Fixtures: Thursday, August 31: U-12 HL S-F v Keady (Away) at 6.30pm

Saturday, September 2: SFC v Castleblayney in Inniskeen at 7.30pm; U-14 FL Division One Shield Final v Magheracloone in Castleblayney at 11am

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 7, 9, 19 and 22. Jackpot of €1,800 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Eileen Morgan c/o herself; €40 Mary Farrell c/o Marie Farrell; €40 Conor McGinn c/o Neil McGinn; €40 Norman Mullen c/o Paddy Donnelly. Jackpot for Sunday, September 3 is €1,900 and Liz and Dermot 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.

 

Mick Farrell Memorial Tournament: The second Mick Farrell Memorial Tournament was a great exhibition of U-10 football in fine conditions at Gavan Duffy Park last Saturday. The two Harps teams were joined by fellow Monaghan clubs Scotstown, Truagh, Carrickmacross, Tyholland, Donaghmoyne, Emyvale, as well as Cootehill Celtic, Mullahoran, Killygarry and Ramor United from Cavan and Aghaloo and Pomeroy (Tyrone). The Harps Shield team started with a fine contest against Truagh, but despite their best efforts, were unable to progress from a strong group that featured both eventual finalists, Tyholland and Donaghmoyne. In the Cup, our team had wins over Truagh and Ramor to qualify from their group, even after falling to a narrow defeat against Cootehill. A hard-earned win over Carrickmacross saw our U-10s through to another meeting with Cootehill, who had seen off Mullahoran in the semi-finals. A cracking final saw the Harps finish strongly to claim a narrow win and lift the Mick Farrell Cup to the delight of the home support. Meanwhile, Tyholland ran out winners of the Shield decider against Donaghmoyne. Thanks to all our referees, officials and helpers on the day, all the teams and mentors who travelled and everyone involved in organising the tournament. The running of this tournament in memory of Mick Farrell is a fitting tribute to one of the club’s great servants and we were delighted to have many members of the Farrell family present on the day, with Marie making the presentations to the winning captains.

 

Seniors: A busy week in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League proved productive thanks to away wins against Scotstown and Donaghmoyne. The first of those came last Wednesday, where a goal from Liam Hahessy and points by Michael Galligan and Neil McAdam had us 1-3 to 0-4 up at half-time. Aodhán Óg McAnespie found the net within a minute of the restart and although Scotstown hit back, a second goal from Liam kept us ahead. Fearghal and Shane McMahon and Shane Smyth were also among the scorers as we secured a 3-7 to 2-7 win.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Mustafa Gamal, Conor Galligan, Niall Hahessy; Kevin Loughran, Nicholas Scott, Michael Galligan (0-2, 1f); Aodhán Óg McAnespie (1-0), Stephen Driver (Capt.); Gary White, Fearghal McMahon (0-1f), Shane McMahon (0-1); Liam Hahessy (2-1), Shane Smyth (0-1), Neil McAdam (0-1f).

Subs: James McKenna for G White (52 mins), Nicholas Treanor for N Hahessy (inj., 60).

We travelled to Donaghmoyne on Saturday for a bruising encounter. A Liam Hahessy point was soon followed by a goal from Fearghal McMahon, but Donaghmoyne came back to twice lead by four points. Scores from Liam and Gary White kept us in touch, however, and a Shane Smyth goal left us just a point down at half-time (1-7 to 2-3). Having set up Liam to find the net, Mustafa Gamal went on to score a goal of his own as we gained the upper hand in the third quarter and with Michael Galligan and Fearghal adding points, we wrapped up a hard-earned 4-8 to 1-12 win.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Niall Hahessy, Conor Galligan, Mustafa Gamal (1-0); Kevin Loughran, Nicholas Scott, Michael Galligan (0-2); Gary White (0-1), Stephen Driver (Capt.); Shane McMahon, Fearghal McMahon (1-2, 0-2f), Dean Fanning; Liam Hahessy (1-3, 0-1f), Shane Smyth (1-0), Neil McAdam.

Subs: Éimhín Morahan for Fanning (46 mins), Thomas Croarkin for Scott (inj., 55), James McKenna for S McMahon (57), Nicholas Treanor for F McMahon (60).

We take on Castleblayney in Round 2B of the Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship in Inniskeen this Saturday evening at 7.30. All support welcome.

U-16: Our U-16s booked their place in the final of the Division One Championship with a thrilling win at home to Carrickmacross on Monday evening. An excellent second-half performance from our lads saw them wipe out an eight-point deficit to earn a 2-14 to 3-9 victory, roared on by a large support in what was, by all accounts, one of the best games seen at Gavan Duffy Park for some time. It had looked a long way off at half-time, at which stage Carrick led by 2-7 to 0-5, thanks to a brace of goals midway through the half. Our lads had threatened sporadically, but could only manage two points each from Ógie Ó Dufaigh and Shay Cooney and one from Dylan Ballantine. The Harps enjoyed more possession after the restart, but despite Shay and Ógie adding to their tallies, the gap remained at six points inside the last ten minutes. Anann Connor burst through to set up Shay for our first goal, however, and when Dylan also found the net moments later, the momentum was with our lads. Carrick retook the lead with a goal, but with Anann and Tiarnán O’Rourke adding their names to the scoresheet, the Harps rallied once more and when Dylan kicked the last point late on, it was enough to secure a dramatic win, which saw our lads leave the pitch to a rapturous reception. Our U-16s now have two finals to prepare for in September, with Castleblayney our opponents in the championship decider. Keep an eye on club notes for details.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Andrew Lyden, Conor Devlin, James McKenny; Anann Connor (0-1), Killian Conlon, Stephen Ward; Lorcan O’Rourke, Lochlainn Power; Dean Doherty, Oisín Fagan, Shay Cooney (1-5, 0-5f); Luke Coyle, Dylan Ballantine (1-2), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh (Capt., 0-5).

Sub used: Tiarnán O’Rourke (0-1).

 

Minors: Our minors contested the Connolly Meats Division Two League Final in Drumhowan on Tuesday (August 22). Despite falling five points down towards the end of the opening quarter, our lads rallied, with a goal from Thomas Croarkin and points from James Bourke, Ethan Murphy and Aidan Burns. Castleblayney led by 1-5 to 1-4 at half-time and the sides shared the first four points of the second half, with Conor McCrystal and James on target for our lads. The Faughs then struck for their crucial second goal, however, and our only score of the remainder of the game was a third converted free from James, with a more accurate Blayney team going on to secure a 2-12 to 1-7 win. Thanks to our minor players and their management of Eugene McGinnity, Nicholas Scott and Paudge Connolly for their efforts all year.

Team and scorers: Dylan Ballantine; Anthony Greenan, Killian Conlon, Nathan O’Donoghue; Jamie Shields (Capt.), Niall Ward, Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh; Lochlainn Power, Aidan Burns (0-1); Oisín Fagan, Conor McCrystal (0-1), Thomas Croarkin (1-1); Ethan Murphy (0-1), Ben Kearns-Flynn, James Bourke (0-3f).

Subs: Seán McKenna for Bourke (44 mins), John Lowry for O’Donoghue (54), Conor Devlin for McCrystal, Oisín Power for Fagan (both 60).

 

U-14: Our U-14 Division One team contest the Shield Final against Magheracloone this Saturday in Castleblayney at 11am. All support welcome.

 

U-12: Our U-12 Division One team returned to winning ways on a 3-18 to 2-2 scoreline away to Clones last Wednesday. Both U-12 teams host Castleblayney on Saturday week (September 9). Well done to Oisín Reilly on his recent success at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis!

 

Tournaments: We competed in Cullyhanna’s 9-a-side tournament last Saturday. We won two of our three group games over the host club and Silverbridge, with our only defeat coming narrowly against eventual winners, Ó Doirnín Blues. That saw us through to a Cup semi-final, which was an exciting contest with Mullaghbawn. Goals from Luke McManus and Daragh Croarkin got us off to a flying start, but Mullaghbawn came back strongly and it took a great point from Jake Power to level it up and force extra-time. A second goal from Daragh and another point from Jake had us on the brink of a place in the final, only for Mullaghbawn to grab the win with a last-gasp goal. We were without some key players on the day, but we were very well represented by Shay Cooney (1-5), Jamie Coyle, Jordan Crampton, Daragh Croarkin (3-2), Gary Devlin, Jake McConnon, Adam McGarry, Luke McManus (3-1), Mark McManus, Kevin Moran, Ben Myers, Jake Power (0-2). Thanks to the St. Pat’s club for the invitation.

 

Well done: To our U-16 girls on their league final win and to everyone who represented the club at various blitzes last weekend.

 

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 2543511 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:

Juveniles: Underage coaching and games continues every Sunday at 12pm in Rooskey.