Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League

Monaghan Harps 0-17 Clontibret 0-12                                 20/4/11

Monaghan Harps got their second win from two in the SFL when they came from behind to beat Clontibret at home on Wednesday evening. Clontibret were two points up at half-time, but the Harps took over in the second half and were full value for their five-point winning margin. Neil McAdam, Donal Hahessy, Stephen Driver, Nicholas Treanor, Dean Fanning and Conor Galligan led the way for the Harps, while Clontibret had good performances from Colum Greenan, Martin Corey, Rodney Gorman and Ryan McGuigan in the absence of Conor McManus, Vincent Corey and Dessie Mone.

Ryan McGuigan opened the scoring for Clontibret when his shot bounced over the bar after Harps keeper Mark Hughes had given possession away. Johnny McKenna added a point from a 20-metre free after a foul on Rodney Gorman, but Donal Hahessy kicked a point from play before converting a 25-metre free for a foul on Neil McAdam. Martin Corey got forward from corner-back at the end of a move involving Colum Greenan and Fergal Mone to kick a point before McKenna restored Clontibret’s two-point lead through a 30-metre free after a foul on Feargal O’Dowd. Nicholas Treanor replied for the Harps after he had been well-placed by Hahessy and they equalised when Dean Fanning sent over following good approach play by Mark McCaughey and McAdam. Another free by McKenna had Clontibret briefly in front once again, but a point from play by McAdam and a 20-metre free by Treanor after a foul on Fanning edged the Harps ahead for the first time. Clontibret responded well, though, with four points in a row, the first of which came when Ronan Murphy tapped over after Fergal Mone had been unable to get a shot off when put through on goal. Donal Carragher added the second after strong work by Greenan and McGuigan converted a 20-metre free for a foul on Mone, before Gorman lofted over a fine score. The Harps reduced their deficit through a Donal Hahessy free, leaving the half-time score 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of Clontibret.

The visitors were first off the mark in the second half through a 20-metre free by McKenna after a foul on McGuigan, but a well-taken point by Hahessy kept the Harps in touch and Gary White added a point after Nicholas and Gareth Treanor had combined to create the chance. Hahessy made a goal chance for Fanning on 12 minutes, but his shot was saved by Clontibret keeper Arthur Morgan and the county champions increased their lead when McGuigan converted a free. Treanor and McGuigan swapped points from 25-metre frees after fouls on Emmett McArdle and Fergal Mone, before Treanor linked up with McAdam to kick a good point from a tight angle. Fanning brought the Harps level when he sent over at the end of an attack started by a great catch by Peter Coyle. Fanning tapped over from a 13-metre free after a foul on sub Liam Hahessy, who tagged on a point from play, before Fanning blasted over the bar at the end of a well-worked move involving Donal Hahessy and McArdle. A well-struck ’45 by McAdam moved the Harps four points clear and the county man sealed the points for the Harps when he linked up with Donal Hahessy to kick a fine point in the final minute of normal time.

Monaghan Harps: M Hughes; M McCaughey, S Driver, C Galligan; D Hughes, S Smyth, G Treanor; P Coyle, N McAdam (Capt., 0-3, 1 ’45); G White (0-1), N Treanor (0-4, 1f), N Scott; D Hahessy (0-4, 2f), E McArdle, D Fanning (0-4, 1f).

Subs: N Hahessy for Hughes (inj., 39 mins), L Hahessy (0-1) for Scott (45), A White for N Treanor (inj., 51).

Clontibret: A Morgan; C Duffy, E Greenan, M Corey (0-1); P Boyle, D Savage, D Carragher (0-1); C Greenan, JP Mone; F O’Dowd, R Gorman (0-1), R Murphy (0-1); F Mone, J McKenna (0-4f), R McGuigan (0-4, 3f).

Sub: D McKeown for O’Dowd, K Greenan for Murphy (both 54).

Referee: M McNally (Corduff).