Monaghan Harps notes

Fixtures: Saturday, September 21: U-15 FC Division Four Final v Aghabog in Blackhill at 2pm

Sunday, September 22: IFC v Corduff in Aughnamullen at 1pm; U-15 HC S-F v Carrickmacross (Home) at 3pm

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 14, 26, 27 and 28. Jackpot of €3,500 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Séamus Mulligan c/o Paddy Donnelly; €40 Sheila Treanor c/o Séamus Treanor; €40 Conor McCabe (Dublin) c/o Barry Sullivan; €40 Mary Sherry c/o Brian O’Sullivan (Hurling Club). Jackpot for Sunday, September 22 is €3,600 and Ann and Adrian Trappe 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 has now played a critical role in our club’s funding for 25 years.

Seniors: We returned to the Monaghan Electrical IFL with a 2-16 to 3-4 win at home to Seán McDermotts in the penultimate round last Sunday. We conceded a brace of goals in the opening quarter, but with Neil McAdam, Éimhín Morahan, Shane Smyth and Liam Hahessy on target, we finished the first half with an unanswered 1-6 to lead by 1-11 to 2-1. Neil hit the net for a second time after the restart and with Dónal Hahessy, Éimhín, Shane and Liam all adding to their tallies, we secured a win that keeps us in contention for a league semi-final place.

Team and scorers: Gary White; Thomas Croarkin, Nicholas Scott, Kevin Loughran; Dean Fanning (Capt.), Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh, Oisín Fagan; Stephen Driver, Lochlainn Power; Dónal Hahessy (0-1), Neil McAdam (2-1, 0-1 ‘45), Shane McMahon; Éimhín Morahan (0-5, 3f), Shane Smyth (0-3), Liam Hahessy (0-6, 3f).

Subs: Conor Duffy for Fagan (42 mins), Niall Greenan for Fanning (51), Dylan McKenna for Driver, Conor McCrystal for Morahan (both 58), Conor Devlin for L Hahessy (60).

We take on Corduff in Round 3B of the McElvaney’s Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship this Sunday in Aughnamullen at 1pm. Please support!

Minors: We exited the U-17 Football Championship when losing a Division One quarter-final away to Donaghmoyne last Tuesday (September 10). A Dylan Ballantine goal helped us get off to a strong start, but Donaghmoyne took over during the closing stages of the first half and although we managed a second goal from Adam McGarry, we changed ends trailing by 3-8 to 2-3. We had plenty of possession during the second half, but despite getting points through Dean Doherty, Eoghan McGinnity and Terence McDonald, we couldn’t break Donaghmoyne down for the scores we needed to get back into the game.

Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Cathal Nally, Nathan Lavery, James Curley; Mark McManus, James McKenny, Kevin Moran; Tiarnán O’Rourke, Liam Conway; Dean Doherty (Capt., 0-1), Eoghan McGinnity (0-3, 1f), Jake Power; Terence McDonald (0-2, 1f), Dylan Ballantine (1-1, 1-0 pen), Adam McGarry (1-0).

Subs used: Shay Cooney, Gary Devlin, Joshua Clerkin.

Panel: Jason Allister, Jamie Coyle, Dylan McClave, Luke McManus, Michael McMorrow, Seán Callan, Shea Swift.

Thanks to everyone involved during this year. Thanks in particular to Barry Lavery of Monar Ltd. for sponsoring new jerseys and to Chris Conway for sponsoring half-zips.

U-15: Our U-15 Division Four team had a good win over Patrick Sarsfields in last Sunday’s championship semi-final in Threemilehouse. That set up a final against Aghabog in Blackhill this Saturday at 2pm. Good luck to all players and management. All support welcome.

U-13: Our U-13 Division Five team fell short in their Championship Final despite a valiant effort against Donaghmoyne in Drumhowan last Sunday. A fine start saw scores from Rohann McKenna-Malocca, Ryan Grant and Shane McGarry give us an early lead, but a burst of goals then handed Donaghmoyne an advantage that they wouldn’t let slip. Our lads trailed by 5-4 to 2-2 at half-time, but they kept plugging away throughout the second half, with the backs and midfield driving the team forward time and again. Daniel Alexis, Shane McGarry, Jack McArdle and Oisín Brannigan kicked points, but the Harps boys couldn’t find the goals they needed to turn things around, with Donaghmoyne running out winners on a scoreline of 5-6 to 2-7.

Panel and scorers: Alex Flynn; Dáire McKenna, John Sherry; Julian Coyle, Rhys McCaffrey, Adam Richardson; Diarmuid McGinnity, Daniel Alexis (Capt., 0-2, 1f); Shane McGarry (0-2), Jack McArdle (0-1f), Ryan Grant (1-1, 0-1f); Oisín Brannigan (0-1f), Rohann McKenna-Malocca (1-0); Luke Swift, Robert Uskan, Daithí Devlin, Daniel Aughey.

That brought the curtain down on an U-13 campaign that saw our teams contest three finals, with the Division One side retaining the Coyle Cup. Thanks to everyone involved for their efforts and to Paul Bond, Dermot Coyle and Brix Workwear for sponsoring a set of jerseys.

Scór: The club looks forward to taking part in the upcoming Scór na bPáistí and Scór na nÓg competitions. Any club members wishing to participate in or help out with Scór is asked to contact our Cultural Officer Joe Ó Gallchóir by text on 086 3048242.

Gavan Duffy Park: We hosted a double-header of U-13 FC finals last Saturday. Thanks to everyone involved. We host the Ladies SFL Final this Saturday at 5pm. All support appreciated.

Fun Day: Our annual Family Fun Day to round off the juvenile year is due to take place at Gavan Duffy Park on Saturday, October 12. More details to follow.

Sympathy: At last Thursday’s club meeting, votes of sympathy were passed to the families of Patsy Kierans, Margie McMahon, Anna Kieran and Annie McKenna. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

Clubhouse: The Monaghan Harps clubhouse is available to book for functions. Please contact Paudge Connolly on 085 8589135 or Rose Donnelly on 086 0825782 for more information. Anyone looking to book the clubhouse for meetings, functions, etc. is asked to please give a week’s notice for convenience.

Notes: Anyone who has news for inclusion in the club notes can send an email to pro.monaghanharps.monaghan@gaa.ie by Tuesday morning.

Hurling:

U-15s: Our U-15s are scheduled to face Carrickmacross in the championship semi-final on Sunday. Please check social media for the fixture details.

Juvenile Training: Training takes place at 12 this Sunday. It has been encouraging to see several new members over the last number of weeks, with young Bobby Creighan showing that the natural talent runs in the family!

Best of luck to our U-12 representatives who are taking part in the GoGames and activity day this Saturday in Croke Park.