Tom Cuddy RIP: Club members were shocked and saddened last Friday by the news of Tom Cuddy’s untimely death. A native of Roscommon, Tom was a talented hurler who played for Athleague in his home county, Naomh Eoin in Sligo and UCD, as well as a very keen golfer and a follower of many sports. After moving to Monaghan in the mid-90s, Tom became involved with the Harps in 1999 with the Under-12 Conlon Cup team and helped bring many of that group of players right through to a long-awaited minor championship success in 2006. Of all the victories, Tom took particular satisfaction from the Under-12 Coyle Cup win in 2001, when we came back from a 16-point defeat to Scotstown to beat the same opposition in the final. That team, of which Tom’s son Donal was a valued member, went on to reach finals at every grade up to and including minor. Along with Brian Lenehan and later Michael Buckley among others, Tom left no stone unturned in his preparations with Harps teams and his easy-going manner always helped to get players in the right frame of mind. He was also a big supporter of ladies football and memorably appeared in photos in many newspapers the day after Monaghan’s 1997 All-Ireland success. The respect people had for Tom was shown by the huge crowd at his wake at Mullaghdun and his funeral at St. Macartan’s Cathedral last Sunday, including a large Harps contingent who formed a guard of honour. We offer our deepest sympathies to Tom’s wife Ann, his children Donal and Louise, his mother Nancy, four brothers, seven sisters and all his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 1, 8, 13 and 24. Jackpot of €2,950 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Peter and Emma Hunt c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Michelle McElvaney c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Hayley McKeown c/o Ladies Club; €40 Ann Treanor c/o Nicholas Treanor. Jackpot for Sunday, October 9 is €3,100. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome. Happy birthday to a regular and popular attendee of the lotto, Barry Sullivan, who celebrated his 30^th last week!

 

Poker Classic: The club’s annual poker classic takes place in the clubhouse this Friday, (October 7), starting at 8.30pm. There will be a prize-fund in the region of €2,000, with light refreshments being served. Tickets are on sale from senior players or in the clubhouse at a cost of €30 and there will be a limited number of tickets available on the night. All support is greatly appreciated.

Meeting: There will be a football-development meeting in the clubhouse tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8.30pm. Agenda will include senior and juvenile teams.

 

U-14: Well done to our Under-14 Division One team, who beat Killanny in the shield final at Clontibret last Saturday. A number of key players, including Remy McKenna, were out of this game, leaving us down to 15 available, but those that played put in a great effort. The game was tightly-contested throughout, but our lads saved their best for the last quarter, where they scored 1-5 (more than in the previous three combined). A Dylan McKenna point got our lads off to a good start, but Killanny came flying back to hit the next four points, although scores by Paul Peppard and Shane McMahon reduced our deficit to just a point (0-4 to 0-3) by the end of the first quarter. Our only score of a hard-fought second quarter was a fisted goal by Paul, which left us level at half-time on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-6. Killanny missed a number of chances in the third quarter, which meant a Reece Treanor point kept us within one at 0-8 to 1-4 and the lads took advantage. Dylan McKenna (whose reintroduction in the final quarter paid off) and John Mulligan hit a point each, before Dylan broke through for our second goal. Jack Deery showed he can play outfield as well as in goals by kicking a brace of points, while Shane McKenna also got a point in the final quarter to put our lads five points up at one stage. Killanny got a late goal to force a nervy finish, but the Harps held firm to win by 2-9 to 1-10. Well done to the players and everyone who helped out with this team throughout the year – including Conn O’Hanlon, Conor Galligan, Nicholas Scott, Mark McCaughey, Ciarán Mulligan and Séamus Trappe.

Team and scorers: Conor Flynn; Ruairí Forde, Aaron Woods; Niall McManus, Kevin Lyden, Shane McKenna (0-1f); John Mulligan (Capt., 0-1), Dylan McKenna (1-2); David Lowry, Shane McMahon (0-1f), Paul Peppard (1-1); Conor Duffy, Reece Treanor (0-1).

Sub used: Jack Deery (0-2).

 

SFL: Our SFL campaign ended with a 2-10 to 2-8 defeat away to Inniskeen last Saturday, when a number of absentees forced us to field a makeshift team. Points by Nicholas Treanor, Donal Hahessy (two) and Gary White kept us in touch in the first half, before Donal found the net to make it 1-4 to 0-7 at half-time. We started the second half well, thanks to a Liam Hahessy goal and a Paul Kelly point, only to concede two goals and hand Inniskeen a four-point lead. We got the last two points through Mark Hughes (who played outfield in the second half) and Kelly, but failed to take a number of chances to get the goal we needed.

Team and scorers: Mark Hughes (0-1); Niall McKenna, Stephen Driver (Capt.), Fionntán Cassidy; Liam Hahessy (1-0), Emmett McArdle, Brian Driver; Gary White (0-1), Nicholas Scott; Paul Kelly (0-2), Nicholas Treanor (0-1), Lorcan McAdam; Conall McKenna, Donal Hahessy (1-2), Colm Shalvey (0-1).

Subs: Shane Smyth for McAdam, L McAdam for B Driver.

Reserves: Unfortunately, we were unable to field for our final RFL Division One game against Latton last Sunday. Thanks to the players and Conor McGirr, John Hahessy and Dick Reidy for their efforts this year.

Hard luck: To the club’s senior hurlers, who fell just short in their Ulster Club JHC game away to Na Magha of Derry last Sunday (losing by 2-12 to 1-12) and to the ladies footballers, who lost their Ulster IFC game against Lisnaskea.

Well done: To Nicholas Scott on his recent success with the ‘Monaghan’ team in New York.

Handball: Congratulations to Conor McDonnell on winning the Senior Singles at the Garda Championships which took place in Roscommon this week. This was a fine achievement following on from his success at the World Police and Fire Games in New York recently.