague.ie.
17. (18 June 2016). "Monaghan United exited the League of Ireland four years ago today". leagueofireland.ie.
18. "Ireland 2012". [[RSSSF]].
19. "About Monaghan United".
20. "Monaghan United History".
21. Hooper, David. (30 April 2021). "Monaghan United join Ulster senior league {{!}} NorthernSound". NorthernSound.
22. Foley, Alan. (1 September 2022). "Monaghan United withdraw from Ulster Senior League".
23. (2025-07-10). "Superior Racking & Shelving Division 3".
24. "Monaghan United Football Club". monaghanpeace.ie.
25. (24 September 2008). "Monaghan Face Local Derby". northernsound.ie.
26. (2004-10-05). "Bootroom: Monaghan sprouting in the right direction".
27. "Monaghan United Factfile". monaghanunited.tv.
28. "Ireland – List of Topscorers". [[RSSSF]].
29. (17 August 2011). "Paddy Andrews signs for Roddy's Mons". extratime.ie.