Patsy Kierans RIP: Our club was saddened by the recent death of our President, stalwart supporter and dear friend, Patsy Kierans, at the age of 86. A long-time resident of Tully, Patsy played a central part in our club for many years, as a team mentor, committee member, a very popular MC of our club Lotto draws and a long-serving Honorary President. Patsy was a great supporter of our teams and would always meet up with warm greetings, often with his customary bone-shaking handshake! The part Monaghan Harps and the GAA played in his life – and the esteem in which he was held in the club and the wider community – was clear to see from his wake and funeral procession last week, with many club members taking part in guards of honour. Patsy will be greatly missed by us all at Monaghan Harps and we offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

 

Fixtures: Friday, September 6: U-15 FC Division Four Q-F v Scotstown (Home) at 6.30pm

Saturday, September 7: IFC v Killanny in Castleblayney at 6.30pm; U-13 FC Division One S-F v Clontibret in Emyvale at 3.30pm

Sunday, September 8: U-13 FC Division Five S-F v Scotstown in Cremartin at 12.30pm

Tuesday, September 10: U-17 FC Division One Q-F v Donaghmoyne (Away) at 6.15pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 6, 17, 22 and 23. Jackpot of €3,300 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Bernie Ward c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Paul Gilsenan c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 B O’Gara c/o Barry Sullivan; €40 Mary McKenna c/o Jim Dalton (Hurling Club). Jackpot for Sunday, September 8 is €3,400 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 has now played a critical role in our club’s funding for 25 years.

 

Mick Farrell Tournament: Our annual Mick Farrell Tournament will take place this Saturday (September 7) from 10am at Gavan Duffy Park. Our own U-11s will be competing along with 14 other clubs. We are set to welcome fellow Monaghan sides Aghabog, Carrickmacross, Clontibret, Donaghmoyne, Emyvale, Killeevan, Scotstown and Truagh, as well as Cavan Gaels, Cootehill and Mullahoran from Co Cavan; Clogher (Tyrone); Naomh Brid (Donegal); and Armagh Harps. All support from club members would be greatly appreciated on the day.

 

Seniors: We fell short in a good contest against Magheracloone in the Monaghan Electrical IFL at Annaghminnon, Co Louth last Saturday. A very slow start saw us fall seven points down, but Stephen Driver, Dylan McKenna, Lochlainn Power, Neil McAdam, Dean Fanning, Conor McCrystal, Shane Smyth and Liam Hahessy were all on target as we rallied to draw level at 0-11 to 1-8 by half-time. Magheracloone pulled away with another burst after the restart, but a Thomas Croarkin goal and points from Neil, Conor and Liam kept us in touch. We fell short in the end, however, on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-16.

Team and scorers: Gary White; Thomas Croarkin (1-0), Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh; Oisín Fagan, Conor Galligan, Kevin Loughran; Stephen Driver (0-1), Dylan McKenna (0-1); Lochlainn Power (0-1), Neil McAdam (0-4, 2f, 1 ‘45), Dean Fanning (0-2); Conor McCrystal (0-2), Shane Smyth (0-1), Liam Hahessy (0-4, 3f).

Subs: John Mulligan for McKenna (40 mins), Niall Greenan for McCrystal (57).

We face Killanny in Round 2B of the McElvaney’s Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship this Saturday in Castleblayney at 6.30pm.

 

Summer Camp: The sixth year of our in-house Harps Summer Camp brought around 100 boys and girls to Gavan Duffy Park from August 19-23. We enjoyed a busy week of football, hurling, handball and music at Gavan Duffy Park. Each participant received Harps goodie bags on Friday, while there was also a welcome return of the ice-cream van! We were delighted to be joined by our own Daragh Croarkin and Neil McAdam on the Friday, along with the Ulster MFC cup, which was in great demand for photos with the kids. Thanks to everyone who had the pitches and club grounds in great condition, to Úna Forde for her work in preparing for the camp and to Conn O’Hanlon and all the young coaches involved for a job well done.

 

Minors: We lost out to St. Pat’s in our opening U-17 Football Championship game at Drumhowan last Tuesday (August 27). We were made to pay for a very slow start that left us playing catch-up throughout, despite scores from Eoghan McGinnity, Liam Conway and Terence McDonald closing the gap. We finally found some form in the closing stages as we began to eat into an eight-point deficit, with Eoghan, Shay Cooney and Daragh Croarkin on target, but St. Pat’s held on for a deserved 1-14 to 1-10 win. We won at home to Inniskeen on Tuesday (August 27), setting up a quarter-final away to Donaghmoyne.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin (0-2, ‘45s); Cathal Nally, Tiarnán O’Rourke, James Curley; James McKenny, Nathan Lavery, Kevin Moran; Liam Conway (0-1), Dylan Ballantine; Dean Doherty (Capt.), Eoghan McGinnity (1-5), Shay Cooney (0-1f); Adam McGarry, Terence McDonald (0-1), Jake Power.

Subs used: Mark McManus, Gary Devlin, Dylan McClave.

 

U-15: Our U-15 Division One team exited the championship despite a brave effort in last Thursday’s quarter-final against Magheracloone in Carrickmacross. A depleted Harps side were edged out by the narrowest of margins (3-8 to 2-10). Hard luck to the players and their management of Mel McMorrow, Brian Lenehan, Nicholas Scott and Brendan Burns. Attentions now turn to the Division Four championship quarter-final at home to Scotstown on Friday at 6.30pm. Good luck to all involved.

 

U-13: Our Division One team overcame a strong challenge from Donaghmoyne in last Friday’s championship quarter-final at Gavan Duffy Park. Donaghmoyne held a narrow lead after a tight first half in difficult conditions, but our lads found their form after the restart, with a hat-trick of goals from Jack Lynch turning the game in our favour. Shea Corrigan and Daniel Alexis also found the net and with the likes of Jack Kierans and Kyle Cooney adding points and Dara Mullin making a welcome return to competitive action, the Harps ran out winners by 5-9 to 1-6.

Panel: James Gunn, Mark Lynch, Fergal Magee, Kyle Cooney, Ethan McCaffrey, Orrin Doherty, Jack Lynch, Daniel Alexis, Julian Coyle, Eoin Sheridan, Shea Corrigan, Jack Kierans, John McCrystal, Diarmuid McGinnity, Rhys McCaffrey, Dónal Moran, Oisín Brannigan, Rohann McKenna-Malocca, Shay Lambe, Oisín McGeown, Dara Mullin.

This is a big weekend for our U-13s, featuring a Division One semi-final against Clontibret in Emyvale on Saturday at 3.30pm and a Division Five semi-final against Scotstown in Cremartin on Sunday at 12.30pm. Good luck to everyone involved. All support welcome.

 

U-11: Well done to our U-11 development team, who finished off the Liam Stirrat Development League last Thursday night in Rockcorry. Well done to all 23 players who played over the course of the season with some great performances. Congratulations to Josh Cassidy who won ‘Most Skilful Player’, which was presented to him by Adrian Trappe. Good luck to everyone involved in the Mick Farrell Tournament.

 

Clubhouse: The Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Please contact Paudge Connolly on 085 8589135 or Rose Donnelly on 086 0825782 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

 

Pitches: Training schedules for all teams are in place. Coaches are asked to please ensure that gates and dressing rooms are locked and to remove all equipment, bottles etc. from the pitch after training sessions.

 

Thanks: The club would like to sincerely thank Emer Conway’s mother Geraldine Holohan for winning a prize worth €2,000 for us in a recent Kellogg’s Cúl Camps competition.

 

Tickets: The club’s draws for the recent All-Ireland Final tickets were won by Conor Forde and Seán Conway (Hurling) and Paddy Donnelly and Pat McElvaney (Football).

 

Hurling:

AGM: Our AGM was held in the clubhouse last Friday evening. It was a positive meeting, with the discussion of several important club matters including reports of our progress during the year, fundraising ideas and the vital role of our juvenile coaches.

The elected club officers are as follows: Chairperson: Adrian Dalton; Secretary: Patrick Meehan; Treasurer: John Hahessy;  County Board Delegate: Éanna Finlay, Public Relations Officer: John Treanor; Children’s Officer: Seamie McLoughlin;  Cultural Officer: Brian Clerkin; Development Officer: Maurice McKenna; Assistant Development Officer: Brian Clerkin; Coiste Iomána Representative: Maurice McKenna

U-13: For any players who wish to play U-13 hurling for the remainder of this year and next year, training will be held this Sunday at 12 noon. Contact Adrian at 087 7859582 with any further queries.

 

Notes: Anyone who has news for inclusion in the club notes can send an email to pro.monaghanharps.monaghan@gaa.ie by Tuesday morning.