Fixtures: Saturday, September 23: U-12 FL Division One Cup S-F Replay v Scotstown (Away) at 12pm; U-12 FL Division Five Cup S-F (Home) at 3pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 5, 14, 15 and 19. Jackpot of €2,100 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Yvonne McCarron c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club); €40 Ronan McCaughey c/o himself; €40 Dermot Coyle (direct debit) c/o himself; €40 Marcus Callan c/o Eileen Morgan. Jackpot for Sunday, September 24 is €2,200 and Rose Hughes and Noel Hennessy 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.

 

Seniors: We returned to winning ways in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League in a low-scoring game at home to Castleblayney last Saturday. A much-improved first-half performance saw points from Stephen Driver, Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Neil McAdam, Éimhín Morahan and Shane Smyth earn us a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead in difficult conditions. Scores were much harder earned in the second half, where we struggled for long spells to add to our tally, until Stephen kicked the point that ultimately proved decisive in a 0-8 to 0-7 win that moved us into a three-way tie for third place.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Mustafa Gamal, Neil McAdam (0-1, ’45), Nicholas Scott; Gareth Treanor, Conor Galligan, Kevin Loughran; Stephen Driver (Capt., 0-3), Aodhán Óg McAnespie (0-1); Éimhín Morahan (0-2f), Gary White, Michael Galligan; Niall Hahessy; Shane Smyth (0-1), Liam Hahessy.

Subs: Thomas Croarkin for Smyth (inj., 33 mins), Dónal Hahessy for L Hahessy (46).

Our next SFL game is not until October 7.

 

U-16: Our U-16s fell just short in the Mallon’s Foods Division One Championship Final against Castleblayney in Drumhowan last Saturday. Scores were hard earned in difficult conditions, with the Harps lads leading by 0-3 to 0-2 at half-time, through points from Luke Coyle, Lorcan O’Rourke and Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh. We moved three clear after the restart thanks to Anann Connor and Terence McDonald, but Blayney found the net twice in the third quarter to turn the game. Our lads showed no little spirit to rally, with points from Ógie, Anann, Luke and Oisín Fagan cutting the deficit to the minimum going into the last five minutes. Blayney hit the last two points, however, to secure a 2-7 to 0-10 win. Hard luck to our team and management, who we wish the best of luck in the league final against Carrickmacross on Saturday week (September 30).

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Andrew Lyden, Killian Conlon, Cathal Nally; Anann Connor (0-2, 1f), Conor Devlin, Stephen Ward; Lorcan O’Rourke (0-1), Lochlainn Power; Luke Coyle (0-2f), Oisín Fagan (0-1), Dean Doherty; Terence McDonald (0-1), Dylan Ballantine, Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh (Capt., 0-3).

Subs used: Tiarnán O’Rourke, Shay Cooney.

Panel: James McKenny, Jamie McCarron, Liam Conway, Adam McGarry, Mujtaba Gamal, Eoghan McGinnity, Deivydas Kaklauskas, Jake Power, James Curley.

Best wishes from the club to Eoghan McGinnity after his recent operation.

 

Finals: Thanks to the club members who helped us host the Mallon’s Foods U-16 Division Two and Three Shield Finals despite the bad weather last Saturday.

 

Fun Day: The countdown is on to our annual fun day and balloon race at Gavan Duffy Park on Saturday, October 7. Balloon race cards are available now from Jimmy Croarkin and Úna Forde. Every child who fills a card will receive new Harps gear, with an iPad up for grabs for the person who sells the most balloons.

U-12: Our U-12 Division One team hosted Scotstown in a thrilling Coyle Cup Semi-Final last Friday evening. On an evening full of drama, our lads had to come from well behind to draw after extra-time. Eoin O’Hanlon, Shay Kelly and Seán Callan were among our scorers, while a brace of goals from Fionán Ó Gallchóir kick-started the Harps challenge after Scotstown had built up a big lead. Ethan Ballantine also found the net, while Cian Bradley and Senan Cudden joined the list of scorers, before Eoin forced extra-time. Eoin and Seán were on target in the first half of extra-time and although Scotstown moved ahead again with another brace of goals, a second goal from Ethan and points by Seán and Fionán levelled it up once more in the end.

Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Dáire Conlon, Shane Moran; Jack Lynch, Cian Bradley (0-1f); Senan Cudden (0-1), Seán Callan (0-4, 3f); Eoin O’Hanlon (1-2), Shay Kelly (0-2, 1f); John McCrystal, Fionán Ó Gallchóir (2-2).

Subs used: Morgan Coyle, Ethan Ballantine (2-0).

The replay is set for Scotstown this Saturday at 12 noon. Our Division Five team are also in a Cup semi-final, where they will host either Carrickmacross or Donaghmoyne at 3pm. All support welcome for both games. Well done to Fionán Ó Gallchóir, who played at Croke Park on All-Ireland football final day last Sunday.

 

History night: We are due to host a history night in our clubhouse on Friday week (September 29) at 8pm, featuring stories of the past with our own Enda Galligan. All welcome.

 

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.