Fixtures: Saturday, September 19: IFC Final v Cremartin in Clones at 5pm; U-15 FC Division One play-off v Carrickmacross (Home) at 11am

Sunday, September 20: RFC McKeown Cup v Killeevan (Home) at 12.30pm

Wednesday, September 23: U-15 FC Division Five play-off v Scotstown (Home) at 6pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: The numbers for last Sunday’s draw were Numbers 1, 3, 18 and 26. Jackpot of €1,100 not won. The four €40 lucky-dip prize winners were Chris O’Connell c/o Paddy Donnelly; Dermot Brannigan c/o ClubZap; Alison Clerkin c/o ClubZap; and Matt McCaughey c/o himself. The sellers’ prize of €20 was won by Séamus Treanor. Jackpot for Sunday, September 20 is €1,200. The club is asking members willing and financially able to contribute through our lotto towards club maintenance and running expenses. This can be done by two options: set up a standing order to our club lotto via quarterly or annual payments or using our new club app by downloading ‘ClubZap’ on your phone, registering as a Monaghan Harps GAA Club member and buying club lotto in bulk or on a weekly basis. Anyone interested can contact either Rose Donnelly (086 0825782); Maria McKenna (086 1057725) or Adrian Dalton (087 7859582). Thanks to everyone for their continued support for our lotto, which plays an integral part for the club, particularly this year. Please note that the cut-off point for ClubZap each week is 6pm on Sunday, while physical tickets should be with the lotto committee by 9pm.

 

Seniors: We contest the McElvaney Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Final against Cremartin this Saturday in Clones at 5pm. We would like to wish the best of luck to Paddy, Ryan, Steven and the panel and backroom team on Saturday evening. Monaghan GAA will once again be making a livestream available to purchase. At the time of writing, we were awaiting confirmed details about possible permitted crowds for this game. Please keep an eye on ClubZap/social media for updates.

 

Reserves: We lost out at home to Latton in our first game of the Platinum Tanks RFC O’Duffy Cup last Saturday. A youthful team faced an uphill struggle after a slow start and despite points by Lochlainn Power, Dylan McKenna, Niall Greenan and Dean Doherty, we trailed at half-time. Jamie Shields, Oisín Fagan and Francis Lynch added their names to the scoresheet after the restart, but a second goal for Latton put the game beyond our reach.

Team and scorers: Ryan Shields; Andrew Lyden, Killian Conlon, Jamie Shields (0-1); Oisín Fagan (0-1), John Mulligan (Capt.), David Lowry; Lochlainn Power (0-1), Dylan McKenna (0-2); Lorcan O’Rourke, Niall Greenan (0-3, 2f, 1m), Dean Doherty (0-1); Eoghan McGinnity (0-2f), Francis Lynch (0-1), Luke Coyle.

Subs used: Rory Sleator, Colm Shalvey.

We are due to host Killeevan in our McKeown Cup opener this Sunday at 12.30pm.

 

Minors: Well done to our minors, who won the Maguire International Division One Shield Final against Carrickmacross last Sunday in Blackhill on a scoreline of 3-9 to 1-10. We took time to settle into the game, but points by Luke McManus, Liam Conway, James Curley and Shay Cooney and goals from Tiarnán O’Rourke and Shay Cooney sent us in at half-time leading by 2-5 to 1-3. Our minors pushed on after the restart, with Shay and Tiarnán adding to their tallies and Jamie Coyle also getting on the scoresheet. A second goal from Jake Power at the start of the final quarter left us in control and although Carrick rallied in the closing stages, we held on to win by five. This was a strong team performance, with Jordan Crampton, Nathan Lavery, Mark McManus, Kevin Moran and Jake McConnon putting in a strong effort in defence in front of Daragh Croarkin, who gave a controlled performance in goals. James Curley showed well in a few positions over the course of the hour, while a hard-working half-forward line of Shea Swift, Gary Devlin and Jamie Coyle linked play effectively to supply Jake Power, Luke McManus and Shay Cooney up front. Liam Conway and captain Tiarnán O’Rourke excelled from midfield in supporting both defence and attack. There was little to separate any of the teams in the U-17 Division One this year and this group competed well in all eight of their championship games.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Jordan Crampton, Nathan Lavery, James Curley (0-1); Mark McManus, Kevin Moran, Jake McConnon; Tiarnán O’Rourke (Capt., 1-1), Liam Conway (0-1f); Jamie Coyle (0-1), Shea Swift, Gary Devlin; Jake Power (2-0), Luke McManus (0-1), Shay Cooney (0-4, 3f).

Subs used: Finn Sleator, Gregory O’Connell.

Panel: Karol Parszywka, Fachtna Mac Conghail, Conor Treanor, Eoin McCleary, Ben Myers, Dylan McClave, Jason Allister.

Management: Michael Morgan, Mel McMorrow, Colm Shalvey, Chris Conway.

 

U-15: Our U-15 Division One team are due to host Carrickmacross in a play-off this Saturday morning. The Division Five lads also face a play-off at home to Scotstown on Wednesday. Please keep an eye on ClubZap/social media to confirm fixtures. Good luck to all involved.

 

U-13: Our U-13 teams contested Gerry’s Prepared Veg. championship finals last weekend. Our Division One team faced strong opposition from Clontibret in Tyholland on Saturday as they attempted to retain the Coyle Cup. Facing opponents who had gone unbeaten throughout the campaign, our lads’ challenge was added to by the injury-enforced absence of Mark Lynch, who had played through the pain barrier in seeing out the semi-final and helping his team edge out Castleblayney. Points by Orrin Doherty, Eoin Sheridan and Shay Lambe helped keep it tight during the first half, but Clontibret hit a brace of goals to take a 2-6 to 0-4 lead. Eoin Sheridan and Joe Gunn kicked points during the second half, but a stronger Clontibret side were able to pull further clear to run out worthy winners. John Paul Ginley made some fine saves for our lads, with Josh Cassidy, Dáire McKenna, Shay Lambe, John Sherry, Rhys McCaffrey and the tireless Daniel Alexis doing their level best to stop a lively Clontibret attack. Eoin Sheridan kept going all the way in his efforts to get the team up the pitch, as did Shane McGarry, Joe Gunn and Orrin Doherty. Shea Corrigan and Oisín Brannigan kept going despite living off scraps in the full-forward line, while Kyle Lavery and Alex Flynn also worked hard after being introduced. Thanks to all involved with our U-13s.

Team and scorers: John Paul Ginley; Josh Cassidy, Dáire McKenna; John Sherry, Daniel Alexis, Shay Lambe (0-1f); Rhys McCaffrey, Eoin Sheridan (Joint-Capt., 0-3); Shane McGarry, Joe Gunn (0-1), Orrin Doherty (0-1); Shea Corrigan, Oisín Brannigan.

Subs used: Kyle Lavery, Alex Flynn.

Panel: Deagan Doherty (Joint-Capt.), Ryan Grant, Joseph O’Neill, Mark Lynch.

Sunday saw our Division Five side contest their Shield Final against Carrickmacross in ideal conditions in Blackhill. The lads continued their run of improved performances in recent weeks, with everyone involved putting in a great effort to go so close to lifting the silverware, through scores by Dáire McKenna, Alex Flynn, Joseph O’Neill, Charlie O’Brien and Cayden McDonnell, but Carrick hit a very late goal to force extra-time before eventually running out narrow winners on a scoreline of 3-5 to 2-6. This team made great strides as the championship progressed, so well done to everyone involved.

Team and scorers: Robert Uskans; Dáire McKenna (0-1), Ruairí Smyth; Kyle Lavery, Daniel Aughey; John Sherry, Alex Flynn (0-2, 1f); Ryan Grant, Joseph O’Neill (1-1); Charlie O’Brien (1-1), Daithí Devlin (Capt.).

Panel: Rhys Coyle, Jake Cassidy, Caolán Conlon, Jack McMahon, Seán Lambe, Cayden McDonnell (0-1f), Lewis Duffy, Denas Nagulevicius, Ethan Grant.

Management: Martin Sheridan, James Corrigan, Finbarr Conlon, Adrian Gunn.

 

U-11: While our U-11s haven’t had any organised fixtures this year, they have continued to work hard in training and several have been involved with the U-13 Division Five panel. Thanks to everyone involved.

 

GAA return: We are grateful to our ever-willing volunteers and our Covid supervisors for their efforts throughout the return to play. Dressing rooms will remain closed until further notice, while we hope that remain hopeful that supporters will be permitted to attend games again from this weekend.

 

Club app: As well as offering an option to support our lotto, our new club app also has a function to pay your annual membership, make financial donations to the club, as well as a communication suite for all that goes on at the club. You can get involved by downloading ‘ClubZap’ on your phone and registering as a Monaghan Harps GAA Club member.

 

Membership: Please note that any outstanding membership fees for this year should be paid as soon as possible. Registration can be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor or using ClubZap. Fees are as follows: U-11s €20; juveniles/seniors €30; family membership €60.

 

Hurling:

Junior Championship Final: Hard luck to our senior team who fell short in the Junior championship final last Sunday. Following a slow start with several wayward shots, we dragged ourselves into the game to level the scores at half-time. Clontibret pulled away just before the second-half water break and we were unlucky with several goal chances before the end of the game; two great saves from the opposition keeper and one shot narrowly wide of the post. Final score: 0-15 to 0-10. The only positive from our trip to St Tiarnach’s Park was full back Dermot McMahon being awarded the AM Hurleys Man of the Match award.

 

Juveniles: Sunday morning training at 11.30am this Sunday. This will be the final training of the year.