Fixtures: Friday, October 4: SFC Semi-Final Replay v Clontibret in Emyvale at 8.15pm; Saturday, October 5: MFL Division One Semi-Final v Magheracloone (Home) at 12pm; Sunday, October 6: Ulster Club JHC v Craobh Rua, Camlough in Crossmaglen at 1.45pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 1, 6, 15 and 21. Jackpot of €2,000 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Kathleen McKenna c/o Liadhan Treanor; €40 Emma Galligan c/o Ann Treanor; €40 Mary Gormley c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Teresa O’Connor c/o Liadhan Treanor. Jackpot for Sunday, October 6 is €2,100 and Gráinne and Owen Coyle are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in the clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome

 

Seniors: Our SFC semi-final against Clontibret finished in a 1-11 apiece draw at Clones last Saturday. We trailed by 0-5 to 0-3 after a low-scoring first half where our points came from Dónal Hahessy, Shane Smyth and Neil McAdam. Dónal added our first score of the second half, but Clontibret moved into an eight-point lead, before three points from Dónal and one by Shane Coyle halved our deficit to four. A goal by Shane Smyth meant it was really game on and although Clontibret replied, points by Fearghal McMahon and Neil levelled it up. Clontibret retook the advantage in added time, but Fearghal coolly converted a last-gasp free to give us a second chance.

Team and scorers: Cónall McKenna; Aodhán Óg McAnespie, David Hughes, Kevin Loughran; Conor Galligan, Neil McAdam (0-2f), Gareth Treanor; Stephen Driver, Gary White (Capt.); Niall Hahessy, Dónal Hahessy (0-5, 3f), Paul Rushe; Liam Hahessy, Shane Smyth (1-1), Nicholas Treanor.

Subs: Nicholas Scott for G Treanor (inj., 25 mins), Emmett McArdle for Rushe (H-T), Shane Coyle (0-1) for Hughes (inj., 36), Peter Coyle for N Treanor (44), Fearghal McMahon (0-2, 1f) for L Hahessy (50).

The replay takes place under lights in Emyvale this Friday at 8.15pm. Please come out to support the lads in the bid for a place in the county final!

 

Recreational tournament: Our recreational football tournament takes place for its second year this Saturday, October 5, in memory of deceased club members. The action is due to get underway at approximately 1.30pm and more information will be released on our website and social media in the run-up to Saturday. Money raised goes to Monaghan Cancer Treatment Support Group and all help would be greatly appreciated! A final meeting takes place in the clubhouse tonight (Tuesday) at 7.30pm.

 

Minors: Our minor footballers are at home to Magheracloone in the league semi-finals this Saturday, when they will attempt to bounce back from losing to the same opposition at the same stage of the championship. The game throws in at 12 noon and we encourage everyone coming to the recreational tournament to get there early and cheer on our minors.

 

Draw: Tickets are selling well for a ‘Sportspersons Dream’ draw, which offers some amazing prizes, particularly for sports fans. Tickets are on sale now from club members and online – see link on our website. An update meeting takes place tonight (Tuesday) in the clubhouse at 8.30pm, when the early-bird draw is also due to be held.

 

Sponsored walk: The juvenile club’s annual sponsored walk and fun morning took place last Saturday in glorious sunshine at Gavan Duffy Park and was very enjoyable as always. Thanks to all the young players, their parents, all the coaches and everyone involved in keeping the Saturday morning coaching running so well, with record numbers registered this year. Particular mention must go to co-ordinators Finbarr Conlon and Una Forde. The 2014 coaching will start in March/April!

 

Hard luck: To Yvonne Connell, Muireann O’Rourke, Mickey Morgan and the Monaghan senior ladies footballers, who lost out by the narrowest of margins in last Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Cork at Croke Park. Well done to all involved on their achievements this year.

 

Emmett Connolly RIP: The thoughts of all at the club are with the Connolly family after the tragic death of Tessie’s grandson Emmett at the weekend. Remains reposing at his residence from 4pm on Tuesday until removal on Thursday morning to Holy Trinity Church, Rockcorry, arriving for 11am Funeral Mass. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

 

Hurling:

U-16s Championship Success: After falling short against Carrickmacross a couple of weeks ago in the league final, our lads showed excellent character to come out and put in a great performance in the championship decider last Saturday morning and ensure they finished their season off with some silverware. In a game played in fine autumn conditions in Clontibret, Conor Flynn got the Harps up and running with two points from frees in the opening minutes. Carrick rallied to take a one-point lead, but this seemed to kick the Harps lads into gear as they went on a scoring spree that was really the winning of the match in the end. This included points from Mark Murphy and David Lowry, along with a Ciarán Cassidy goal, before Paul Peppard also found the net, following a great ball in from the energetic Cathal Power. Another Ronan Curran free for Carrick just before the half-time whistle left the score at 2-8 to 0-5. Even with such a dominant lead, and with Carrick having a player sent off eight minutes, the Harps didn’t have it all their own way in the second half, although David Lowry did get the first point with a wonderful solo effort. The Harps were kept scoreless over the next 19 minutes, allowing Carrick to get back into the game. A goal from a penalty late on set up an extremely tense finish to the game, but resolute defending from the Harps backs and Dylan McAree in goals, who made a number of outstanding stops on the day, ensured that co-captains Ruairí Forde and Ciarán Cassidy would raise the trophy high after the final whistle. Congratulations to the team and management on their great display, which gave them a 2-10 to 1-11 win.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Conor Duffy, Ryan Connolly, Paul Peppard (1-0); Reece Treanor, Seán Grant, Niall McManus; Cathal Power (0-2f), Kyle O’Leary; Ciarán Cassidy (Joint-Capt., 1-1), Aidan Burns, Ruairí Forde (Joint-Capt.); Mark Murphy (0-1), Conor Flynn (0-4f), David Lowry (0-2).

Sub: Andrew Connolly for Flynn.

Rest of Panel: Michael Gissane; Nathan O’Donoghue; Thomas Croarkin; Niall Ward; John Lowry; Zach Mallen; Remy McKenna.

Management: Jim Dalton, Michael O’Donoghue & Thomas McCabe.

The management would like to thank all of the lads for their effort throughout the year and are delighted that they got their rewards for such great work.

Minors: The Minor Championship final in which Truagh Harps will play either Clontibret or Carrickmacross will take place on Saturday, October 12. Time and venue to be confirmed.

Seniors: Our seniors contest an Ulster Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final against Craobh Rua, Camlough (Armagh) this Sunday, October 6, in Crossmaglen at 1.45. Show your support!

Sportsperson’s Dream: Club members are encouraged to keep up the effort in selling tickets for this fundraiser.

 

Ladies: Our senior team await the semi-finals of both the Division Two League and the Reserve League v Magheracloone. Training for seniors and minors continues and all players will be notified of training days and times by text.

Our remaining minor fixtures are against Truagh and Scotstown.

U-10, U-12, U-14 & U-16 girls football for 2013 has now finished. For any further events, fundraising or information for the remainder of the year all parents will receive a text.

The €30 club tickets for the upkeep & maintenance of the facilities at Gavan Duffy Park, have been distributed for sale amongst all club members. We request all Ladies club players past & present, management, committee members and parents to support this fundraiser.

Commiserations to our own Yvonne Connell, Muireann O’Rourke and Michael Morgan as well as the entire panel and management as they were defeated in the All-Ireland Senior Championship Final against Cork last Sunday.

For anyone who was in Croke Park last Sunday and wondered how the clock stopped every time there was an injury or a substitution, we can let you in on a secret. Paul Swift, who referees on behalf of the club, was in charge of the clock high up in the Upper Hogan Stand. Paul was in direct contact with the referee via a small microphone and transmitter and when the clock needed stopping he flicked the appropriate switch. Paul will be in Ulster club action next Sunday when he takes charge of the senior quarter-final between Lacken (Cavan) and Termon (Donegal). Club member Dave Mee has been one of Paul’s trusted umpires all season.