Monaghan United F.C. is an Irish football club based in Monaghan currently playing in Division 2 of the North East Football League. The club joined the League of Ireland in 1983 and subsequently went on to play in the B Division, the First Division and the Premier Division. They resigned from the league midway through the 2012 season.
The club continued to field a women's team in the Dublin Women's Soccer League and, together with the Cavan Monaghan Underage League, they entered a combined team in the League of Ireland U13, U15, U17 and U19 Divisions, until 2020, whereupon the partnership was ended. The CMUL continued to field teams in the national underage leagues. In 2019 the club re-entered men's football, joining the Monaghan Cavan League. In 2025 the club joined the North East Football League, starting in Division 3.
Contents
History
Monaghan United were founded in 1979. Among the club's founding members were Eddie Murray – who later joined the board of directors at the Football Association of Ireland — and Sean McCaffrey. McCaffrey was also the manager of the club when they joined the League of Ireland B Division in 1983–84.
League of Ireland
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 under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 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
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
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
Jonathan Douglas
League of Ireland XI representatives
Mick Byrne
John Coady
Joe Hanrahan
Brian Mooney
Republic of Ireland B internationals
Brian Mooney
Republic of Ireland U23 internationals
Derek McGrath
Brian Mooney
Stephen Rice
Republic of Ireland U21 internationals
Republic of Ireland U19 internationals
Robert Bayly
Ricky McEvoy
Republic of Ireland U17 internationals
David Freeman
John Lester
Ger Robinson
Other Internationals
Alvin Rouse
Goal scorers
First Division Top Scorer
Most League Goals in a Season
Most League Goals
Source:
Others
Paddy Andrews – All-Ireland football winner with Dublin
Managers
Sean McCaffrey (1979–?)
Bobby Browne (1999–2003)
Mick Cooke (2003–11)
Roddy Collins (2011–12)