Fixtures: Sunday, September 28: MHC Semi-Final v Clontibret (Away) at 12pm; Under-14 HL Shield Semi-Final v Truagh (Home) at 12pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 9, 13, 22 and 26. Jackpot of €2,500 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Gerard Kelly c/o Liadhan Treanor; €40 Ashley White c/o himself; €40 Séamus Mulligan c/o John Harden; €40 Noel McConnell c/o Cosy Bar. Jackpot for Sunday, September 28 is €2,600 and Mary McRory, Rose Donnelly and Una Forde are on duty. The Lotto plays an essential part in the running of the club and we ask for everyone’s continued support. Tickets can be left into the clubhouse from 7.45pm each Sunday.

 

U-16: Our Under-16s captured the league title with a hard-earned and exciting final win over Magheracloone in Castleblayney last Saturday. Our lads made a dream start, with Remy McKenna drilling to the net within a minute and Dylan Duffy, Shane McMahon and Nathan O’Donoghue quickly adding points. Dylan and Ethan both scored goals, either side of a point from Nathan, but Magheracloone came storming back into the game in the second quarter to close the gap to 3-5 to 1-5. Magheracloone carried on from where they had left off after the restart, with a fifth-minute goal closing the gap further. Conor Duffy got a point back for our lads and Dylan tapped over a free for a foul on Remy, but when we conceded a third goal on eight minutes, our lead was down to a point. Points from Nathan (two), Shane and Ethan settled things down again and although Magheracloone got the last two points, our lads held firm in the closing minutes to win by 3-11 to 3-9.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Ultan O’Rourke, Cathal Power, Thomas Croarkin; Niall McManus, Jamie Shields, Niall Ward; Aidan Burns, Remy McKenna (Joint-Capt., 1-0); Jack Deery, Shane McMahon (Joint-Capt., 0-2), Ben Kearns-Flynn; Nathan O’Donoghue (0-4), Dylan Duffy (1-3, 0-1f), Ethan Murphy (1-1).

Subs used: Paul Peppard, Conor Duffy (0-1).

Well done to the team and their management of Michael O’Donoghue, Thomas McCabe, Ciarán Mulligan and Brian Lenehan and best of luck in the championship final against Truagh, which was due to have been played this Saturday but looked set to be changed at time of writing. Check our website and social media for updates on this fixture.

 

Seniors: Our senior footballers took part in the Kilmacud All-Ireland Sevens competition last Saturday. The lads won their first two group games well against Castlehaven from Cork (5-7 to 3-4) and Rostrevor from Down (8-7 to 1-10) to set up a decider against Kilmacud Crokes. Unfortunately, a strong team from the host club ran out 3-8 to 0-9 winners to end our run. Our panel was: Nicholas Scott, Shane Smyth, Fearghal McMahon, Liam Hahessy, David Hughes, John Mulligan, Nicholas Treanor, Gary White, Dónal Hahessy and Mustafa Gamal. We return to SFL action on Saturday week (October 4) at home to Latton.

 

U-11: Our Under-11s are heading to Bettystown this Sunday morning to take part in an invitational tournament organised by Co Meath club, St. Colmcilles.

 

Sponsored walk: The year’s Saturday-morning coaching comes to a close with the annual sponsored walk and sports day at Gavan Duffy Park on Saturday week, October 4. Sponsorship cards are in circulation now.

 

Recreational Tournament: Our annual recreational football tournament at Gavan Duffy Park has been set for Sunday, October 26. More details to follow.

 

Scór: Scór competitions begin with Spraoi Scór on October 17. The Scór na nÓg semi-final is set for November 22.

 

Garda vetting: Club members who have received their Garda vetting clearance forms are asked to send a photocopy of same to Thomas McCabe.

 

Gavan Duffy Park: Thanks to everyone who gave up their time on All-Ireland football final day to help out at the Senior Hurling League Final last Sunday, when the pitch was a credit to all involved.

 

Poker: The Monaghan Harps Poker Classic is due to take place in the clubhouse on Saturday, October 25.

 

Hurling: Sunday is a busy day on the hurling front, with the MHC semi-final away to Clontibret and the Under-14 Shield semi-final at home to Truagh both scheduled for 12 noon.