Fixtures: Saturday, April 8: SFL v Killanny (Away) at 6.30pm; U-14 FL Division One v Donaghmoyne (Home) at 2pm; U-14 FL Division Five v Donaghmoyne (Home) at 3.15pm; U-12 Spring League Zone C v Castleblayney (Away) at 11am; U-12 Spring League Zone D v Castleblayney (Away) at 12.15pm

Sunday, April 9: MHL v Cootehill (Home) at 12pm

Tuesday, April 11: MFL Division Two v St. Tiarnach Sarsfields (Home) at 7pm

Wednesday, April 12: SFL v Scotstown (Home) at 7pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 7, 12, 19 and 25. Jackpot of €1,000 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Patricia McCann c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Stephanie & Dessie McGarry (direct debit) c/o Maria McKenna; €40 Yvonne McConnon c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club); €40 Maria McKenna c/o herself. Congratulations again to David Walsh, winner of our March 26 jackpot of €2,000, which was collected on his behalf by ticket seller Brian O’Sullivan on Sunday night. Jackpot for Sunday, April 9 is €1,100 and Maria and Hugh McKenna are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in our clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome. Thanks to everyone for their support for our Lotto, which plays a critical role in our club’s funding. We ask all club members to continue to promote our Lotto as much as possible.

 

John Harden RIP: The club offers condolences to the Harden family on the death of long-serving former treasurer and committee member John this week. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

 

Seniors: We start our County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League with games away to Killanny on Saturday at 6.30pm and at home to Scotstown on Wednesday at 7pm. Good luck to the players and to the management team of Laurence Strain, Barry McGinn and Paul Rushe.

 

Reserves: A much-changed team fell to a home defeat against Donaghmoyne in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A last Saturday. Éimhín Morahan, Shane McMahon and Evan Doherty were among our scorers in the first half, but Donaghmoyne found the net twice to claim a 2-5 to 0-5 lead. The visitors pulled further clear in the final quarter to put the game beyond our reach.

Team: Emmett McArdle; Francis Lynch, David Lowry, Niall Treanor; Conor Forde, Remy McKenna, John Mulligan; Peter Coyle, Éimhín Morahan; Dylan McKenna, Shane McMahon, Niall Greenan (Capt.); Ruairí Forde, Evan Doherty, Dessie McGarry.

Subs used: Colm Shalvey, Conor Duffy.

 

Minors: The Connolly Meats Minor Football League Division Two began last Tuesday (March 28) with a 2-11 to 2-10 win at home to Emyvale. 1-2 from Conor McCrystal, a second goal from Jamie Shields and a point by Adam O’Neill got our lads off to a flying start and although Emyvale rallied strongly, Ben Kearns-Flynn added a point to make it 2-4 to 1-4 in our favour at half-time. Conor, Adam, Ben, Thomas Croarkin, Nathan O’Donoghue and Oisín Fagan were on target in the second half to keep the Harps just in front in a well-contested encounter. The lads were away to Latton on Tuesday – check online for result – while next Tuesday’s game is at home to St. Tiarnach Sarsfields at 7pm.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Zach Mallen, Thomas Croarkin (0-1), Anthony Greenan; Jamie Shields (1-0), Niall Ward, Seán McKenna; Aidan Burns, Lochlainn Power; Nathan O’Donoghue (0-1), Conor McCrystal (1-4, 1-1f), Ethan Murphy; Michael Mulligan, Ben Kearns-Flynn (0-2), Adam O’Neill (0-2).

Subs used: Oisín Fagan (0-1), Conor Devlin, Seán Conway.

 

U-16: The Under-16 Football League Division One began last Thursday with a 3-9 to 1-9 win at home to Scotstown. Anann Connor, Dean Doherty, Mujtaba Gamal and Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh were our scorers as the first half ended 2-3 to 0-3 in our favour. Scotstown closed the gap in the second half, but a second goal from Anann and points by Conor Devlin, Lochlainn Power, Oisín Fagan and Terence McDonald proved enough to secure a well-earned win in a fine opening-round contest.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; James McKenny, Killian Conlon, Andrew Lyden; Conor Devlin (0-1), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh (1-0), Stephen Ward; Lochlainn Power (0-1), Oisín Fagan (0-1); Lorcan O’Rourke, Mujtaba Gamal (0-1), Jamie McCarron; Dean Doherty (0-2), Anann Connor (2-1), Luke Coyle.

Subs used: Terence McDonald (0-2, 1f), Cathal Nally, Deivydas Kaklauskas.

 

U-14: Our Under-14 Division One team lost out at home to Carrickmacross in their second league game last Saturday. Carrick were more accurate in front of goals on their way to a 1-6 to 0-3 lead at the end of a first half where our points came from Kevin Moran, Luke McManus and Jamie Coyle. Despite conceding the first two points of the second half, our lads continued to plug away, with scores from Luke, Jamie, Shay Cooney and Nathan Lavery closing the gap slowly, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to turn possession into enough scores and Carrick ran out 2-13 to 2-7 winners.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Ryan McSkeane; Mark McManus, James Curley, Michael McMorrow; Liam Conway (Capt.), Nathan Lavery (1-2, 0-2f); Kevin Moran (0-1f), Shay Cooney (0-1f), Gary Devlin; Luke McManus (1-1), Jamie Coyle (0-2f).

Subs used: Jake McConnon, Josh Kelly, Karol Parszywka,

Our Division Five team fared better, getting their second win on a 3-6 to 2-3 scoreline. Goals by Jake McConnon and Conor Treanor and points from Daragh Croarkin, Luke McManus and Adam McBride had us level at 2-3 apiece at half-time, before we gradually gained the upper hand in the second half, with our defence and midfield giving us a good platform that allowed Jake, Luke and Adam to add the decisive scores.

Team and scorers: Ben Myers; Jordan Crampton, Ché Treanor; Mark McManus, Gary Devlin, Josh Kelly; Daragh Croarkin (Capt., 0-1f), Ryan McSkeane; Dáire Sheridan, Luke McManus (0-3), Gregory O’Connell; Jake McConnon (1-1), Conor Treanor (1-0).

Subs used: Adam McBride (1-1), Dean Conlon, Aidan McGeough.

Both teams are again at home this Saturday: v Donaghmoyne in Division One at 2pm and Division Five at 3.15.

 

U-12s: Our Under-12 Zone D team won at home to Truagh last Wednesday. A good team performance saw the Harps lead from start to finish, with the lads kicking some fine scores in the second half in particular.

Panel: Jack Corrigan, Oisín McGeown, Ethan McCaffrey, Ethan McCarron, Dónal Moran, Fergal Magee, James Gunn, Kyle Cooney, Oisín Treanor, Dara Mullen, Morgan Coyle, Julian Coyle, Mark Lynch, Jack Garvey, Rory Conway, Eoin Sheridan, Joe Gunn.

Both our U-12 teams continue the Spring League away to Castleblayney this Saturday: Zone C at 11am, followed at 12.15 by the Zone D game.

 

DIL: Darkness into Light 2017 will take place in the early hours of Saturday, May 6, starting and finishing at our club grounds. The launch for the Monaghan and Cavan events took place in our clubhouse on Thursday at 8pm, featuring guest speaker Frank McNally of The Irish Times.

 

Congratulations: And best wishes to senior player Shane Smyth and Róisín McCaughey, who got married last weekend!

 

Schools: Comhghairdeas to the Gaelscoil Ultain Boys’ Mini 7s team, winners of the 2017 county title last Thursday! Gaelscoil Ultain defeated Knockconan, Edenmore, Glaslough, Corracrin, Loughmourne, Clontibret and Urbleshanny to reach the final where they had a one-point victory over Scoil Rois. Well done to all the Harps players involved: Oisín Ó Raghailligh, Shane O Mórain, Eoin Ó hAnluain, Fionán Ó Gallchóir, John Mac Criostáil, Dáire Ó Connaláin, Shay Ó Ceallaigh, Mark Ó Cléirchín and Max Ó Mealláin.

 

Saturday-morning coaching: Our popular Saturday-morning coaching and games sessions for U-6s, U-8s & U-10s started up again last weekend. 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.

 

Membership: Registration fees of €20 for 2017 are now overdue and must be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor or in the clubhouse as soon as possible.

 

Dates to remember: Our annual Cake Sale is set for Saturday, April 29. We will be participating and hosting at Féile Peil na nÓg 2017 (June 23-25), a week after our juvenile street collection. Keep an eye on club notes for more details on these events.

 

Coaching: Thanks to everyone who attended the meeting about our coaching structures last Wednesday and to Monaghan GAA Games Promotion Officer Rory Beggan for his help. There are several upcoming coaching courses/workshops. Check the Monaghan GAA website and contact Pádraig Callan if you wish to attend any. Keep an eye out for details about an upcoming Child Protection course.

 

Pitch bookings: All pitch bookings for 2017 for training or matches must be made via 086 1957155. Training slots have been allocated and any changes must be notified in advance. All co-operation from team mentors in maintaining the pitches is appreciated.

 

County: Well done to Neil McAdam and the Monaghan senior team on ending a good Allianz NFL campaign with a fine performance in falling just short against Dublin in Clones last Sunday.

 

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 4515206 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

 

Ladies:

U14s: Our U-14 team had their first league game last week against Inniskeen. Well done to the girls for their performance. Training continues for U-12s and U-14s on Thursdays: 6-7pm.

 

U16s: Well done to our U-16 team who had a great win over Tyholland on Monday evening.

 

Seniors: The seniors took on Aughnamullen last Friday night in the Spring League. Well done to all the girls who put in a great effort but fell short. A particular well done to Clara Morgan who made her senior debut. Training continues this Thursday: 6.50-8pm.

 

Dates for the Diary: Monaghan Harps ladies club is hosting a coffee morning on Sunday, April 23 in St. Joseph’s Pastoral Centre. The purpose of this is to raise necessary funds for the club and all help would be appreciated. Please contact club secretary Fiona on 086 8935183 to get involved. Everyone welcome on the day to enjoy the treats.