Fixtures: Saturday, July 1: U-12 FL Division Five v Castleblayney (Away) at 1.15pm

Sunday, July 2: RFL Division 1A v Truagh (Home) at 2pm

Tuesday, July 4: MFL Division Two v St. Tiarnach Sarsfields in Clones at 7.30pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 8, 19, 22 and 24. Jackpot of €2,200 won by Edward Carroll c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club)! Congratulations to Edward! Jackpot for Sunday, July 2 is €1,000 and Mary McRory, Una Forde and Rose Donnelly are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in our clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome. Thanks to everyone for their support for our Lotto, which plays a critical role in our club’s funding. We ask all club members to continue to promote our Lotto as much as possible.

 

Féile: Thanks to everyone who supported last weekend’s John West Féile Peil na nÓg. We were delighted to host Meath boys’ champions Naomh Colmcille and Calry/St. Joseph’s girls from Sligo for the weekend in our first time to host at the football Féile. We hosted several games at Gavan Duffy Park, including four Boys’ Division One quarter-finals on Saturday, with both pitches in great condition throughout. Our U-14s boys and girls did the club proud, with the boys losing after extra-time in the Division One Shield quarter-finals and the girls making it to the Division Four Shield semi-finals, where they lost out to Cornafean from Cavan. Both of our guest clubs qualified for Cup semi-finals and they were a pleasure to host for the weekend, which featured a social night in the clubhouse on Friday night, with music by the Deeneys and exchanges of tokens of appreciation by all clubs. All four teams also attended the Ulster SFC semi-final on Saturday evening, following a barbeque at the club, and we presented gifts to both visiting teams on Sunday; thanks to Mel McMorrow of Rant and Rave Clothing for sponsoring t-shirts. Months of planning went into the weekend by our Féile committee, guided by the clubs’ co-ordinators Una Forde and Eimear Galligan. A great club effort saw the events run smoothly: thanks to everyone who helped to prepare the facilities or who contributed in any way.

 

Seniors: We had a 2-13 to 2-10 win at home to Latton in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League last Wednesday. A goal from Shane Smyth and points by Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Nicholas Treanor, Stephen Driver and Conor and Michael Galligan had us 1-6 to 0-5 up at half-time. We stretched our lead to double scores (2-10 to 0-8) after the restart, with Fearghal McMahon finding the net and Dean Fanning joining the list of scorers. Latton came back, but points from Nicholas Scott and Fearghal gave us some breathing space that meant a late goal from the visitors didn’t change the result.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Niall Hahessy, Conor Galligan (0-2), Mustafa Gamal; Thomas Croarkin, Nicholas Scott (0-1), Gareth Treanor; Aodhán Óg McAnespie (0-3), Stephen Driver (Capt., 0-2); Dean Fanning (0-1), Nicholas Treanor (0-1), Shane McMahon; Michael Galligan (0-1f), Shane Smyth (1-0), Fearghal McMahon (1-2. 0-2f).

Subs: Conor Duffy for G Treanor (black card, 25 mins), Niall Greenan for Hahessy (inj., 45), Conor Forde for McAnespie (black card, 57).

We have another important SFL game away to Magheracloone on Friday week (July 7).

 

Reserves: An understrength team fell to a heavy defeat at home to Clones in the RFL Division 2B last Sunday. We started with 13 players for this game and although we were soon up to 15, injuries left us facing even more of an uphill battle against a Clones team that found the net three times in the first half. We played some better football in the second half, with a few players getting on the scoresheet and Reece Treanor finishing a good move with a goal, but Clones ran out comfortable winners. With Aghabog withdrawing, our last league game is at home to Carrickmacross on July 16.

Team: Dylan McAree; Conor Callan, Ruairí Forde; Jamie Shields, Conor Devlin, Dessie McGarry (Capt.); Dylan McKenna, Conor Duffy; Mark Mulhall, Brendan McQuaid, Seán Conway; Colm Shalvey, Reece Treanor.

Subs used: Darren Smyth, Johnny Sherry.

We were away to Donaghmoyne in the RFL Division 1A on Wednesday, while we host Truagh this Sunday at 2pm.

 

U-16: Our U-16s returned to action after the exam break away to Donaghmoyne on Thursday. We await details of upcoming fixtures.

 

U-14: Our U-14 boys enjoyed their experience of Féile last weekend. We started off away to Castleblayney on Friday, where a goal from Daragh Croarkin helped us take a decent lead in at half-time. Jamie Coyle, Jake Power, Shay Cooney and Josh Kelly were also on target as we got off to a winning start by 1-8 to 1-4.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka; Ryan McSkeane, James Curley, Michael McMorrow; Mark McManus, Liam Conway (Capt.), Kevin Moran; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Nathan Lavery; Jake McConnon, Shay Cooney (0-3, 1f), Jake Power (0-2); Luke McManus, Daragh Croarkin (1-0), Jamie Coyle (0-2).

Subs used: Gary Devlin, Shea Swift, Josh Kelly (0-1), Jordan Crampton.

We then took on Antrim champions O’Donovan Rossa in an exciting game that was well contested throughout. Goals from Shay and Daragh left us just two points down in the end, but the Belfast side held on.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka; Ryan McSkeane, Tiarnán O’Rourke, Michael McMorrow; Mark McManus, Liam Conway (Capt.), Kevin Moran; James Curley, Nathan Lavery (0-1); Jake Power (0-1), Shay Cooney (1-1), Gary Devlin; Josh Kelly, Daragh Croarkin (1-1), Jamie Coyle.

Subs used: Luke McManus (0-1f), Jake McConnon, Shea Swift, Jordan Crampton, Dáire Sheridan.

We were on home soil on Saturday, starting against our guest club, St. Colmcilles, who had impressed in Blayney on the previous day. The likes of Nathan Lavery, Shay Cooney, Jake Power, James Curley and Tiarnán O’Rourke took the game to the Meath team, with Shay scoring a goal that must have been among the best of the weekend. Our lads battled to the end, but eventually lost out to an excellent St. Colmcilles side that went within a score of qualifying for the Division One Cup Final.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka; Ryan McSkeane, Tiarnán O’Rourke, Michael McMorrow; Shea Swift, Liam Conway (Capt.), Kevin Moran; James Curley, Nathan Lavery (1-0); Gary Devlin, Jake Power (1-1), Jamie Coyle; Josh Kelly, Shay Cooney (1-1, 0-1f), Daragh Croarkin.

Subs used: Luke McManus, Jake McConnon, Jordan Crampton, Dáire Sheridan, Ben Myers, Ché Treanor.

We then took on St. Broughans from Offaly in the Division One Shield Quarter-Finals. We fell behind in the first half of this game, despite Jake Power finishing a great move with a fine goal and our keeper Karol making some excellent saves at the other end. We came back after the restart, with Shay, Daragh and Luke McManus on target to bring us level at 2-5 to 1-8 by the end of the 30 minutes. Fortune was not on our side in the closing stages and St. Broughans, who would go on to reach the Final, were the stronger team in extra-time, but our lads can hold their heads high for their efforts.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka; Ryan McSkeane, Liam Conway (Capt.), Michael McMorrow; Kevin Moran, James Curley, Shea Swift; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Nathan Lavery; Gary Devlin, Jake Power (1-1), Jamie Coyle; Jake McConnon, Shay Cooney (1-2), Daragh Croarkin (0-1).

Subs used: Luke McManus (0-1), Josh Kelly, Jordan Crampton, Dáire Sheridan.

 

U-12s: Our Under-12 Division Five team are away to Castleblayney on Saturday at 1.15. The Division One game has been postponed until Saturday week.

 

County: Hard luck to Neil McAdam and the Monaghan senior footballers on last Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final defeat against Down. They travel to Wexford in the qualifiers on Saturday week. Good luck to the county’s senior ladies in their Ulster final this Sunday in Clones.

 

Dates to remember: We will once again host a Kellogg’s Monaghan GAA Cúl Camp from July 10-14. Registration is open online now. Our own Harps Summer Camp will take place in August (14-18). Keep an eye on club notes for more details on these events.

 

Coaching: Keep an eye out for details about Monaghan Coaching courses and an upcoming Child Protection course.

 

1981 McNally Cup Team Reunion: A reunion of the Harps U-16 winning team of 1981 has been arranged for the clubhouse on Saturday, July 15. The squad was Barry McEntee, Nigel Corrigan, Seamus McCarron, Kenny Gormley, Ciaran Mullen, Pauric Trappe, Tony Halpin, Barry O’Connor, Val Forde, Ciaran Reilly, Seamus Morgan, Paul Swift, Kevin Tibby, John Tibby, Stephen McKenna, Paul McCormick, Roger McQuaid, Mickey Morgan and Kieran Reynolds. For the record, the mentors were: Patsy Forde, Mick Moran, Tom Reilly, Eddie Whelan, Patsy Kearns and Harry Hughes. The reunion night is not exclusively for this squad but also for anyone who played along with the lads at an earlier or later stage. It has already been confirmed that Ciaran Mullen is flying in from New York, Nigel Corrigan and Barry O’Connor are making the trip from the UK and a few are heading down the road from Dublin. So, if any of those mentioned above (or anyone who knows their whereabouts) is reading this, could you message or email Paul Swift at 086 1703640 or pswift5@eircom.net.

 

Pitch bookings: All pitch bookings for 2017 for training or matches must be made via 086 1957155. Training slots have been allocated and any changes must be notified in advance. All co-operation from team mentors in maintaining the pitches is appreciated.

 

Gavan Duffy Park: The refurbished Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Contact Jimmy Croarkin on 087 1249635 or Pádraig Callan on 087 2543511 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

 

 

Hurling notes:

U-12: Our next league fixture is at home to Cootehill on Monday, July 10. Underage coaching and games continues every Sunday at 12pm in Rooskey.