HARPS HANDBALL

Historic Year for Monaghan Harps

As we approach the end of 2012 it is fitting to recall what was an historic year for Monaghan Harps.  It all started a year ago when Ramunas beat Mayo’s TJ Byrne, Tyrones’s Johnny Woods and Clare’s Brian Fahy to reach the last 4 in the Irish National Trials.  He then got the chance of a lifetime to travel to Tucson Arizona to compete in the US Nationals where he reached the last 8 losing to eventual winner Colin Corbett.
Caileán Myles became County Under 12 champion with Justas Dambinskas as runner-up. Ryan Mooney reached the Under 13 final and Martin Mullen reached the Under 14 final.  The County Under 11 Blitz was won by Eoghan Mc Ginnity and the Plate competition was won by Aaron Treanor. Darren Byrne reached the Minor Doubles Ulster final.
In February Terry Mc Elvaney competed in the American Collegiate competition. He also reached the Ulster Under 21 Final in Singles and Doubles.
In the Cumann na mBunscol competition our players had a clean sweep in the county and our Under 11 Doubles pairing of Jakub Szkup and Konrad Koval won all their matches in the All-Ireland final.  Ryan Mooney likewise remained unbeaten at the same finals.
Conor Mc Donnell won the Ulster GMB Singles  and won the Irish Nationals 40×20 and reached the National OneWall final.
The County title in Under 12 Doubles went to Justas Dambinskas and Jakub Szkup.
On the Monaghan team in Ulster we had Cailean Myles who was beaten in the Ulster Final.  Eoghan Mc Ginnity and Justas Dambinskas also reached the Under 12  Final. Ramunas reached the 60×30 All-Ireland final.
Ryan Mooney won the Ulster Under 13 final when he beat Tyrone’s Turlough Clarke.  Ramunas and his partner were beaten in the Ulster 40×20 Final at Under 16 level by the eventual All-Ireland Champions.
Terry Mc Elvaney reached the Under 21 All-Ireland Final in both Singles and Doubles.
Monaghan Town had an historic victory by winning Gold for the first-ever time in the Community Games National Finals.
Eoghan Mc Ginnity won 3 One-Wall tournaments – Williamstown, Mount Talbot and the National OneWall competition.  He also won a silver and gold medal at the World Championships.  Jakub Szkup and Conor Mc Donnell achieved silver World medals.
While some of the above will not compete in 2013 there are many new players now playing handball and looking forward to playing for Monaghan Harps well into the future.
BAWN HANDBALL

GAA league-Wednesday night saw the start of the GAA league with our two teams in action. Our A team had a home game against St.Melans. Unfortunatly not even the return of the one and only Joe Mc Cabe as captain could prevent defeat! St.Melans then done the double as their C team defeated our B team.
This weeks fixtures Bawn A vs Tydavnet away, while our B team plays Corduff at home.
Senior league- Monday night saw the senior league up and running with our team taking on St.Melans B team. This time however Bawn came out on top. Our next game is at home to St.Melans A team, on Monday night at 7:30.
Club leagues- our club leagues are on going with not many games played so could everyone please try and get their games played ASAP.
Training- Juvinile training continues Saturday evening at 5-6pm and 6-7pm.

MELLANS HANDBALL 

Juvenile County Championships. Still no word on the date times or venue for the county championships but as soon as we know we will publish here the bulletin and put notices up at the alleys, we have a list of all boys & girls taking part in the championships at the back of the glass alley.

Sunday Coaching. We are having Sunday coaching for a few weeks leading up to the Juvenile championships, its only going to last about an hour from 6-7pm Sunday evenings, its just to sharpen up a few shots for the young players and hopefully show them a few new tricks, a few old wise heads will be at hand, all ages from U12 to U17 welcome, but remember you must get out and practise in your own time, ring a friend and arrange a game.

Juvenile Club Leagues. Juvenile leagues are still on going as per your times, the leagues are starting to take shape, so as per the adult league please keep all games played on time. Younger players and beginners on Saturday evenings, boys at 5pm girls at 6pm, all new beginners are welcome, over 8’s but we are flexible with the age issue a little. Please could all parents who have not paid their child’s registration please do so to their coach, its 5 Euro and this will cover the insurance for the year, thank you.

Coaches. Would all coaches please insure that your league is covered if you are unable to attend the session, a list of sub coaches are listed at each alley, so please use one of these or any other coach that have already got a team, please do not leave a team unattended. Also please keep all your league tables up to date with points and games played.

Mono League. Outstanding games must be cleared up this week and keep the last few remaining games played as per fixtures. Please mark in all points on score sheets and league table.

GAA & Senior Leagues. The new Senior and GAA leagues are up and running, remember all fixtures must be fulfilled home and away. Well done to all “3” GAA teams as all 3 won last week in their first outings. Be careful booking the alley for practise as the county league games may be on Monday, Wednesday and weekend evenings so alleys will be very busy.

Club Shop. We are currently stocking the shop with new balls, goggles and gloves for the complete kit out of our new and old handballers, the shop will be open on Fridays from 7-8pm, we are also getting in some of the beginner balls that the small ones are using but it will be next week before they arrive, the “Sky Bounce” beginners ball are ok for 8 to 10 year olds, U12 & U13 boys & girls use the “Challenger 2 Ball”, U14 to U17 boys use the “Dark Blue Ball” and girls from U14 to U17 also have a new “Pink Ball” we are trying to get some of these in stock, senior balls also available, so then we have all age groups covered, something’s might make good stocking fillers for the 25th.

GAA Handball Show. The Handball show was supposed to be on TG4 on Monday evenings on December 3rd, 10thand the 17th but was not on last week maybe it will be next week.

Table Quiz. We will be running our annual table quiz on the first weekend in February 2013, due to a congestion of events we felt it would be easier on all to leave it until the new year, but mark it into your diary and don’t forget.