Fixtures: Saturday, October 6: SFL v Carrickmacross (Away) at 4.30pm; MHC Final Truagh Harps v Emmet Grattans in Clontibret at 2.30pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 6, 12, 20 and 21. Jackpot of €8,350 not won. Residual prizes: €100   Gerry Donnelly c/o Liadhan Treanor; €40 Nuala McGinnity c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Jimmy McManus c/o Kitty McManus (Ladies Club); €40 Anthony Lynch c/o Paul Connolly. Jackpot for Sunday, October 7 is €8,500 and Seán and Kathleen Boyle and Tessie Connolly are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome. Please continue to support our club lotto. If you’re not in, you can’t win!

 

SFL: Our senior footballers secured their top-flight status with a hard-earned 0-12 to 0-9 win away to Clontibret last Saturday. Neil McAdam opened the scoring with a first-minute point and although Clontibret hit back with the next three points, scores from Donal Hahessy, Dean Fanning and Gary White edged us ahead again. Donal added a brace of points and Nicholas Treanor converted a free to make it 0-7 to 0-3 in our favour at half-time. Donal and Shane Smyth kicked the first points of the second half and even though Clontibret got a couple of points back, Dean, Donal and Shane kept the scoreboard ticking over to leave our lads three clear at full-time.. We have one more league game to play, away to Carrickmacross on Saturday, with a possibility that a win could qualify us for the semi-finals, depending on other results. All support welcome.

Team and scorers: Mark Hughes; Niall Hahessy, Stephen Driver, Gareth Treanor; Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Conor Galligan, David Hughes; Gary White (0-1), Neil McAdam (Capt., 0-1); Shane Smyth (0-2), Dean Fanning (0-2), Nicholas Scott; Emmett McArdle, Nicholas Treanor (0-1f), Donal Hahessy (0-5, 2f).

Subs: Shane Coyle for N Treanor (58 mins), Peter Coyle for White (59), Paul Rushe for McArdle (60).

 

Minors: The minors’ fundraising breakfast last Sunday was a great success, with a steady stream of people making their way to the clubhouse, keeping everybody involved busy. Thanks to everyone who helped out and supported, especially Connolly Meats, Fergal McEntee, Séamus Treanor, Fannings Bakery and Peter Clerkin for sponsoring the food, the ladies who did such an excellent job in the kitchen, the minor players and last but not least Paddy Kelly for his hard work in organising the event, which raised in the region of €3,000 and created a great atmosphere. Best of luck to the lads and management in their preparations for Sunday week’s championship final against Castleblayney.

 

Sponsored walk/Fun day: To celebrate the final day of our juvenile footballing year, all Under-16, 14 and 12 players, both boys and girls, are invited along to our sports day at Gavan Duffy Park this Saturday at 12 noon. There will be lots of fun and games, including our grand finale: a match where the boys can compete against the girls. Before all that, there will be the last Saturday-morning coaching session of 2012, followed by the annual sponsored walk. All welcome.

 

U-14: The Under-14 Division Five team lost out to Emyvale in the shield final at Gavan Duffy Park last Saturday. Emyvale were quicker out of the blocks, leaving our lads facing an uphill battle after the first quarter, although we did get points by Seán McKenna, Nathan O’Donoghue and Michael Mulligan and a goal by Michael in the second quarter. A point from Aaron Coyle was our only score of the third quarter, but our lads got going in the final quarter, with two points each from Conor McCrystal, Corey McArdle and Aaron and a goal by Seán. It wasn’t enough to catch Emyvale, but it showed the lads’ character and put a better look on the final score (2-10 to 3-16). Thanks to Brendan Burns, Séamus McManus and the panel.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Anthony Greenan (Capt.), Zach Mallon, Seán McKenna (1-1); Soky John, Michael Mulligan (1-1, 0-1f); Nathan O’Donoghue (0-1), Ryan McKenna, Aaron Coyle (0-3, 2f)

Subs used: Conor McCrystal (0-2), Corey McArdle (0-2).

Rest of panel: Armands Kamvovkas, Colin Peppard, Seán Conway, Shane McCabe, Oisín Power, Stephen Ward, Adam O’Neill.

 

Reserves: The O’Duffy Cup team’s campaign ended with a one-point defeat against Latton in a league play-off at a wet and windy Cloghan last Tuesday night. We started brightly with a brace of points from David Loughran and one from Mark Mulhall, but we failed to build on that, missing a number of chances and allowing Latton to kick the next four points. Points by Dean McMahon, Paul Rushe, David and Mark were enough to give us a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at half-time. Latton hit two of the first three points of the second half –with Gary Murray providing our reply – but we moved four clear when Ronan Garvey punched to the net. A Paul Rushe point kept us on the front foot, but Latton hit the next five points to set up a 0-14 to 1-10 win. Thanks to Conor McGirr, Adrian Trappe, John Hahessy, Dick Reidy and the players for their efforts.

Team and scorers: Ronan McGann; Johnny Sherry, Paddy Kelly, Séamus Brannigan; Niall Greenan, Conor Devlin, Dean McMahon (0-2); Paul Rushe (0-2), Ronan Garvey (1-0); Gary Murray (0-1), Nicholas Treanor (Capt.), Paul Kelly; David Loughran (0-3, 2f), Mark Mulhall (0-2), Finnian McKenna.

Sub: Bernard Murphy for McKenna (45 mins).

 

Poker Classic: The club’s annual poker classic takes place in the clubhouse on Friday, October 19. Tickets are being given out at the moment. Please support.

 

Lotto direct debit: A direct-debit scheme for the Harps Lotto has been developed and forms are being handed out at present. Contact Owen Connell or any committee member for more details.

 

Recreational tournament: Thanks once again to everyone who helped out at our recent recreational football tournament, especially the organising committee, sponsors Klasmann-Deilmann Ireland, Fannings Bakery, Monaghan Co-op, the Morgan family, Gerry Lynch from Dolan’s chemists and all the club members who helped out in any way.

 

Clubhouse: There are a number of upcoming events in the Monaghan Harps clubhouse, with the Poker Classic on October 19 to be followed by ‘Mr. and Mrs. Part Two’ on November 3 and a table quiz in early December. More details to follow.

 

Handball: The draws are out for the much-anticipated World Championships and pride of place goes to Ramunas who plays on Day one (October 11) in the 17 age group. Day two sees Justas and Eoghan in their respective grades of 13 and 11. Incidentally Eoghan’s achievements this season have resulted in him getting the highest seeding in the Singles. Conor McDonnell and Martin McEntee will begin their campaigns on Day three. One young player to look out for is Jakub Szkup who has improved a lot this season. While most of our players have trained hard for the Worlds, we have some who have sustained injuries and are hoping to be injury-free before play begins. Most of our adult players have also volunteered to help referee matches throughout the competition. The full fixture list is displayed in the club and all players should take note of their starting times. As some matches begin at 8am it is advisable to have overnight accommodation arranged in time.

 

Children’s Club Coaching: The aim of this session on Wednesday, October 10 at 7.30pm in Cloghan is to help coaches plan programmes for children under five involving the innovative Gaelic Start programme, under eight using the FUNdamentals and U-10s and 12s using the Learn To Train phase.  This will be an information session on what to coach children at these various age groups.

 

Congratulations: To Harps stalwart Pat Murphy and Zoe on their recent wedding.