Fixtures: Thursday, August 3: U-16 FL Division One Cup v Latton (Away) at 7.30pm

Friday, August 4: U-14 FC Division One & RFL Division 2B Finals at Gavan Duffy Park at 6pm & 7.45pm

Sunday, August 6: SHC Shield Final v Carrickmacross in Clontibret at 1.45pm

Monday, August 7: U-14 FC Division Five Final v Castleblayney in Ballybay at 3pm; U-14 FC Division Three and Two Finals at Gavan Duffy Park at 6pm & 7.30pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 4, 6, 25 and 28. Jackpot of €1,400 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Philip Cassidy c/o Dermot Coyle; €40 Eileen Morgan c/o herself; €40 Fiona Mullen c/o Tessie Connolly; €40 F O’Connor (Clones) c/o Paudge Connolly. Jackpot for Sunday, August 6 is €1,500 and Helen and John Hahessy 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.

 

JFC: Thanks to the club members who helped us host Aghabog v Rockcorry in the Junior Football Championship last Sunday. We have a busy few days of finals coming up at Gavan Duffy Park, hosting the U-14 FC Division One Final between Carrickmacross and Cremartin tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm, followed at 7.45 by the Reserve Football League Division 2B Final: Carrickmacross v Éire Óg. We host another double-header of U-14 championship finals on Monday: Drumhowan v Patrick Emmets in Division Three at 6pm and Clones v Emyvale in Division Two at 7.30. All help appreciated on both days.

 

Seniors: Monaghan’s win over Down meant the SFL games due to be played last night (Wednesday) and this weekend were postponed.

 

Minors: Our minors fell to a narrow defeat away to Castleblayney in the Division One championship on Tuesday, July 25. The teams were level five times in the first half, where Thomas Croarkin, James Bourke, Ben Kearns-Flynn and Conor McCrystal got our points to make it 0-5 apiece at the interval. Ethan Murphy added the first point of the second half, before James converted a penalty and Conor moved us four clear. James and Conor hit scores in the final quarter, but Blayney notched two goals to claim a 2-10 to 1-10 win. Hard luck to the players and management, who now turn their attentions to the concluding stages of the Division Two league.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Zach Mallen, Killian Conlon, Anthony Greenan; Jamie Shields (Capt.), Niall Ward, David Leanne; Lochlainn Power, Aidan Burns; Oisín Fagan, Conor McCrystal (0-3, 1f), Ethan Murphy (0-1); James Bourke (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-4f), Ben Kearns-Flynn (0-1), Thomas Croarkin (0-1).

Subs used: Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh, Anann Connor, Conor Devlin.

 

U-16: Our U-16s got a walkover from Clann na nGael in the Mallon’s Foods Division One championship last Thursday. The Cup section of the league continues with an away game against Latton this evening (Thursday) at 7.30pm

 

U-14: Our U-14 Division Five team play their Manor Farm Championship Final on Bank Holiday Monday, August 7 against Castleblayney in Ballybay at 3pm. All support welcome!

 

U-12: Our U-12 Division One team had a good win at home to Magheracloone last Thursday. A John McCrystal point and goals from Seán Callan and Fionán Ó Gallchóir got our lads off to a flying start, but Magheracloone rallied to close the gap to four. Points from Seán and Fionán had our lads 3-3 to 1-3 up at half-time. Seán, Fionán and John were on target after the restart, while Ethan Ballantine and Eoin O’Hanlon added goals. Cian Bradley joined the list of scorers, while Seán landed a couple of ‘two-point’ ‘45s off the ground and John found the top corner of the net as our lads pulled away to secure a 6-15 to 1-5 win at the end of a fine second-half performance.

Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Dáire Conlon, Mark Clerkin; Shane Moran, Jack Lynch; Seán Callan (2-6, 1-0f, 0-4 ‘45s), Eoin O’Hanlon (1-0); Cian Bradley (0-2, 1f), Fionán Ó Gallchóir (1-3); John McCrystal (1-4, 0-1f), Ethan Ballantine (1-0).

Subs used: Max Mallen, James Gunn.

The rescheduled Division Five game took place at home to Donaghmoyne on Tuesday evening: check online for result.

 

County: Good luck to Neil McAdam and the Monaghan senior footballers in Saturday’s SFC Quarter-Final against Dublin at Croke Park. Congratulations to Lochlainn Power, Oisín Fagan, Ógie Ó Dufaigh, Killian Conlon, Conor Devlin and everyone involved with the county U-16 team who won last Sunday’s Gerry Reilly Cup Final in Oldcastle.

 

Summer Camp: We are looking forward to hosting our own Harps Summer Camp, which will take place for its fourth year in less than two weeks: August 14-18. Application forms are available now on our website and at our Saturday-morning coaching sessions. Enquiries to Úna Forde on 087 6107329.

 

Good luck: To our senior hurlers in Sunday’s shield final in Clontibret.

 

1981 U-16 team reunion: On Saturday, July 15, 13 members of the 1981 Harps U-16 McNally Cup-winning team gathered in the clubhouse for a reunion. This was a fantastic number as the squad that year only contained 19 members. Three members of the squad flew in from overseas: Kieran Mullen attended from Maspeth, New York; Barry O’Connor made the trip from Coventry, England; and Nigel Corrigan also travelled from the south coast of England. Seamie Morgan, Tony Halpin and Paul McCormick found their way onto the M1 and headed home from Dublin while locals Paul Swift, Mickey Morgan, Pauric Trappe, Seamus McCarron, Roger McQuaid and Val Forde made up the contingent. Eddie Whelan, who was a member of the original management team, joined the lads for a great evening of craic and reminiscence. Some of the lads hadn’t seen each other for over 30 years. Thankfully, all 19 members of this squad are alive and healthy. The squad are grateful for the club for facilitating the night and to Pádraig Callan who worked the bar. Rumour has it Seamie Morgan is working on a reunion for the U-21 double-winning team, which many of the lads played in. Watch this space!

 

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 2543511 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:

Juveniles: Underage coaching and games continues every Sunday at 12pm in Rooskey.

 

U-12: We had an excellent 0-6 to 0-5 win over Keady on Monday evening in the Silver Hill Foods U-12 League. Ethan Ballantine and Seán Callan carried out most of the scoring in what was a great game. Oisín Murray, Cian Bradley and Nicholas Sherlock also performed well, with the score at 0-3 to 0-1 at half-time. It also took four great saves from Oisín Reilly to give us the victory; the last save stopping the sliotar from going over the bar. It was great also seeing Oisín Connolly and Jack McDonald back from injury.

 

Senior: We travelled to Clontibret last Thursday evening, where a win would ensure us a place in the Silver Hills Food Championship Shield Final. Conor Flynn opened the scoring in the first minute before Aidan Burns added to it, however Clontibret were quick to respond with a goal. The game then settled into a physical but even contest over the remainder of the half, with both sides having to work hard for their scores. The sides were level after 16 minutes, before four Harps points from Burns, Cathal Power and Jack Lee put us two points up at half-time (0-8 to 1-3). The Harps registered two early points again in the second half before Clontibret responded in the 38th minute. Although the Harps had much the better of possession throughout the half, this wasn’t necessarily reflected on the scoreboard. Indeed, it wasn’t until 12 minutes from time before the Harps looked in any way sure of the result, when Ray Lee picked up a loose ball before driving to goal and finishing well. A late volleyed point from Aidan Burns and an Alan Ryan score meant the game finished at 1-14 to 1-5. The Harps will now meet Carrick in the Championship Shield Final this Sunday, August 6, at 1.45pm in Clontibret.

Squad: Cillian Sherry; Éanna Finlay, Dylan McAree, Tommy Croarkin; Conor Duffy, Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Tiarnán Bramley; Cathal Power (0-2), Brendan Naughton; Aidan Burns (0-5), Conn O’Hanlon, Ray Lee (1-0); Jack Lee (0-3), Conor Flynn (0-2), Frank Burke (0-1); Conor O’Neill, Alan Ryan (0-1), Niall McManus, Reece Treanor, Maurice McKenna, Adrian Dalton, Robbie Healy, Michael Gissane, Gabe McQuillan, John Treanor, Patrick Meehan.