First date with destiny for Monaghan and Bray

THE clock starts on 180 minutes of destiny for Monaghan United and Bray Wanderers this evening as the first leg of the Airtricity League promotion/relegation play-off kicks off at Gortakeegan (7.45pm).

Clinging to their Premier Division status, Bray go into the game carrying the ‘losers’ tag, having been beaten 1-0 by Galway United at Terryland Park in the first phase of the play-offs. By contrast, First Division Monaghan rediscovered their best form of the season by seeing off Waterford United 3-1 at the RSC.

But it’s effectively back to scratch for both sides this evening, with Bray’s Director of Football Pat Devlin anxious that his side put the loss to Galway firmly behind them. “We didn’t reach the standard of recent weeks in Terryland Park,” he says.

“The players know that and will be doing their utmost to put that right over the next two games. Monaghan have had a fantastic season, so we know it will be tough but we will be prepared.”

Monaghan manager Mick Cooke also believes that this evening’s visitors have more in their locker than they showed in Galway.

“Having watched Bray against Shamrock Rovers last weekend I was very impressed with them and was surprised to see them go down to Galway United,” he says. “It will be their performance against Rovers that I will be expecting, so we will have to be at our best.

“Barry Clancy, whose performance against Waterford was so important to the final result, misses the game through suspension and Karl Bermingham is still doubtful, but I still believe we have enough strength in depth. Bray being a Premier side will mean we will have to up our performance a notch, but that’s something we have done a number of times already this season. Nothing less than a top class performance will do.”

Bray will be without the suspended Adam Mitchell – red carded in Galway – and Dave Webster but, for what it’s worth, have history on their side: the last time the sides met, back in 2004, Bray won 4-1 in Gortakeegan to secure promotion to the Premier Division.

But, paying tribute to the Monaghan players, board, staff and fans before their last home game of the season, Mick Cooke has only one wish: “Hopefully we can be together again in the Premier Division next season.”