Fixtures: Saturday, April 2: RFL Division 1A v Latton (Away) at 6.30pm; Under-12 Spring League Zone A v Carrickmacross (Home) at 2pm; Zone B v Carrickmacross (Home) at 3.15pm

Monday, April 4: Under-14 HL v Carrickmacross (Home) at 6.30pm

Tuesday, April 5: MFL Division One v Scotstown (Away) at 6.30pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 11, 13, 21 and 23. Jackpot of €4,500 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Delia Finnegan c/o Ann Treanor; €40 Maeve Tully c/o Sheila Treanor; €40 Helen Hahessy c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club); €40 Maura Broderick c/o Barry Sullivan. Jackpot for Sunday, April 3 is €4,600 and Gráinne and Owen Connell are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in our refurbished clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome.

 

Coaching: Thanks to everyone who attended our meeting about juvenile structures and planning in the clubhouse last Friday. Particular thanks are due to former club player Stephen McAleer, who shared with us the benefits of his experience with organisations such as Athletics UK, before opening up a discussion with the large, representative attendance of club members, officials, coaches and players. This was a worthwhile discussion about many issues regarding coaching and development and Stephen’s presentation is available if you send your email address to Seán McKenna. Keep an eye on the Monaghan GAA website for details of upcoming Coach Education programmes.

 

Seniors: Our next Senior Football League game is away to Carrickmacross on Saturday week (April 9).

 

Reserves: We got off the mark in the RFL Division 1A with a hard-earned draw away to Truagh last Saturday. An Éimhín Morahan free was our only score of the first half, during which we played against a stiff breeze, but a Francis Lynch goal and points by Evan Doherty, Paddy Connolly and Liam Hahessy saw us eat into our deficit after the restart. We still trailed by three late on, but a goal by Éimhín saw it finish 2-4 to 1-7.

Team and scorers: Darragh Hannon; Paul Smyth, James McKenna, David Lowry; John Mulligan, Carl Foentjies, Francis Lynch (1-0); Niall Treanor, Éimhín Morahan (Capt., 1-1f); Dean McMahon, Colm Shalvey, Evan Doherty (0-1); Conor Forde, Paddy Connolly (0-1), Liam Hahessy (0-1f).

Sub used: Jamie Shields for Shalvey.

We are away to Latton this Saturday for a 6.30pm throw-in.

 

Minors: Our minor footballers start their league campaign with an away game against Scotstown next Tuesday at 6.30pm. Good luck to all involved.

 

U-16: Our Under-16 footballers play their first league game at home to St. Patrick’s this Thursday evening at 6.30. Good luck to all involved. Two wins in the group stage of Emyvale’s Connolly/McElroy Tournament on Monday got the Harps into a cup semi-final, where our lads lost narrowly to Enniskillen Gaels.

 

U-14: Our Under-14 Division Five team started their league campaign with a hard-earned 1-12 to 2-3 win at home to Castleblayney in extremely difficult conditions last Saturday. Points by Jake Power, Adam McGarry and Daragh Croarkin had us 0-5 to 0-3 ahead at half-time, while the second half saw Shay Cooney and Daragh defy the weather to kick some outstanding scores. All 14 players involved, who included debutants Cathal Nally and Dáire Sheridan, deserve great credit for their efforts. Both U-14 teams are due to play again on Saturday week (April 9).

Team and scorers: Shay Cooney (1-3); Cathal Nally, James Curley; Kevin Moran, Mark McManus; Daragh Croarkin (0-5, 3f, 1 ‘45), Brian McAteer (Capt.); Dáire Sheridan, Jake Power (0-2, 1f); Adam McGarry (0-2), Ben Myers.

Subs used: Ché Treanor, Conor Treanor, Dean Conlon.

 

U-12: Our Under-12 Zone B team continue their Spring League campaign away to Donaghmoyne this evening (Tuesday). Both teams host Carrickmacross this Saturday; Zone A at 2pm, Zone B at 3.15.

 

Saturday-morning coaching: Our popular Saturday-morning coaching and games sessions for U-6s, U-8s & U-10s start up again this weekend (April 2) at 10am. Saturday-morning football for boys and girls in Gavan Duffy Park continues to go from strength to strength, with the numbers attending growing year on year. The club is very fortunate to have a pool of hardworking and dedicated individuals who look after and coach these ‘early learners’. Our Saturday-morning activities are fun-filled and enjoyed by the children and are an equally rewarding and enjoyable experience to those who help make it happen, so we encourage anyone with an interest to get involved.

 

Know Your Sport: Our sports prediction competition is back for 2016, with another 20 questions to be answered. Forms are available now from senior players and club members. Put your sporting knowledge to the test and try to beat last year’s winner, Emmet McWilliams, who got 16 correct! All support is greatly appreciated.

 

Membership: Registration fees of €20 for 2016 can now be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor (086 2591411) or in the clubhouse. This Thursday (March 31) is the GAA’s deadline for voting rights at the AGM, so members are asked to register ASAP.

 

Dates to remember: We are looking forward to our Cake Sale in the Shopping Centre on Saturday, April 16 and a Scór night in the clubhouse a week later (April 23): check back for more details. We will once again host Darkness into Light Monaghan this year in the early hours of Saturday, May 7. Our Golf Classic and Street Collection will both take place in June (more details later).

 

Pitch bookings: All pitch bookings for 2016 for training or matches must be made via 086 1957155. Training slots have been allocated and any changes must be notified in advance. Work is ongoing on the main pitch at present and all co-operation from team mentors is appreciated.

 

County/Colleges: Good luck to Neil McAdam and the Monaghan senior footballers in Sunday’s crucial NFL game v Donegal in Castleblayney. Meanwhile, Shane McMahon, Thomas Croarkin, Jamie Shields and Niall Ward are all involved with the county minor and U-17 teams in their Ulster league campaigns. Best wishes to all Harps players currently playing for schools teams, especially the Sem’s Dalton Cup team, who await their semi-final.

 

Gavan Duffy Park: The refurbished Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Contact Jimmy Croarkin on 087 1249635 or Pádraig Callan on 087 2139188 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.