Fixtures: Thursday, July 19: U-13 FC Division Five/Six Final v Carrickmacross in Blackhill at 7.15pm; U-15 FC Division One S-F v Emyvale (Home) at 7.30pm

Friday, July 20: SFL v Scotstown (Home) at 8pm; U-15 HL v Lisbellaw (Home) at 7.30pm

Saturday, July 21: U-11 v Corduff (Away) at 12pm & 1pm

Sunday, July 22: U-15 HC S-F v Carrickmacross (Home) at 12pm

Monday, July 23: U-15 FC Division Five v Carrickmacross (Home) at 7.30pm; U-13 HC S-F v Carrickmacross (Home) at 7.30pm

Wednesday, July 25: RFC O’Duffy Cup Final v Scotstown in Truagh at 8pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 4, 11, 18 and 20. Jackpot of €2,900 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Gerry Moen c/o Dermot Coyle; €40 Nicola Shalvey c/o Colm Shalvey; €40 Marcus Callan c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Éamonn Keelaghan c/o Noel Hennessy. Jackpot for Sunday, July 22 is €3,000 and Ann and Adrian Trappe 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.

 

Seniors: We host Scotstown in the Shoe City Senior Football League tomorrow night (Friday) at 8pm. All support welcome.

 

Reserves: In another busy week in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues, we were away to Éire Óg in our last group game in Division 2B last Wednesday. We started well, with Conor Duffy, Jason McHugh, Nathan O’Donoghue and Niall McManus on target, but we ended the first half trailing by six points. Goals by Niall Brannigan (two), Conor Forde and Colm Shalvey saw us come back in the second half, however, and with Dylan McKenna, John Mulligan and Thomas Croarkin also on the mark, we won a high-scoring game on a scoreline of 4-16 to 2-20. That win moved us up to third in the table, but we were ultimately edged out for a semi-final place. Thanks to the players involved and to Jimmy Croarkin, Seán Morahan, Pádraig Callan and the senior management for their efforts.

Team: Dylan McAree; Kevin Lyden, John Mulligan, Turlough Clerkin; Conor Forde (Capt.), Thomas Croarkin, Niall Ward; Dylan McKenna, Niall McManus; Conor Duffy, Jason McHugh, Colm Shalvey; Nathan O’Donoghue, Niall Brannigan, Séamus Treanor.

Sub used: Aidan Burns.

Next up was our last group game in Division 1B away to Aughnamullen on Saturday. Éimhín Morahan, Conor McCrystal, debutant Corey McArdle and Jamie Shields were among our scorers as we earned a 0-9 to 0-6 half-time lead. We maintained our lead in the second half with further points from Éimhín, Conor McCrystal, Conor Duffy and a late goal by Pat Meehan making the final score 1-19 to 0-13 in our favour. A second-place finish in the table means we will be at home to Killanny in the Division 1B semi-final, due to be played on Wednesday week, August 1. Before that, we contest the O’Duffy Cup Championship Final against Scotstown next Wednesday (July 25) in Truagh at 8pm. All support welcome.

Team: Darragh Hannon; Jamie Shields, John Mulligan, Kevin Lyden; Niall McManus, Niall Treanor, Conor Duffy; Éimhín Morahan (Capt.), Aidan Burns; Corey McArdle, Colm Shalvey, Conor Forde; Conor McCrystal, Thomas Keelaghan, Pat Meehan.

Sub used: Francis Lynch.

 

Minors/U-17: Our minors lost out in the U-18 Championship away to Inniskeen on Tuesday (July 17). The start of the U-17 Football League has been delayed due to Monaghan minors’ continued involvement in the inter-county championship, with these players taking part in a summer tournament in Cloghan. We wish David Leane a speedy recovery from injury.

 

U-15: We fell short in a high-scoring shoot-out at home to Carrickmacross in the Manor Farm U-15 Football League Division One last Thursday. We fell behind early on, but scores by Jamie Coyle, Shay Cooney and Kevin Moran brought us into the game. We trailed by 3-5 to 2-4 at half-time and although Carrick pulled away again after the restart, a spirited showing kept our lads in contention. Further scores from Shay, Jake Power, Jamie and Daragh Croarkin brought our tally to 6-9, but it wasn’t enough to claim the points in our last group game in the league.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka; Michael McMorrow, James Curley, Josh Lavery; Jake McConnon, Liam Conway (Capt.), Mark McManus; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Kevin Moran (0-1); Jamie Coyle (2-1), Shay Cooney (3-6, 0-2f), Jake Power (1-0); Gary Devlin, Daragh Croarkin (0-1), Shea Swift.

Subs used: Facthna Mac Conghail, Luke McManus.

The same evening saw our Division Five team host Tyholland in the opening round of the Cup section in the league. With holidays depleting our numbers, several players had to play a second game of the night and despite tired legs, they battled hard throughout, with Karol Parszywka, Shea Swift, Luke McManus and Michael McMorrow on target, even though Tyholland proved too potent overall.

Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Michael McMorrow (0-1), Mark McManus (Capt.); Gregory O’Connell, Jake McConnon; Facthna Mac Conghail, Shea Swift (0-4); Luke McManus (0-3, 2f), Conor Treanor; Eoin McCleary, Karol Parszywka (1-0).

Subs used: Gary Devlin, Josh Lavery.

The Division Four/Five Championship was due to start at home to Carrickmacross on Tuesday, July 10, but had to be postponed after the appointed referee did not appear. This game has been rearranged for Monday, while the Division One Championship semi-final at home to Emyvale has been rearranged for this evening (Thursday) at 7.30, as the busy schedule continues. Please check online to confirm fixtures.

 

U-13: Our U-13 Division One team had a good win away to Scotstown in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. league last Saturday. The Division Five/Six Championship Final against Carrickmacross is due to be played this evening (Thursday) in Blackhill at 7.15. Good luck to our players and management. All support welcome.

 

U-11: Our U-11 teams continue the Liam Stirrat Development League away to Corduff this Saturday at 12 noon and 1pm

 

Sponsor a Seat: To celebrate and promote the continued development of our facilities at Gavan Duffy Park, we are offering the unique opportunity to sponsor/dedicate a seat in our stand at a cost of €50. See our club website (monaghanharps.gaa.ie) or contact Club Secretary Val Forde (secretary.monaghanharps.monaghan@gaa.ie), Chairman Jimmy Croarkin (087 1249635) or any committee member for more details. Please note that the deadline for sponsoring a seat is upon us so please return cards as soon as possible.

 

County: Huge congratulations go to team captain Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh, Lochlainn Power and the Monaghan minor footballers who followed in the footsteps of the class of 2013 by winning last Friday’s Ulster MFC Final against Derry. Well done also to Neil McAdam and the county seniors on their All-Ireland SFC win over Kildare at Croke Park last Sunday and good luck in the big game against Kerry in Clones this Sunday.

 

Summer Camps: Over 200 children took part in the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp at Gavan Duffy Park last week. Our own Harps Summer Camp is scheduled for August 20-24.

 

Dates to remember: Our Family Fun Day and Mick Farrell Tournament are scheduled for August 18 and 25, respectively. Our own Harps Summer Camp is scheduled for August 20-24.

 

Clubhouse: The 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:

 

U-13: We travelled to Clontibret last Friday for our Group A Round 3 league game and came away with a 1-6 to 6-7 win. There was a great overall performance with Jonas Alexis and James Brady outstanding in the backs, Cian Bradley and Seán Callan dominating midfield and ensuring a plentiful supply of ball into the forwards, who thrived. Jack McDonald struck the crossbar, the upright and the net on numerous occasions. Seán Callan was very accurate from frees and Nicky Sherlock covered every inch of the field in his defending and attacking. Well done to all the boys, and to their parents and families for the great support. Next up we are at home to Carrick in the championship semi-final on Monday, July 23 at 7.30pm.

 

U-15: Our Under-15 team travelled to Lisbellaw on Monday, July 9. Despite several players being absent due to holidays, the team put in a great performance. Most notably Liam Conway, Aidan McKenna, Mark McManus, and Gary Devlin stood out with hard-working and creative performances. Aidan McKenna, Mark McManus and Liam Conway were our primary score-getters. Ethan Ballantine stood between the sticks due to the absence of our regular goalkeeper and was outstanding, keeping us in the game in the first half. Despite this we fell to a loss. After last Monday night’s fixture against East Cavan Gaels being postponed, we start the second round of league fixtures at home to Lisbellaw this Friday (20th) at 7.30pm.

 

Senior: The Saint Macartan’s team fell to a 2-15 to 2-13 loss against Inniskeen on July 5 in round two of the championship. A slow start saw the team fall 1-3 to no score behind in the opening ten minutes, perhaps the ‘Macs’ lads being a bit slower to settle with the late start to the game. However, slowly but surely the cogs began to turn and the Macs team dominated large periods of the game. Tellingly, however, this dominance wasn’t completely reflected on the scoreboard. Six points up midway through the second half, Macartan’s allowed Inniskeen back into the game with a fortuitous long-range goal and a number of frees. This gave way to a tight and entertaining final five minutes in which Macs failed to register a score and Inniskeen added to their tally with one from play and another from a free meaning that the first championship win was still to elude the team after another narrow defeat. This was followed on Thursday last with an away game against Clontibret. This promised to be another competitive fixture, with Clontibret having beaten Inniskeen. A cagy start to the game meant that eight minutes elapsed before the opening score, by which time the Macartan’s team had racked up four wides. They soon settled with a number of unanswered points to put themselves 0-8 to 0-6 up at half-time. While the Macs team were in control for most the second half, the score-for-score nature of the game meant that this was never going to be over as a contest until the final whistle. Indeed, the match became more competitive with a feisty edge to it. A number of frees conceded by Clontibret allowed the Macartan’s team to settle the game down and register scores that would help them see out the game, finishing 0-10 to 0-13 winners. Next is the final group-stage game, where Castleblayney will travel to Truagh on Thursday, July 26.

 

Juvenile Coaching: Coaching for juveniles continues every Sunday in Rooskey between 12 noon and 1.30pm.