Fixtures: Sunday, May 14: RFC O’Duffy Cup v Truagh (Home) at 3pm; MHL S-F v Castleblayney (Home) at 12pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 6, 7, 11 and 21. Jackpot of €1,500 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Chris Conway (direct debit) c/o Owen Connell; €40 Dermot Coyle c/o himself; €40 Margaret McCaughey c/o Matt McCaughey; €40: Ciarán Croarkin c/o Jimmy Croarkin. Jackpot for Sunday, May 14 is €1,600 and Ann and Kevin Treanor are on duty. Lotto draw takes place in our clubhouse every Sunday night. All welcome. Thanks to everyone for their support for our Lotto, which plays a critical role in our club’s funding. We ask all club members to continue to promote our Lotto as much as possible.

 

Darkness into Light: We were proud to host Darkness into Light Monaghan for the fourth time in the early hours of last Saturday morning, May 6. Well over 2,000 people took part in the ever-growing fundraiser for Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm/suicide. There was a special atmosphere throughout the 5km route (helped by the fine weather once again). Thanks and credit is due to all our club members and everyone else who helped out at the event, which was a great community effort. Well done to everyone involved in preparing for or stewarding on the morning, to all who helped out at the pre-registration and t-shirt collection points, all sponsors and everyone who promoted the event. We are grateful to An Garda Síochána, Civil Defence & Monaghan Municipal District Council for their help in organising the walk. See photos and report elsewhere. We will arrange the planting of this year’s Memory Tree, which was again kindly donated by Jenny Blackburn, in the next few weeks.

 

Seniors: We lost away to Ballybay in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League last Friday evening. Points from Gary White, Conor Galligan and Neil McAdam had us level at 0-3 apiece playing into the wind approaching the end of the first half, but Ballybay moved ahead with four unanswered scores. We closed the gap again after the restart, with Fearghal and Shane McMahon on target, but despite Niall Hahessy and Stephen Driver also kicking points, Ballybay pulled away in the final quarter, with a brace of goals leading them to a 2-13 to 0-9 win. We wish Liam Hahessy a speedy recovery from the injury he suffered in this game. Next up is another away fixture in Castleblayney on Friday, May 26.

Team and scorers: Ashley White; Niall Hahessy (0-1), Gareth Treanor, Kevin Loughran; Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Neil McAdam (0-1, ’45), Conor Galligan (0-1); Stephen Driver (Capt., 0-1), Nicholas Scott; Gary White (0-1), Fearghal McMahon (0-3f), Michael Galligan; Liam Hahessy, Shane Smyth, Shane McMahon (0-1).

Subs: Dean Fanning for L Hahessy (inj., 12 mins), Éimhín Morahan for M Galligan (40), Nicholas Treanor for G White (51).

 

Reserves: We host Truagh in the Reserve Football O’Duffy Cup Championship this Sunday at 3pm. All support welcome. Aghabog conceded the RFL Division 2B game due to have been played last Sunday.

 

Minors: Our minors lost out away to Emyvale last Tuesday (May 2). Scores were hard earned in a game where Emyvale came out on top on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-6. The Harps had a high-scoring 8-11 to 4-11 win at home to Latton on Tuesday (May 9) in the last game before the exam break.

 

U-16: Our U-16s had a great win at home to Magheracloone last Thursday. An early goal from Oisín Fagan and points by Anann Connor and Luke Coyle got our lads off to a strong start and although Magheracloone hit back to move ahead, further scores by Anann, Luke and Eoghan McGinnity had our lads 4-7 to 1-4 clear at half-time. Eoghan kicked a brace of points after the restart, before Luke completed his hat-trick and Anann, Lochlainn Power, Stephen Ward and Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh added scores. Our substitutes all contributed well, with Dean Doherty, Terence McDonald and Deivydas Kaklauskas joining the list of scorers in a fine team performance.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Andrew Lyden, Killian Conlon, James McKenny; Stephen Ward (0-1), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh (Capt., 0-1), Conor Devlin; Lochlainn Power (1-0), Anann Connor (2-5); Lorcan O’Rourke, Mujtaba Gamal, Jamie McCarron; Eoghan McGinnity (0-3, 2f), Luke Coyle (3-3), Oisín Fagan (1-0).

Subs used: Dean Doherty (1-0), Terence McDonald (2-2), Cathal Nally, Adam McGarry, Deivydas Kaklauskas (1-0).

 

U-14: Our Under-14 Division One team were away to Cremartin on Monday evening. Cremartin took the lead with two early goals, but Shay Cooney, Nathan Lavery, Liam Conway and Luke McManus kicked points to get us into the game. Shay added a goal and a Gary Devlin point had us within striking distance, only for Cremartin to finish the first half with another brace of goals to move 4-7 to 1-6 clear. Luke, Shay, Jake Power and Tiarnán O’Rourke all kicked points in the second half for our lads, while Jamie Coyle found the net, but Cremartin’s ability to score goals at crucial times proved decisive.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Ryan McSkeane, James Curley; Kevin Moran, Liam Conway (Capt., 0-1), Mark McManus; Tiarnán O’Rourke (0-1), Nathan Lavery (0-1); Gary Devlin (0-1f), Shay Cooney (1-6, 0-1f, 0-1’45), Jake McConnon; Luke McManus (0-2), Jamie Coyle (1-0).

Subs used: Jake Power (0-1), Josh Kelly, Shea Swift, Karol Parszywka.

Our next games are at home to Magheracloone in Division One and v Scotstown in Division Five: dates subject to change. Before then, we are holding a fundraising ‘Marathon Match’ involving our U-14s at Gavan Duffy Park this Saturday, May 13 from 9am. This will be raising funds for Féile gear for our U-14 panel. All support welcome.

 

U-12s: Our two Under-12 teams await the start of the summer leagues, with the Harps set to enter Divisions One and Five.

 

U-10s: Well done to our U-10s who competed in the all-county blitz in Cloghan last Saturday morning.

 

Membership: Registration fees of €20 for 2017 are now overdue and must be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor or in the clubhouse as soon as possible.

 

Dates to remember: We will be participating and hosting at Féile Peil na nÓg 2017 (June 23-25), a week after our juvenile street collection, while our U-14 team have a fundraising ‘Marathon Match’ at Gavan Duffy Park this Saturday, May 13. Keep an eye on club notes for more details on these events.

 

Coaching: Keep an eye out for details about an upcoming Child Protection course.

 

Pitch bookings: All pitch bookings for 2017 for training or matches must be made via 086 1957155. Training slots have been allocated and any changes must be notified in advance. All co-operation from team mentors in maintaining the pitches is appreciated.

 

Gavan Duffy Park: The refurbished Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Contact Jimmy Croarkin on 087 1249635 or Pádraig Callan on 087 4515206 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

 

Hurling notes:

U-12: Our U-12s travelled to Carrick on Monday for the first round of the league, where good performances from Seán Callan, Oisín Murray, Oisín Connolly, Cian Bradley, Jack McDonald and Enda Brady sealed a win by 6 scores to 1.

 

U-16: A large amount of absentees led to the concession of the opening round of the U-16 league last Monday evening.

 

Minor: Our minors travelled to Carrickmacross last Sunday, where despite an even contest for much of the game, a purple patch for Carrick led to them finishing convincing winners on a 4-14 to 3-4 scoreline. The semi-final is due to be played at home to Castleblayney this Sunday at 12 noon.

 

Senior: We are next at home to Castleblayney on Thursday, May 18 at 7.45pm in what is now a must-win game.