Fixtures: Wednesday, July 31: SFL v Rockcorry (Away) at 7.45pm

Friday, August 2: RFL Division Three v Éire Óg (Away) at 7.45pm; RFL Division 1B Final: Ballybay v Truagh at Gavan Duffy Park at 7.30pm

Sunday, August 4: SHC Shield Final v Carrickmacross in Castleblayney at 7pm

Wednesday, August 7: MFL Division One v Emyvale (Home) at 7.30pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 11, 12, 20 and 24. Jackpot of €1,100 not won. Residual prizes: €100 John Harden c/o himself; €40 Majella McKenna c/o Monica Connolly; €40 Séamus Clinton c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 John Holmes c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club). Jackpot for Sunday, August 4 is €1,200 and Maria and Hugh McKenna are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome.

 

Meeting: There will be a rescheduled club meeting this Thursday in the clubhouse at 8pm. The main issues will be fundraising and allocation of tickets for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.

 

Seniors: The Senior Football League is due to resume tomorrow night (Wednesday) with an away game against Rockcorry. We are due to play Doohamlet in the championship on Sunday, August 11, dependent on the county team’s progress.

 

Reserves: The O’Duffy Cup team’s league season came to an end with two matches last week. First up was a 2-8 to 1-6 defeat at home to Clontibret in the league last Wednesday. We started very slowly, allowing Clontibret to kick the first six points, before Paul Rushe got us into the game with a well-taken goal. Frees by Ashley White and Michael Galligan closed the gap further, but Clontibret struck a goal just before half-time to take a 1-7 to 1-2 lead. We got on top after the restart, with Dean Fanning, Michael and Ashley on target, but after keeping Clontibret scoreless for most of the half, we gave away a soft goal and a point late on.

Team and scorers: Ryan Shields; Niall Treanor, Stephen Driver, Niall Greenan; Brendan McQuaid, Conor Devlin, Dean McMahon; Emmett McArdle, Evan Doherty; Michael Galligan (0-3f), Ashley White (0-2f), Paul Rushe (1-0); Cónall McKenna (Capt.), Conor McCaughey, Dean Fanning (0-1).

Subs: Shane Coyle for Doherty (inj.), Evan Morahan for McCaughey.

A disappointing second half at home to Castleblayney on Sunday brought our campaign to a close. We made a promising start, with points by Evan Doherty, Conor McCaughey, Shane Coyle, Stephen Driver, Michael Galligan and Niall Greenan, as well as a goal by Cónall McKenna and we should have been out of sight by half-time, but a couple of goals kept Blayney in touch with the score at 1-12 to 2-2.   Blayney stole in for another three goals in the second half as our lads tired in the searing heat, allowing the visitors to run out winners on a scoreline of 5-10 to 1-16.

Team and scorers: Ryan Shields; Fionntán Cassidy, Rónán Garvey (Capt.), Finnian McKenna; Niall Greenan (0-2), Conor Devlin, Dean McMahon; Stephen Driver (0-2), Shane Coyle (0-3); Michael Galligan (0-2, 1f), Ashley White, Conor Forde; Cónall McKenna (1-1), Evan Doherty (0-1), Conor McCaughey (0-5).

Subs: Brendan McQuaid for White (inj.), Mustafa Gamal for Driver, Jason McHugh for Coyle, Ciarán McQuaid for Doherty (inj.)

There was better news for our Reserve Division Three team, who produced a great comeback to secure a 3-9 to 2-9 win at home to Clones. We got off to a flying start with points by Conor McCaughey and Jason McHugh and a brilliant individual goal by debutant Evan Morahan, but Clones then gained the upper hand and they went on to lead by 2-8 to 1-3 at half-time. We started the second half brightly, but a number of goal chances went untaken, with the post, the crossbar and the Clones keeper getting in the way, although we did manage early points from Brendan McQuaid and John McCoy. Shane Scott and John added fine points, before sub Dessie McGarry lobbed a free into the net. John quickly tagged on a goal and a point to give us the lead and Conor McCaughey converted a ’45 to seal victory. We are away to Éire Óg in the last round of the league this Friday, with a semi-final place up for grabs.

 Team and scorers: Ronan McGann; Niall Treanor, Niall Brannigan, Johnny Sherry; Mustafa Gamal, Paddy Kelly, Dean McMahon; Shane Scott (0-1), Conor McCaughey (0-2, 1 ’45); Gary Murray (Capt.), Evan Morahan (1-1), Conor Forde; Brendan McQuaid (0-1), John McCoy (1-3), Jason McHugh (0-1).

Subs: Dessie McGarry (1-0f) for McHugh, Fionntán Cassidy for Murray, Jonny Flynn for Brannigan, Finnian McKenna for McQuaid, Francis Lynch for Forde.

  

RFL Final: We host the RFL Division 1B Final between Truagh and Ballybay this Friday. All help with stewarding would be appreciated from 6.30pm on.

 

Minors: Our minors resumed league action with a draw at home to Scotstown last Tuesday. The teams were never separated by more than one score in a closely-contested match, with Evan Morahan’s accuracy keeping the Harps in touch throughout. Our lads trailed by a point inside added time, but a nerveless 50-metre free by Darragh Hannon levelled it up on a scoreline of 0-9 to 1-6. Next up is another home game against Emyvale next Wednesday.

Team and scorers: Darragh Hannon (0-1f); Ahmed Gamal, Mustafa Gamal, Darragh Treanor; Carl Foentjies, Dónal McCarthy, Tiarnán Bramley; Niall Treanor, James McKenna; Turlough Clerkin, Evan Morahan (0-6, 5f), Francis Lynch; Ciarán McQuaid, Jason McHugh (0-1), Fearghal McMahon (0-1).

Subs used: John Mulligan Conor Burns, Thomas Bourke.

 

U-16: Our Under-16 footballers picked up a long-awaited two points with a high-scoring win away to Carrickmacross last Thursday. Sunday’s game against Clontibret has been refixed for next Thursday (August 8). Our lads fell to a heavy defeat at home to Scotstown in difficult conditions on Monday evening. Our lads competed well in the opening stages but struggled to put scores on the board and a ruthless Scotstown side hit a couple of late points to lead by 0-7 to 0-1 at half-time, before hitting a series of goals in the second half.

Team and scorers: Adam Treanor; Shane McKenna, Evan Cudden, Ruairí Forde; Cathal Power, John Mulligan, Jack Deery; Aaron Woods, Kevin Lyden; James Owens, Reece Treanor (0-2f), Remy McKenna; Conor Duffy, Dylan McKenna (0-1), Conor Flynn.

Sub: Michael Mulligan for Flynn.

 

U-14: Our Under-14 Division One team lost out in an exciting game away to Inniskeen last Saturday, but the Division Five team moved up to second in the league with a good win at home to Clones/Currin on Monday evening. Corey McArdle, Adam O’Neill, Killian McAdam and Oisín Fagan were all on target as our lads took a 3-7 to 1-2 lead by the end of the first half and scores followed from Oisín, Dylan Maguire and Dáire Martin in the third quarter. The scores dried up in the final quarter, unlike the weather as the heavens opened, but our lads held on to their lead to win by 4-10 to 3-6.

Team and scorers: Brendan Óg Duffy; Seán Conway, Zach Mallen, Aaron Coyle; Stephen Ward (0-1), Adam O’Neill (1-1); Dylan Maguire (1-0), Corey McArdle (1-3, 0-2f), Killian McAdam (1-0).

Subs used: Killian Conlon, Oisín Fagan (0-4), Dáire Martin (0-1).

 

U-12: Our Under-12 Division 1A team were pegged back at the death in an exciting game away to Scotstown last Thursday. With Alan O’Connor and Oisín Fagan driving the team forward, Lochlainn Power and Luke Coyle in particular providing good outlets up front and Ógie Duffy and Tiarnán O’Rourke leading the defence, the Harps put in a good performance. This saw our lads lead for much of the match, only for Scotstown to score an equalising goal with almost the last kick to make the score 4-10 to 5-7. Our lads will now play Magheracloone in the shield semi-final.

Team: Ericus; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Andrew Lyden; Killian Conlon, Brendan Óg Duffy; Oisín Fagan (0-1), Alan O’Connor (1-2); Stephen Ward (0-1), Luke Coyle (0-2); Stephen (1-1), Lochlainn Power (2-3, 0-1f).

Subs: Josh Maguire.

 

County teams: Best of luck to Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan and the Monaghan senior footballers in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Tyrone and to Kevin Loughran, Fearghal McMahon and the minors in their quarter-final against Tipperary in Longford on Monday. Mary White is running a bus to Croke Park on Saturday. Contact Mary at 086 2661766 for more details.

 

Hurling: Juveniles: U-12 and U-16 games v Carrickmacross set to be played last Monday were postponed and as of yet are to be re-fixed. There’s now a competitive break and the next confirmed fixtures for both teams are at home to Castleblayney on Monday August 12th.  Coaching and games continue every Sunday morning in Rooskey at 12pm.

Féile DVD: A DVD filled with both match and parade action of our Féile winning team is available through the club. Contact team management for further details.

County Minors: Good luck to Tiarnán Bramley, Ciarán McQuaid, Conor O’Neill, Conor Burns and Paul Bannon who will all be involved when Monaghan play Mayo in the upcoming All-Ireland C Hurling Final.

Seniors: The Harps senior hurlers bowed out of the championship despite a spirited performance in last Thursday’s semi-final against Castleblayney in Clontibret. Despite starting without some key players due to injuries, the Harps stayed in touch throughout with a much-improved performance from the recent heavy defeat against the same opposition in the group stages, but the lads just couldn’t get enough scores to turn the tables on the defending champions.

After falling two points down early on, the Harps drew level with points by Brendan McQuaid and Maurice McKenna and although Blayney went two up again, a long-range free by Aodhán Óg McAnespie kept our lads in touch. Blayney added a few points to their tally, but a fine point by Maurice brought the Harps within three by half-time: 0-7 to 0-4. Blayney were first off the mark in the second half, but a free from distance by Conor Curley and a well-taken point by Niall Hahessy cut the Harps’ deficit to two. Blayney ended a 15-minute scoreless run with three on the trot, but Aodhán Óg scored a free and a ’65 to set up a big finish. The Harps tried their best to find a crucial goal in the dying minutes, but the Blayney back-line soaked up the pressure as they booked their place in the final against Inniskeen. The Harps will now play Carrickmacross in the shield final, when they will again have the chance to qualify for the Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship. This game has been fixed for Sunday evening at 7pm in Castleblayney.

Team and scorers: James Greenan; Micheál Ó Mordha, Jack Lee, Éanna Finlay; Alan Lee, Shane Smyth, Pat Meehan; Niall Hahessy (0-1), Aodhán Óg McAnespie (0-3, 2f, 1 ’65); Páraic Donnelly, Alan Ryan, Conor Curley (0-1f); Maurice McKenna (0-2), Ross Corbett, Brendan McQuaid (0-1).

Subs: Gerard Gilsenan for Ryan (37), Raymond Lee for Corbett (44), Conor Forde for McQuaid (49).

 

Ladies: On Tuesday, August 6, our seniors play Latton in the Division Two League in Latton at 7pm. All players to meet at Gavan Duffy Park at 6pm. Last Sunday, our seniors had a 5-18 to 3-11 win at home to O’Neill Shamrocks in the league. The team was Allison Treanor, Dearbhla Lenehan, Orla Whelan, Hannah Clerkin, Emma Clerkin, Niamh Maguire, Shauna Hetherington, Jennifer Treanor, Muireann O’Rourke, Tiarna Lavelle, Sinéad Maguire (Captain), Eimear O’Rourke, Éadaoin Maguire, Una Rooney, Aoife Corrigan, Eimear Connell, Tara Reilly, Maria Ferguson and Stephanie Keenan.

U-14 & U-16 training times Thursdays 7-8 and Saturdays 10.30-11.30. Please contact Gerard, Catherine or John for further details. Our next U-16 game is away to Carrickmacross on Thursday at 7pm. The U-16 Ronan Leonard memorial blitz has been rescheduled to a later date.

Under-10 and Under-12 training this Saturday at 10.30am and Wednesday at 6pm. The U-12 competition continued over recent weeks with home games v Aghabog and Emyvale and an away game in Tyholland. Some of the U-12s also participated in the recent Ulster blitz. Well done to all involved. The U-12s have now qualified for a league semi-final, no info available at time of going to press on this fixture. All parents will receive a text as usual.

A reminder to all parents to please reply to texts sent from underage managements about upcoming matches and training.

Children’s officer & Code of Ethics and Good Practice training will be rolled out by Monaghan Sports Partnership on dates in September, October and November. For further details please check their website or contact 042 9755126.

Monaghan Ladies County GAA are running a fashion show in aid of all the Monaghan Ladies County teams in October. They need help in organising the event. If anyone from the Harps club is available to get involved please contact Ciara McPhillips on 086 0842653.

Hard luck to the Monaghan team who were beaten last weekend by Cavan in the Ulster U-16 Final. The Harps were represented by Eimear O’Rourke (Captain), Shauna Hetherington and Emma Clerkin.