Monaghan Harps notes (July 26)

SHC: Castleblayney v Truagh at Gavan Duffy Park at 7.30pm

Friday, July 29: SH Shield Final v Clontibret (Away) at 7.30pm

Under-14 FL Division Five v Aghabog (Away) at 7pm

Saturday, July 30: Under-14 FL Division One v Killanny (Away) at 12pm

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 14, 18, 23 and 24. Jackpot of €1,450 not won. Residual prizes: €100 John Brennan c/o Noel Hennessy; €40 Peter Hunt c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Rachel Smyth c/o clubhouse; €40 Brian McEnaney c/o Séamus Treanor. Jackpot for Sunday, July 31 is €1,600. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night.

SFC: The senior footballers lost to Ballybay in the preliminary round of the championship at Clontibret last Sunday. Our lads took a long time to get into their stride, by which stage Ballybay were too far ahead for us to come back. Donal Hahessy (two), Emmett McArdle and Neil McAdam got our only scores of the first half, leaving us trailing by 2-8 to 0-4 at half-time. After falling three points further adrift, the Harps finally got going with two points from sub Nicholas Treanor, a point by Shane Smyth and goals from David Loughran and Neil. It wasn’t enough, though, and Ballybay were able to close out a 2-15 to 2-9 victory.

Team and scorers: Mark Hughes; Mark McCaughey, Stephen Driver, Aidan Óg McAnespie; Conor Devlin, Conor Galligan, David Hughes; Peter Coyle, Neil McAdam (Capt., 1-1, 0-1f); Paul Rushe, Shane Smyth (0-1), Philip Drohan; Donal Hahessy (0-3f), Emmett McArdle (0-1), Ashley White.

Subs: Ronan McGann for M Hughes (inj.), Liam Hahessy for Rushe, David Loughran (1-0) for Drohan, Nicholas Treanor (0-3, 1f) for White, Conn O’Hanlon for Devlin.

Hurling: It was a great few days for the club’s hurlers, who won two titles in four days. The seniors lifted the Reserve Hurling League with a 1-11 to 0-10 win over Truagh last Thursday. The lads put in a hard-working performance with everyone playing their part from minor Micheál Ó Mordha to the evergreen Robbie Healy. An Alan Lee goal and points by all four Lees and Conor Curley had the Harps ahead by 1-6 to 0-7 at half-time and Three frees by Maurice McKenna and two well-taken points by Conn O’Hanlon in the second half secured the title.

Team and scorers: James Gallagher; Micheál Ó Mordha, Paul McGrath, Ross Murray; Niall Flynn, Robbie Healy, Gavin Baxter; Alan Lee (1-1), Aidan Connell; Maurice McKenna (0-3f), Conn O’Hanlon (0-2), Raymond Lee (0-1); Paul Lee (0-1), Jack Lee (Capt., 0-2, 1f), Conor Curley (0-1).

Sub: Frank Burke for J Lee (inj.).

The Under-14s completed a double on Sunday when they beat Carrickmacross in the league final. The lads made a great start, with goals by Ciarán Cassidy and Remy McKenna giving them a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Remy added two points in the second quarter to make it 2-3 to 0-3 by half-time, but the third quarter was all about Cathal Power. The inspired decision to move Cathal into the forwards paid dividends, as he scored 2-3, while Remy also got a point. Carrick rallied in the last quarter, but points by Mark Murphy and Cathal made the final score 4-9 to 2-7 in favour of the Harps. Well done to the players, manager Jim Dalton and selectors Michael O’Donoghue and Thomas McCabe for all their hard work, which has paid off, as shown by a great team performance last Sunday.

Team and scorers: Ruairí Forde; Seán Grant, Cathal Power (2-4); Kyle O’Leary, Reece Treanor (Capt.), David Lowry; Aiden Burns, Remy McKenna (1-3, 0-1f); Niall McManus, Ryan Connolly, Mark Murphy (0-1); Ciarán Cassidy (1-1), Andrew Connolly.

Sub used: Conor Duffy for A Connolly.

Rest of panel: Naoise Deeney, Conor Flynn, Nathan O’Donoghue, Dylan McAree, Seán Husband, John Lowry, Thomas Croarkin, James Bourke, Oisín Power, Ultan O’Rourke.

Minors: The minors exited the championship with a defeat at home to Castleblayney last Tuesday. The Harps did well in the first half with three points by Fearghal McMahon and two each from Shane Hannon and Michael Galligan, and although a series of frees kept Blayney in touch, Fearghal broke through for a goal to make it 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time. The game turned on its head in the second half, though, as Blayney scored 3-2 without reply to take control. Niall Greenan tapped over a free for our only score of the second half, but Blayney got the last score and our lads were unable to get the goals they needed to get back into it. The lads are away to Scotstown in the league tonight (Tuesday) at 7.45.

Team and scorers: Ryan Shields; Pauric Murphy, Colm Flynn, Darren McMahon; Conor Forde, Niall Greenan (0-1f), Kevin Loughran; Evan Doherty, Dylan McMahon; Benin Devlin, Michael Galligan (0-2f), Niall Treanor; Shane Hannon (0-2), Shane Loughran, Fearghal McMahon (1-3).

Sub: Anthony Croarkin for Devlin.

U-16: The Under-16 footballers had a good win at home to Carrickmacross last Thursday on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-10, keeping the lads in with a chance of qualifying for the league semi-finals and making the final league game this Thursday at home to Emyvale crucial.

Championship games: Thanks to everyone who helped out at the Crawley Cup Final last Friday. Gavan Duffy Park is also the venue for a SHC semi-final between Castleblayney and Truagh this Thursday at 7.30. All help would again be appreciated.

U-21: The Under-21 league campaign came to an end with defeat at home to Aughnamullen on Monday. Despite a goal by Raymond Lee, the Harps trailed by 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time and Aughnamullen found the net three times in the second half to win by 4-7 to 1-8 and secure their place in the Division One final.

Team: Daniel Duffy; Conor Campbell, Aidan Óg McAnespie, Darren McMahon; Fionntán Cassidy, Niall Clerkin, Mark Campbell; Paul Kelly, Evan Doherty; Brian Driver, Mark Mulhall, Conall McKenna; Niall Greenan, Colm Reilly, Raymond Lee.

Sub used: Pauric Redden.

U-14: The Under-14 Division One team are away to Killanny this Saturday at 12 noon.

U-12: The Under-12 Division One team continued their good run with a high-scoring win away to Donaghmoyne last Saturday, although the Division Four team were beaten by a strong Latton team.

O-35: We compete in the Scotstown recreational tournament again this weekend. Please check the club website for more details.

Club Harps: Our current fundraising scheme is ‘Club Harps’, which presents a unique opportunity to invest in Monaghan Harps to maintain our central place in the community. Contact any committee member for more information. A meeting re ‘Club Harps’ takes place in the clubhouse next Monday at 9.30pm.

GAA Super Camp: Learn new skills at a Super Camp, for boys and girls aged between 13 and 15, from August 2-4 at St. Macartan’s College. The camp costs €45 and each participant gets a free jersey.