Fixtures: Thursday, May 2: U-15 FL Division One v Scotstown (Home) at 7pm; DHL v Clontibret (Away) at 7.30pm

Friday, May 3: RFL Division 1B v Latton (Home) at 7.45pm

Saturday, May 4: U-11 Spring League v Donaghmoyne (Away) at 12pm & 1pm

Sunday, May 5: RFL Division 2B v Blackhill (Away) at 2pm

Monday, May 6: U-13 FL Division One v Donaghmoyne (Away) at 12.30pm; U-13 FL Division Five v Donaghmoyne (Away) at 1.45pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 4, 5, 8 and 14. Jackpot of €1,500 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Daithí Quigley c/o Cosy Bar; €40 Conor & Aoife McEnaney c/o Paudge Connolly; €40 Dáire, Donncha & Conor Carey c/o Nicola Shalvey; €40 Annie McKenna c/o John Hahessy. Jackpot for Sunday, May 5 is €1,600 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 has now played a critical role in our club’s funding for 25 years.

 

Lotto turns 25: Thanks to everyone who helped the Monaghan Harps Lotto celebrate its 25th birthday in our clubhouse last Sunday night. We were delighted to be joined by many current Lotto promoters on the night, along with some of the people who helped to get the Harps Lotto up and running back in 1994. It was fitting to have club stalwarts Patsy Kearns and Tessie Connolly with us on the night to cut the cake. Credit is due to everyone involved in organising the event, not least Maria McKenna, Rose Donnelly and Noel Hennessy, to the club members who provided food and our talented young musicians who played on the night. The Harps Lotto has generated in the region of €1 million and has been the lifeblood of the club for two and a half decades; thanks to everyone for their continued support!

 

DIL: Darkness into Light will take place for a sixth time in Monaghan in the early hours of Saturday week (May 11), once again starting and finishing at our club grounds. People can sign up online and there will also be registration in Monaghan Shopping Centre this Friday and Saturday.

 

Handball: Congratulations to Harps Handball duo Eoghan McGinnity and Konrad Kowal, who made history last Saturday by winning a first ever Minor Doubles All-Ireland title for Monaghan.

 

Seniors: We drew away to Cremartin in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League last Saturday. After a slow start playing into the wind, we got back into it when Oisín Fagan turned a Lochlainn Power knock-down into the net on 11 minutes, but we could only add another two points in the first half from Gary White and Dean Fanning. Cremartin led by 0-10 to 1-2 at half-time and they added a goal to move eight points clear. A spirited comeback saw points from Dean, Nicholas Scott, Kevin Loughran, Michael Galligan and Éimhín Morahan bring us level, before Neil McAdam edged us ahead in added time. Cremartin responded with the last kick, however, to finish level at 1-12 apiece.

Team and scorers: Darragh Hannon; John Mulligan, Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Thomas Croarkin; Oisín Fagan (1-0), Kevin Loughran (0-1), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh; Dylan McKenna, James McKenna; Nicholas Scott (0-1), Gary White (0-1), Dean Fanning (0-4, 3f); Michael Galligan (0-1f), Neil McAdam (0-1), Lochlainn Power.

Subs: Shane McMahon for D McKenna (H-T), Éimhín Morahan (0-3, 1f) for Galligan (44 mins).

We were due to host Emyvale last night (Wednesday). Check online for result.

 

Reserves: We are due to host Latton in the RFL Division 1B tomorrow night (Friday) at 7.45, before travelling to Blackhill for a 2pm throw-in in Division 2B on Sunday.

 

Minors: The latest round of the U-17 Football League Division One was brought forward to Tuesday evening (April 30), when we had an away game against Carrickmacross. Check online for result.

 

U-15: Our U-15 Division One team fell short despite a spirited effort against Magheracloone last Thursday, while a youthful Division Four side also lost out away to Seán McDermotts. The Division One league continues with a home game against Scotstown this evening (Thursday) at 7pm.

 

U-13: Our U-13 Division One team returned to winning ways at home to Carrickmacross last Saturday. A brace of goals by Jack Lynch got our lads off to a good start and James Gunn, Ethan McCaffrey, Orin Doherty and Dónal Moran were also on target in the first half, but Carrick rallied to trail by just a point at half-time (3-5 to 4-1). With our defence getting on top in the second half and the midfielders and forwards continuing to move the ball well to create many chances, further scores from Jack, Orin, John McCrystal and Dara Mullin secured a good win.

Team and scorers: Oisín McGeown; Mark Lynch, Fergal Magee; Shea Corrigan, Kyle Cooney, Ethan McCaffrey (0-1); Jack Lynch (5-2), Eoin Sheridan; Orin Doherty (1-2), John McCrystal (0-2f), Dónal Moran (0-1); James Gunn (0-1), Dara Mullin (0-1f).

Subs used: Rhys McCaffrey, Daniel Alexis.

Our Division Five team also ran out convincing winners against Carrickmacross. Rohann Malocca-McKenna, Diarmuid McGinnity, Deagan Doherty and Joe Gunn were among several Harps scorers in this game, where our lads built on a strong start to claim the points.

The next games in both leagues away to Donaghmoyne have been brought forward to Bank Holiday Monday at 12.30 and 1.45.

 

U-11: Our U-11s are away to Donaghmoyne in the Spring League this Saturday at 12 noon.

 

Coaching: Our Saturday-morning coaching for our youngest players is up and running for 2019. The club is very fortunate to have a pool of hardworking and dedicated individuals who look after and coach these “early learners”. Our Saturday-morning activities are fun-filled and enjoyed by the children and are an equally rewarding and enjoyable experience to those who help make it happen, so we encourage anyone with an interest to get involved.

 

Registration: Registration fees for 2019 are now overdue but can still be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor or in the clubhouse. Please note that all juvenile and adult players must be paid-up members. Fees are as follows: U-11s €20; juveniles/seniors €30; family membership €60.

 

Clubhouse: The Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Please contact Paudge Connolly on 085 8589135 or Rose Donnelly on 086 0825782 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

 

Pitches: Training schedules for all teams are in place. Coaches are asked to please ensure that gates and dressing rooms are locked and all equipment, bottles etc. is removed from the pitch after training sessions.

 

Hurling: U-15: Our Under 15s lost to a strong Cootehill Celtic side in their most recent fixture. The next fixture for the lads is away to Keady next Monday night.

Senior: We hosted East Cavan Gaels last Thursday in round one of the Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League. East Cavan Gaels started the better and pushed into a two-point lead. The Harps steadied themselves through two Maurice McKenna scores and the sides were level on 11 minutes. Both teams matched each other score for score for the remainder of the half, however key points from debutant Seán McKenna and Cathal Power ensured the Harps took a 0-6 to 0-5 lead into the break. There was a role reversal at the start of the second half, with the Harps starting the better. Three quick points from McKenna, Power and Conor O’Neill saw the lead extended to four. A goal for the Gaels midway through the half ensured a tight contest to the end, but the Harps ultimately prevailed on a 0-13 to 1-9 scoreline. Next up we travel to Clontibret this evening (Thursday) for a 7.30 throw-in.

Team: S McLoughlin; D McAree, J Treanor; J Lowry, C Power, A Greenan; C O’Neill, M McKenna; C Devlin, T Croarkin, L Mulligan; S McKenna, A Mooney.

Subs: R Forde for Mooney, A Ryan for S McKenna, P Meehan for Devlin.

 

Website: Our new club website is now live. See www.monaghanharps.gaa.ie to keep up to date with our latest club news and fixtures.

 

O’Neills: A range of Harps gear can now be bought online from O’Neills website. See the club’s social-media pages for the link.

 

Notes: Anyone who has news for inclusion in the club notes can send an email to pro.monaghanharps.monaghan@gaa.ie by Tuesday morning.