Fixtures: Saturday, April 15: SFL v Clontibret (Away) at 5pm; U-12 Spring League Zone C v Truagh (Away) at 2pm; U-12 Spring League Zone D v Inniskeen (Home) at 4.30pm

Sunday, April 16: MHL v Castleblayney (Away) at 12pm

Monday, April 17: U-14 HL v East Cavan Gaels (Home) at 7pm

Tuesday, April 18: MFL Division Two v Castleblayney (Away) at 7pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 11, 14, 24 and 27. Jackpot of €1,100 not won. Residual prizes: €100: Kieran Conlon c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Emmet McKenna c/o Maria McKenna; €40 Harry McCullagh c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Julie McNally c/o Paddy Donnelly. Jackpot for Sunday, April 16 is €1,200 and Dermot and Liz Brannigan 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 sincere condolences to the Harden family on the death of long-serving former treasurer and committee member John. Club members formed a Guard of Honour at John’s Funeral Mass last Thursday, while a Harps jersey was brought forward to the altar as a symbol of his decades of service to the club. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

 

Seniors: We started our County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League campaign with a 0-11 to 1-3 win away to Killanny last Saturday. Points by Liam Hahessy and Fearghal McMahon gave us an early lead, but Killanny hit back with 1-1, although a brace from Fearghal left us within one at half-time: 0-4 to 1-2. Liam, Fearghal, Stephen Driver, Nicholas Treanor and Michael Galligan were on target in the second half as our lads gained the upper hand to secure a winning start to the league.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Gareth Treanor, David Lowry; Nicholas Scott, Conor Galligan, Dean Fanning; Neil McAdam, Stephen Driver (0-1); Éimhín Morahan, Gary White, Nicholas Treanor (0-1); Liam Hahessy (0-2), Fearghal McMahon (Capt., 0-5, 2f), Michael Galligan (0-2, 1f).

Subs: Shane Coyle for Morahan (43), Shane McMahon for N Treanor (47), John Mulligan for Scott (52), Niall Greenan for Fanning (58), Evan Doherty for McAdam (60).

Temporary sub: Shane McMahon for F McMahon (17-22).

We hosted Scotstown last night (Wednesday) – check online for result. We are away to Clontibret this Saturday for a 5pm throw-in.

 

Reserves: Our next reserve games are in the preliminary rounds of both championships next week: at home to Seán McDermotts on Friday, April 21 in the Crawley Cup and against Aughnamullen in the O’Duffy Cup on Sunday, April 23, also at home.

 

Minors: The Connolly Meats Minor Football League Division Two continued with a trip to Latton last Tuesday (April 4). The Harps got off to a promising start in this round-two game, but Latton found the net three times to run out narrow winners on a 3-8 to 1-10 scoreline. Our minors won at home to St. Tiarnach Sarsfields on Tuesday, while next Tuesday’s game is away to Castleblayney at 7pm.

 

U-16: The Under-16 Football League Division One continued with a hard-earned win away to Castleblayney last Friday. In a game that was closely contested throughout, a goal from Jamie McCarron proved crucial in earning our lads a one-point win on a scoreline of 2-7 to 2-6. Our U-16s had another away win on Thursday in Ballybay against St. Patrick’s.

 

U-14: A much-changed Under-14 Division One team lost out at home to Donaghmoyne last Saturday. A goal from Gary Devlin was the highlight of our first half, at the end of which we trailed by 2-8 to 1-2. Karol Parszywka was among our scorers in the second half after his move to full-forward, but Donaghmoyne had too much scoring power for us on the day.

Team and scorers: Karol Parszywka (0-1); Jordan Crampton, Ryan McSkeane; Mark McManus, James Curley, Gary Devlin (1-0); Kevin Moran, Daragh Croarkin (0-1, ’45); Luke McManus (0-1), Shay Cooney (0-2, 1f), Jake Power (Capt., 0-1); Jamie Coyle (0-1), Jake McConnon.

Subs used: Oisín Reilly, Shea Swift, Ben Myers, Josh Kelly.

Our Division Five team fared better, getting their third win in a high-scoring encounter against Donaghmoyne. Luke McManus and Daragh Croarkin led the scoring in the opening half, while Ben Myers, Gary Devlin and Jake McConnon were also on target as we claimed a narrow 4-8 to 4-6 lead. Luke, Jake, Daragh and Conor Treanor all added scores in the second half to earn our lads the two points on a scoreline of 8-11 to 6-9.

Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Jordan Crampton, Gary Devlin (0-1); Mark McManus, Josh Kelly; Daragh Croarkin (Capt., 3-2), Ben Myers (0-1); Dáire Sheridan, Jake McConnon (2-1, 0-1f); Shea Swift, Luke McManus (3-5).

Subs used: Gregory O’Connell, Ryan McSkeane, Conor Treanor (0-1f), Dean Conlon, Aidan McGeough.

Both teams are at home to Castleblayney on Saturday week (April 22).

 

U-12s: Our Under-12 teams both had good wins away to Castleblayney last Saturday. Well done to all involved. Both teams continue the Spring League this Saturday, with the Zone C game away to Truagh at 2pm and the Zone D game at home to Inniskeen at 4.30.

 

DIL: Darkness into Light 2017 will take place in the early hours of Saturday, May 6, starting and finishing at our club grounds. We hosted the launch of the Monaghan and Cavan events in our clubhouse last Thursday evening. Thanks to everyone who attended, to our friends and counterparts from Cavan for joining us and to Frank McNally, columnist with The Irish Times, for his excellent speech. Our first 2017 pre-registration dates are in Monaghan Shopping Centre on Friday, April 21; Saturday, April 22 and Saturday, April 29. Please contact Seán McKenna if you are available to help on any of these dates.

 

Best wishes: We send well wishes on behalf of all at the club to Barry Óg Doherty following his recent surgery.

 

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: 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: Good luck to Thomas Croarkin and the Monaghan minor footballers and Conor McCrystal and the county U-17 team in Saturday’s Ulster league semi-finals.

 

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.

 

Hurling notes:

Congratulations: A huge congratulations to Shane Smyth and his newlywed wife Róisín on their recent marriage.

 

Minor: Our minors played out a home draw against Cootehill last Sunday in the first game of the minor league, with the game finishing 4-7 apiece. Next up is a trip to Castleblayney this Sunday, with a 12pm throw-in.

 

Senior: We made a worthwhile journey to Truagh last Thursday evening where we secured a 2-11 to 1-4 victory in the opening match of the Development League. We next play Carrickmacross at home on Thursday, April 20 at 7.15pm.

Scorers: Aidan Burns (0-5), Cathal Power (0-2), Conor Flynn (0-3), Brendan Naughton (0-1), Frank Burke (1-0), Maurice McKenna (1-0).

 

Ladies Notes:

Fixtures:

Our U-14s were in action Monday night away to Corduff. Well done to all the girls who had an excellent game, beating Corduff on a scoreline of 6-4 to 3-2.

U-16 game away to Inniskeen on Monday, April 17 at 7pm.

Minors were away to Doohamlet on Wednesday evening. Check the club’s Facebook page for updates on result.

Senior game due to take place this Saturday away to Emyvale. Game set for 7pm.

 

Dates to remember: The club is hosting a coffee morning in St. Joseph’s Patoral Centre on Sunday, April 23. Teas, coffee, pastries and tray bakes. Everyone welcome. Bring a friend!

 

Training: continues Thursdays for U-12s and U-14s from 6pm-7pm and Mondays and Thursdays for U-16s, minors and seniors; 6.50-8pm. Old and new faces welcome.