Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 9, 11, 15 and 24. Jackpot of €3,100 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Ronan McCaughey c/o Matt McCaughey; €40 Mary Gormley c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Brian McEnaney c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Peter McKenna c/o Paddy Donnelly. Jackpot for Sunday, February 24 is €3,250 and Seán and Kathleen Boyle and Tessie Connolly are on duty. All welcome. Anyone who has sold a direct-debit is asked to pass the details on to the Lotto committee as soon as possible, so they can be entered into our weekly draw straight away. The Monaghan Harps Lotto plays an integral role in the running of the club. If you want to volunteer to get involved in any way (e.g. selling tickets), please contact any committee member.

 

Treasurer: For the last few months, Dermot Coyle has been ‘learning the ropes’ of the treasurer’s job, with the considerable help of outgoing treasurer John Harden. Dermot will now take over the mantle, with the continuing co-operation of John, who is stepping down after an amazing 28 years as treasurer. We greatly appreciate the endless hours of work John has done on behalf of the club over those years and we wish him all the best in the future. Welcome aboard also to Dermot.

 

Management: All juvenile football management teams have now been finalised for 2013. They are as follows: Under-16s: Maurice Galligan, Gary McAleer; Under-14 Division One: Michael O’Donoghue, Thomas McCabe, Ciarán Mulligan; Under-14 Division Five: Brendan Burns, Séamus McManus; Under-12 Division One: Finbarr Conlon, Chris Conway; Under-12 Division Four: Jimmy Croarkin, Pádraig Callan.

                                                                                     

Race night: We are hosting a race night in the clubhouse on Friday, March 15, in association with the Barry Doherty fund (Barry is one of our biggest young supporters, who has muscular dystrophy). Anyone who wants to get involved can sponsor a horse for €10, a race for €200 or co-sponsor a race for €100. All support would be greatly appreciated.

 

Scór: The club will be represented in the table quiz and variety categories of the Scór Sinsir final in Clontibret Community Centre this Friday, starting at 7.30pm. Best of luck to all involved.

 

Sem: Well done to our own Fearghal McMahon, Kevin Loughran, Niall Treanor and the St. Macartan’s College team who edged out St. Pat’s, Dungannon in a thrilling MacRory Cup quarter-final last Saturday. Best of luck to the lads in next Wednesday’s semi-final against St. Paul’s, Bessbrook in Armagh. Well done also to everyone involved in organising the Sem’s centenary gala ball last Saturday night.

 

Championship draws: We have been drawn at home to Magheracloone in the first round of the O’Duffy Cup and at home to Currin in the quarter-finals of the new Reserve Division Three Championship. Our minors have also been drawn at home to Magheracloone in the championship first round.

 

Membership: Membership fees for 2013 are being maintained as follows: €20 per adult, €10 per child or €50 for a family of two adults and any number of children. Money can be paid to registrar Maurice Galligan or dropped into the clubhouse. The deadline for affiliation is the end of March and prompt payment would be appreciated.

 

Dates to remember: Scheduled start dates for the leagues are as follows. Senior Football League: Sunday, March 31; Reserve Football League: Sunday, March 3; Minor Football League: Tuesday, March 26: Under-16 FL; Thursday, April 4; Under-14 FL: Saturday, March 23. The club officer training day for Monaghan takes place in St. Macartan’s College on Saturday, March 10, while our Saturday-morning juvenile coaching is due to resume on April 6.

 

Pitch bookings: All pitch bookings this year should once again be made by contacting Jimmy Croarkin at 087 1249635. We remind all managers and team mentors to remain vigilant in their use of our facilities and to always lock gates and turn off lights when finished training etc.

 

Coaching courses: Upcoming Monaghan GAA coaching courses include a foundation course on March 8/9 (football & hurling) and level 1 youth/adult course this weekend. Discounts are available to clubs who send at least four members to these courses. If you are interested in attending any of these courses, please contact Val Forde at 087 9515175.

 

Defibrillator: With thanks to Jimmy Croarkin, our defibrillator has been fitted with a new battery and is in full working order.

 

Votes of sympathy: At last week’s club meeting, votes of sympathy were passed to the families of Rose Donnelly’s mother, Mary Agnes O’Reilly; Mrs. Tibby; and Mrs. McCabe.We also offer sympathy to the family of the late Mary McNelis, whose funeral Mass takes place in the Cathedral on Wednesday at 11am.

 

Harps watches: We are now selling wrist-watches with the Harps crest for €10. Contact Liadhan Treanor at 086 7837204 for more details.

 

The Gathering 2013: Anyone who would be interested in organising a reunion for any former Harps team and club members as part of ‘The Gathering’ is asked to contact any committee member.