After their successful run in the league and capturing the League title against Cork, it is now back to business for the girls when they open their championship campaign against Tyrone on Saturday. The championship is what it is all about for every team, and Monaghan will be hoping to continue where they left off in the league and get their campaign off with a win. The winners on Saturday will go straight into the Ulster final, whilst the losers will have to play Donegal. Tyrone have always been formideable opposition and I expect Saturday to be no different. They didn’t feature in the final stages of the league, but 2 years ago, they looked to be in danger of relegation and went on to beat Cork in the All Ireland quarter finals and reach the All Ireland final. They have a wealth of talent on their team, and Monaghan will know only too well of the threat they will pose. Monaghan will have to be on top of their game once again if they are to progress to the Ulster final.   Saturday’s game is a curtain raiser to the men’s Derry/Donegal game. Throw in is in Ballybofey at 3.15pm ,extra time if required.

U14  A ALL IRELAND SEMI FINAL

BRAVE MONAGHAN GIRLS LOSE OUT AFTER THRILLING ENCOUNTER IN BALLINAMORE

 

MAYO  6-8        MONAGHAN 5-7

 

 

Both Mayo and Monaghan served up an excellent game of football on Saturday last in the U14 A All Ireland semi final. It was end to end action throughout, but in the end Mayo held on after a spirited Monaghan comeback in the final 8 minutes to claim a place in the All Ireland final against Cork.

 

Mayo opened the scoring after just 2 minutes when Tara Mc Phillips converted a free and it was Tara Mc Phillips who was on target again a minute later to add another point for the Westerners. Indeed Mayo missed a few opportunities to go further ahead before Rebecca Waldron gave Mayo a 3 point lead with 5 mins of the half gone.

Monaghan were under a lot of pressure, but they soon started to settle into the game and Emma Clerkin fired over a fine point to get them off the mark. Hannah Cleary responded almost immediately for Mayo with a point on the other end but the impressive Sarah Capaldi narrowed the gap for Monaghan to leave just 2 between the sides with 10 minutes gone. Mayo missed a wonderful goal opportunity to extend their lead but then Rebecca Waldron pointed again to leave 3 between the sides once again. It was fast, exciting football and on the 14^th minute the first goal of the game came when a fine move by Monaghan resulted in Sarah Capaldi firing to the net to square matters up. Monaghan had the momentum now and 2 points in succession by Sarah Capalda and Micheala Mc Cabe put Monaghan 2 up. Rebecca Waldron pulled one back for Mayo but Monaghan continued to push forward. Eimear Mc Anespie put pressure on Mayo’s goalkeeper Gemma Murphy whilst clearing her line , the ball broke loose and Linda Mc Meel slotted into the net to put Monaghan  2-4 to 0-6 in the lead. Mayo started to gain the momentum again in the final 10 minutes of the half and 2 goals in succession by Saoirse Ludden and Micheala Walsh gave Mayo the lead once again. Monaghan responded with a goal  from their captain Eimear Mc Anespie to leave just a point between the sides. The resulting kick out saw Mayo win possession and a high lofting ball into the Monaghan square saw Saoirse Ludden add another goal to put Mayo into a 2 point lead once again. There were sounds of disapproval from the Monaghan spectators as they believed it was a square ball, but the goal was allowed and going into the break the scoreline read 

 

Monaghan 3-4     Mayo 3-6

 

The second half opened in lively fashion with both sides showing that hunger to win. It was Mayo once again who opened the scoring with Saoirse Ludden  firing over the bar and she added another soon afterwards to increase Mayo’s lead to 4 points. Micheala Mc Cabe pulled one back for Monaghan with a wonderful point and Sarah Capaldi was very unlucky not to reduce Mayo’s lead when her shot on goal just missed the target. Then came the turning point of the game when Mayo were awarded a penalty much to the dismay of the Monaghan defenders, but Tara Mc Phillips stepped up and slotted to the corner to leave the score going into the last 15 minutes, Monaghan 3-5  Mayo 4-8.

Sarah Capaldi found the net again for Monaghan on the 20^th min to give the Monaghan girls a lifeline, but the dangerous Micheala Walsh who was a real threat throughout scored goal number 5 for Mayo. Monaghan’s midfielder Micheala Mc Cabe went down injured but unfortunately for them, play didn’t stop and the resulting attack saw Mayo score goal number 6 , with Rebecca Waldron the scorer this time. With just 7 mins remaining Monaghan were down by 9 but all credit to the Monaghan girls. That final 7 mins saw that never say die attitude from the Monaghan girls as they tried their hardest to pull themselves back into the game and their efforts paid off when Shannon Donnelly fired over a point. They continued to push forward piling pressure on the Mayo defence. Eimear Mc Anespie was through on goals but was fouled and awarded a penalty. Dolores Hughes stepped up and fired to the corner to reduce Mayo’s lead to just 5 points.  With just a few minutes remaining it was all Monaghan and Dolores fired over another point to leave 4 between the sides. Sarah Capaldi was so close for another goal with her shot just off target, but it just wasn’t to be for Monaghan as the final whistle blew much to the relief of the Mayo supporters.

Monaghan had put up a battle in those final minutes but in the end Mayo held out to win by 4.

 

Final score    Mayo 6-8      Monaghan 5-7

 

 

Line Outs

 

Mayo

Gemma Murphy, Chloe Mc Hale, Claire Flatley, Diane Tierney, Aoife Gilmartin, Stacey Mangan, Zoe Burke, Sarah Lavelle, Ciara Moran, Tara Mc Phillips (1-2 1 penalty )Hannah Cleary (0-1) Rebecca Waldron (1-3), Saoirse Ludden (2-2), Micheala Walsh (2-0), Eilis Ronayna  Subs used Roisin Durkin

 

Monaghan

Niamh Kierans, Hannah Mc Skeane, Megan Boylan, Caitlin Carolan, Siobhan Keenan, Shauna Hetherington, Rosemary Courtney, Micheala Mc Cabe (0-2) Celine Nally, Eimear Mc Anespie (1-0), Emma Clerkin (0-1), Orlaith Hamill, Sarah Capaldi (2-2), Saoirse Treanor, Amy Coyle.

Subs used  Linda Mc Meel (1-0), Emer Mc Nally, Shannon Donnelly (0-1), Dolores Hughes (1-1)

 

 

It has to be said that the Monaghan girls gave everything they had in Ballinamore last Saturday. From start to finish they give it their all and even when they went 9 points down with only 7 minutes remaining, they never gave up and with a bit of luck they could have pulled it off. Each and every player must be commended for their efforts on Saturday last, the players who started and indeed the players who came on. This is a great panel of players. It has been quite a while since our any of our underage teams came so close in the All Ireland stages of their competition so this augurs well for the future. I am sure if this team stick together it won’t be the last we hear of them.

 

So on behalf of the county board I would like to say well done to all the team and management for their valiant efforts over the past few months.

 

Donaghmoyne captured the U14 Div 1 league title on Monday evening last when they beat Feile winners Emyvale. Like last Saturday’s county game, this was another highly entertaining game with end to end action throughout. It was Emyvale who opened the scoring of the game with 2 points in succession, one from Dolores Hughes and the second from Ellen Mulligan, but Donaghmoyne’s Lauren Mc Crosson pulled one back for Donaghamoyne. Rosemary Courtney equalised for Donaghmoyne soon after before Eimear Finnegan gave Donaghmoyne the lead with a well taken goal. Almost immediately it was all square once again when Dolores Hughes found the net for Donaghmoyne after excellent work from Kathleen Connolly. Donaghamoyne continued to pile on the pressure  and were awarded a 45′. This resulted in another goal when Aoife Carragher got on the ball and fired to the net. This gave Donaghmoyne confidence as they continued to push forward and a free converted by Rosemary Courtney and a point from Siobhan Keenan gave them a 5 points up. Saoirse Treanor pulled one back for Emyvale when she fired over the bar, and Eimear Mc Anespie followed up with 2 points in succession to leave just 2 points between the sides.Donaghmoyne finished the scoring of the half when Laura  Kerley pointed to leave just a goal between the sides going into the break.

Emyvale got off to the best possible start in the second half when a shot from Eimear Mc Anespie came off the post with Saoirse Treanor getting a foot to the rebound to fire home Emyvale’s second goal of the day and to square matters up once again. They soon went into the lead with Saoirse Treanor converting a free, but 2 points in succession both from frees put Donaghmoyne in the driving seat once again. With 15 mins of the second half gone, Donaghmoyne were leading 2-7 to 2-6. Emyvale equalised soon after with another Saoirse Treanor point but then a goal from Donaghamoyne’s Lauren Mc Crossan seemed to give Donaghamoyne the lift they needed. They continued to push forward and Lauren Mc Crossan was on target once again, this time with a point to leave 4 between the sides. Emyvale tried very hard to pull themselves back into the game but excellent defending by Donaghmoyne kept them out and at the other end, Emyvale seemed to really miss their influential defender Amy Hamill as they were coming under increasing pressure from the Donaghamoyne girls. 3 unanswered points for Donaghmoyne, 2 from Siobhan Keenan and the other from Rosemary Courtney put the game beyond reach, and when the final whistle blew, there was jubilation in the Donaghmoyne camp.

Stephanie Lynch, Cara Mc Kenna, Gemma Corley, Ella Moran, Ellen Molloy, Sarah Joe Treanor, Kathleen Connolly, Verity O Connor, Eimear Mc Anespie (0-2), Ellen Mulligan (0-1), Saoirse Treanor (1-3), Natasha  Hughes, Chloe Mc Quaid, Dolores Hughes (1-1), Sadhbh Deeney  Subs used Aisling Mc Anespie, Bethany Fitzpatrick, Edel Kerr , Lucy Mc Donald, Helen Mc Nally

Claire Deery, Aideen Murray, Sarah Coleman, Marina Cunningham, Nicola Walsh, Aisling Callan, Aoife Ni Riodain, Rosemary Courtney (0-5 3f), Siobhan Keenan (0-3),  Aoife Carragher(1-0), Eimear Finnegan (1-0) Lauren Mc Crossan (1-2), Maria Murnaghan, Emma Keenan, Louise Kerley (0-1)

Last Sunday in Truagh the Barney Treanor Memorial Blitz for U12’s took place in St Mellan’s Truagh.  10 clubs attended,Truagh, Emyvale, O Neills, Eire Og, Killeevan, Magheracloone, Donaghmoyne, Monaghan Harps, Latton & Aghabog. 137 girls in total played football on the day which added to the success of the day. There were some excellent games of football throughout the day with  Donaghmoyne beating Killevan in the Garage Door Sales Cup with Lauren Gartland from Donaghmoyne receiving the Player of the Final award.

Eire Og beat O Neills in the final of the Barney Treanor Memorial Shield with the Player of the final award going to Eire Og’s Chloe Mc Bride.

Next weekend sees the start of the club championships in Monaghan with the opening rounds of the Junior and the Intermediate championships getting underway.

Doohamlet v Seans                 Friday       22nd  June 7.30 pm

Aughamullen v Carrick            Saturday    23rd  June 7.30 pm

St Brigids v  Killanny               Sunday      24th  June 3.00 pm

Donaghmoyne B  V Latton      Tuesday     26th June 7.30 pm

Intermediate

Corduff v Magheracloone         Wednesday 27th June  7.30 pm

Abbey Fanning Memorial 7 A Side Tournament

Sponsored by the Squealing Pig Bar

Hosted by Monaghan Harps Ladies on Saturday 30^th of June 2012

 

Proceedings will begin at Gavan Duffy Park, Rooskey, Monaghan Town on Saturday the 30^th of June at 10:00a.m.

 

Following on from the success of last year, we are hoping to achieve the full quota of 16 teams in the 2012 competition.

 

Any teams wishing to participate please contact Jennifer Treanor on             086 8773447       as soon as possible, as places in this competition are on a first come first served basis.

 

Ten players only are permitted on each panel, to be named at registration on the morning of the 30^th of June.  Following the initial round robin games, the top 2 teams in each group will enter into the cup competition and the bottom 2 teams will enter the shield competition.  Therefore, if the full quota of 16 teams is reached, every team is guaranteed a minimum of 4 games prior to the knock out quarter final stages.

 

Each referee will select a player of the match for each game played on the day.  These results will be collected following each game.  The player with the highest number of votes will receive the cup and shield players of the tournament.  Daena Clerkin of Knockbride won the Shield Player of the Tournament in 2011 and Cora Courtney of Donaghmoyne won the Cup Player of the Tournament in 2011.

 

Donaghmoyne won the Squealing Pig sponsored Abbey Fanning Memorial Cup at the sun drenched Monaghan Harps GAA Club in Gavan Duffy Park, Rooskey last year. In the final they defeated Scotstown convincingly. Knockbride of Cavan became the first ever winners of either the cup or shield competition from County Cavan after a thrilling shield final against Magheracloone.  So last years Cup Winners Donaghmoyne and Shield Winners Knockbride will be hoping to be in the title race again this year but there is 14 other teams who on the day could take home some silverware.

 

So onwards and upwards for the Monaghan Harps Ladies Annual Abbey Fanning Memorial 7 a Side Tournament. Hopefully even more teams will enjoy participating in this competition which all of the Monaghan Harps Ladies have great pride and honour in running and hosting, in memory of Abbey, our team mate who is gone but not forgotten.

 

Abbey Fanning Memorial Seven a Side Competition Roll of Honour

Cup Winners                                                               Shield Winners

1998 Monaghan Harps                                                   1998 Aghabog

1999 Monaghan Harps                                                   1999 Clones

2000 Monaghan Harps                                                   2000 Tyholland

2002 Aghabog                                                               2002 O’ Neill Shamrocks

2003 Donaghmoyne                                                       2003 Donaghmoyne

2004 Donaghmoyne                                                       2004 Castlewellan, Co. Down

2005 Donaghmoyne                                                       2005 Tyholland

2006 Donaghmoyne                                                       2006 Latton

2007 Donaghmoyne                                                       2007 Glen, Co. Derry

2009 Donaghmoyne                                                       2009 Aghabog

2010 Emyvale                                                               2010 Donaghmoyne

2011 Donaghmoyne                                                       2011 Knockbride, Co. Cavan

 

Best of luck to all teams participating in what should be a great day’s football.

Finally, remember reply early to avoid disappointment.