Monaghan Harps notes (September 6)

Under-12 Hurling League winners

Fixtures: Thursday, September 8: Under-16 HL Final Cootehill v Truagh at Gavan Duffy Park at 6.30pm

Saturday, September 10: Over-35 Truagh Shield Final v Keady at 5pm

Sunday, September 11: RFL Division Four v Aghabog (Away) at 12.30pm

Tuesday, September 13: Under-16 FC Division One Semi-Final v Truagh in Emyvale at 8pm

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 2, 24, 26 and 27. Jackpot of €2,350 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Patrick Corrigan c/o Eileen Morgan; €40 Gary & Lulu c/o Mick Farrell; €40 Josie Thompson c/o Paul Connolly; €40 Minnie Finnegan c/o Joe Finlay (Hurling Club). Jackpot for Sunday, September 11 is €2,500. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome.

Club meeting: The club’s monthly meeting for September takes place in the clubhouse this Thursday at 8pm. The juvenile meeting takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8pm.

U-12: Our three Under-12 teams did the club proud in the league finals. On Saturday, it was the footballers’ turn, where we were represented in two finals in Blackhill. The Division Four team won the shield with an impressive performance against Scotstown. The goals flew in early on, with Corey McArdle, Seán Conway (twice) and Zach Mallon finding the net, before Lorcan O’Rourke scored our first point. A brace of goals by Dylan Maguire and a point by Lochlainn Power made it 6-2 to 0-2 at half-time and although the scores dried up in the second half, a point by Corey sealed a good win. Well done to the panel and their mentors Chris Conway and Finbarr Conlon.

Team and scorers: Ryan McKenna; Kelvin Cawley (Joint-Capt.), Killian Conlon; Seán McKenna (Joint-Capt.), Stephen Ward; Lorcan O’Rourke (0-1), Lochlainn Power (0-1f); Corey McArdle (1-1), Zach Mallon (1-0); Seán Conway (2-0), Dylan Maguire (2-0).

Subs: Shane McCabe, Aaron Coyle, Killian McAdam, Adam O’Neill, Josh Maguire, Brendan Óg Duffy, Luke Coyle, Daniel Flynn, Matthew Sweeney, Killian Treanor, Andrew Lyden, Daniel O’Reilly, Justas Dambinskas.

The Division One team were unlucky to finish the wrong side of a thrilling Coyle Cup Final against Truagh. Despite the best efforts of Aiden Burns in particular, Truagh hit three goals in the first half to take charge, although Ethan Murphy hit 1-1 before the break to keep our lads in it at 1-3 to 3-4. The Harps made a great start to the second half with points from Ben Kearns-Flynn, Thomas Croarkin, Aiden Burns (two) and a goal by Ben. Truagh pulled away again, but Ben brought our lads back into contention by scoring a great goal and two points, although Truagh held on to win by 4-7 to 3-9. The club’s future looks bright on the basis of Saturday’s games, so well done to the players and their mentors Michael O’Donoghue, Thomas McCabe and Ciarán Mulligan.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Naoise Deeney, Ultan O’Rourke; Niall Ward, Soky John; Aiden Burns (0-4, 2f), Ben Kearns-Flynn (2-3, 0-2f); Ethan Murphy (1-1), Conor McCrystal; Thomas Croarkin (0-1f), James Bourke.

Subs: Nathan O’Donoghue, Colin Peppard, Oisín Power, Michael Mulligan, Anthony Greenan.

The hurlers beat Carrickmacross by 1-3 to 0-2 in Aughnamullen on Monday (see Aido File).

Team and scorers: John Lowry; Dylan McAree, Naoise Deeney; Ultan O’Rourke, Niall Ward; Aiden Burns (1-2), Ben Kearns-Flynn; Nathan O’Donoghue (Capt.), Thomas Croarkin; Conor McCrystal (0-1), Oisín Power.

Subs: James Bourke, Shane McCabe, Colin Peppard, Conor Doyle, Seán McKenna, Stephen Ward, Aaron Coyle, Lochlainn Power, Sean Conway, Ruairc Healy, Jack O’Hanlon, Lorcan O’Rourke, Luke Coyle.

Aido File: Congrats to the Harps Under-12 hurling team, county champions 2011! On the wintry night, under wind and rain the lads fought through the elements against a skilful and brave Carrickmacross. Conor McCrystal opened the scoring to give the Harps a lead which they never relinquished. John Lowry in goals made two fantastic saves, Naoise Deeney covered the full-back line with Dylan McAree clearing ball after ball. In the half-back line Niall Ward and Ultan O’Rourke delivered ball up-field and the engine room of Aidan Burns and Ben Kearns-Flynn ran from goal to goal throughout the game. Captain Nathan O’Donoghue, Thomas Croarkin, Conor McCrystal and Oisín Power up front proved a real handful for the Carrick backs. Well done lads and the management of Jim Dalton, Michael O’Donoghue and Thomas McCabe!

Reserves: The O’Duffy Cup team came from behind to draw by 1-10 to 0-13 at home to Truagh last Wednesday. We made a very slow start, allowing Truagh to take a four-point lead early on, but scores from David Loughran, Paddy Connolly and Mark Mulhall settled us into the game. David took his tally to three by half-time and Paul Kelly also hit the target, but we still trailed by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break. We started the second half brightly with points by Paddy Connolly and Paul Kelly, but Truagh re-established a three-point lead, which they maintained until the closing stages, despite points for us from David and Conn O’Hanlon. John McCoy pounced late on, though, to flick the ball to the net and earn us a point.

Team and scorers: Conall McKenna; Fionntán Cassidy, Ciarán Garvey, Johnny Sherry; Conn O’Hanlon (Capt., 0-1), Gareth Treanor, Conor Devlin; Aidan Óg McAnespie, Paul Rushe; David Loughran (0-4, 3f), Mark Mulhall (0-1), Paul Kelly (0-2); Gary Murray, Paddy Connolly (0-2), Finnian McKenna.

Subs: Paddy Kelly for Devlin, John McCoy (1-0) for F McKenna, Liam Hahessy for Murray, Niall McKenna for Mulhall.

The O’Duffy Cup team secured Division One status with a 2-16 to 1-7 win at home to Cremartin last Friday. After an even start, a cracking goal by Aidan Óg McAnespie gave us a lead which we held through to the finish, with a series of points from Liam Hahessy, Paddy Connolly, Nicholas Treanor, Gary Murray and John McCoy making it 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time. Liam added our second goal and although Cremartin found the net from a penalty, scores by Liam, Nicholas, Paddy and Paul Rushe meant we matched our first-half tally of 1-8, which secured victory with 12 points to spare.

Team and scorers: Conall McKenna; Paddy Kelly, Ciarán Garvey, Johnny Sherry; Conn O’Hanlon (Capt.), Gareth Treanor, Conor Devlin; Aidan Óg McAnespie (1-0), Paul Rushe (0-1); Paddy Connolly (0-4), Nicholas Treanor (0-4, 1f), Paul Kelly; Liam Hahessy (1-5, 0-3f), John McCoy (0-1), Gary Murray (0-1).

Subs: Séamus Brannigan for Sherry (inj.), David Loughran for Paul Kelly, Mark Mulhall for Murray, Finnian McKenna for McCoy, Fionntán Cassidy for Paddy Kelly.

The Crawley Cup team had a high-scoring win at home to Truagh last Sunday. A brace of goals apiece by John McCoy and Niall McKenna and one each from Gary Murray and Conall McKenna helped us keep our semi-final hopes alive.

Team: Jimmy Croarkin; Fionntán Cassidy (Capt.), Lorcan McAdam, Séamus Brannigan; Adam Cullen, Johnny Sherry, Paul Sherry; Colin McAree, Niall McKenna; Conall McKenna, Gary Murray, Finnian McKenna; John McCoy, Colm Shalvey.

Subs: Brian Driver for J Sherry (inj.), Pauric Redden, Charlie McDonald for C McKenna.

We are away to Aghabog this Sunday for a 12.30 throw-in.

U-16: The Under-16 footballers booked their place in a championship semi-final thanks to a 2-13 to 1-8 win at home to Killanny last Thursday. Despite early points from Ahmed Gamal and Fearghal McMahon, Killanny took a 1-3 to 0-2 lead, but Fearghal hit our next four points, before Morahan fired to the net to put us ahead. Another brace of points from Fearghal made it 1-8 to 1-4 in our lads’ favour at half-time and he added the first point of the second half. The Harps failed to score for the next 17 minutes and Killanny pulled back four points to close the gap to a point, but our lads finished with a flourish. Niall Duffy marked his introduction with two well-taken points, while Fearghal added two points and a late goal to take his tally to 1-10. The semi-final of the championship against Truagh takes place under lights in Emyvale on Tuesday at 8pm.

Team and scorers: Christopher McGonnell; Conor Burns, Donal McCarthy; Ciarán McQuaid; Jamie Cassidy, Mustafa Admed, Tiarnán Bramley; Turlough Clerkin, Niall Treanor; Francis Lynch (Capt.), James McKenna, Ahmed Gamal (0-1); Mark Hetherington, Fearghal McMahon (1-10, 0-4f), Evan Morahan (1-0).

Subs: Kevin Loughran for J McKenna, Niall Duffy (0-2) for Gamal, Pauric Coyle for Lynch.

O-35s: The Over-35s/recreational team beat Aghabog in the shield semi-final of the Truagh tournament last Sunday, qualifying for this Saturday’s final against Keady, which throws in at 5pm at St. Mellan’s.

Gavan Duffy Park: We host the Under-16 Hurling League Final between Truagh and Cootehill this Thursday at 6.30pm and the ladies SFC Final between Donaghmoyne and Emyvale this Sunday. All help welcome.

Club Harps: Our ‘Club Harps’ fundraiser is currently being wrapped up. We very much appreciate all the valuable support received so far and we ask that anyone who still wishes to contribute do so as soon as they can by contacting club treasurer John Harden. The next fundraiser will be a poker classic, so keep an eye on the club notes for more details.

Twitter: You can now stay in touch with club matches and news on twitter by following our new page: www.twitter.com/monaghanharps.