Fixtures: Tuesday, April 2: MFL Division One v Magheracloone (Away) at 7pm; Under-14 FL Division One v Magheracloone (Home) at 6.15pm

Wednesday, April 3: RFL Division 1A v Castleblayney (A) at 7pm

Thursday, April 4: Development HL v Truagh (Home) at 7pm; Under-16 FL Division One v St. Patrick’s in Ballybay at 6.30pm

Saturday, April 6: RFL Division 1A v Magheracloone (Home) at 5pm; Under-14 FL Division One v Scotstown (Away) at 12pm

Tuesday, April 9: MFL Division One v Carrickmacross (Home) at 7pm; Under-14 FC Division One v Magheracloone (Away) at 6.30pm

Wednesday, April 10: Under-21 FL Division Two v Donaghmoyne (Home) at 7pm

 

Monaghan Harps Lotto: Numbers 8, 13, 19 and 21. Jackpot of €4,000 not won. Residual prizes: €100 Caolán & Alannah Cuddy c/o Ciarán Cuddy; €40 Patricia Sullivan c/o Barry Sullivan; €40 Brendan McCleary c/o Owen Connell; €40 Rose Donnelly c/o Paddy Donnelly. Jackpot for Sunday, April 7 is €4,150 and Monica and Paudge Connolly are on duty. All welcome. Anyone who has sold a direct-debit is asked to pass the details on to the Lotto committee as soon as possible, so they can be entered into our weekly draw straight away. The Monaghan Harps Lotto plays an integral role in the running of the club. If you want to volunteer to get involved in any way (e.g. selling tickets), please contact any committee member.

 

Seniors: The SFL season started with a hard-earned draw away to Magheracloone on Sunday. Despite working hard playing against a strong wind in the first half, we could only manage three points from frees by Nicholas Treanor, allowing Magheracloone to take a 0-10 to 0-3 lead. Points by Nicholas, Donal Hahessy and Emmett McArdle and a goal by Liam Hahessy saw the gap cut to just a point inside the first ten minutes of the second half, before Donal and Nicholas added a point each to edge our lads ahead. We were hit with a potential sucker punch when Magheracloone retook the advantage with a goal, but Emmett and Donal brought us level again and although we fell behind once more, Emmett fisted over to make the final score 1-11 apiece. Next up for the seniors is a home game against Rockcorry on April 13.

Team and scorers: Conall McKenna; Aodhán Óg McAnespie, Rónán Garvey, David Hughes; Nicholas Scott, Conor Galligan, Darren McMahon; Gary White (Capt.), Shane Coyle; Paul Rushe, Nicholas Treanor (0-5, 4f), Neil McAdam; Donal Hahessy (0-3, 1f), Emmett McArdle (0-3), Liam Hahessy (1-0).

Subs: Peter Coyle for Rushe (38 mins), Paddy Connolly for S Coyle (55).

 

Reserves: We came out second-best in a high-scoring RFL Division 3 game away to Blackhill last Saturday (5-9 to 3-8). A goal by David Loughran and points by Conor McCaughey and Conor Devlin were our only scores against the wind in the first half, after which we trailed by 2-7 to 1-2. We made a purposeful start to the second half, but Blackhill did enough to stay clear, even though we eventually pulled goals back through Gerard Gilsenan and substitute Dessie McGarry. Our next game in this competition is at home to Feargal O’Hanlons on April 14.

Team and scorers: Ronan McGann; Paul Smyth, Niall Brannigan, Anthony Croarkin; Pat Murphy, Johnny Sherry, Robbie Moyna; Conor Devlin (Capt., 0-1), Dean Treanor; Dean McMahon (0-1), Gary Murray, Colm Shalvey; David Loughran (1-4, 0-3f), Conor McCaughey (0-2), Gerard Gilsenan (1-0).

Subs: Aidan Connell for Smyth, Ryan Shields for McGann, Gary Trappe for Brannigan, Dessie McGarry (1-0) for Shalvey, Shea Deeney for Croarkin.

The O’Duffy Cup team are away to Castleblayney tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 7pm and have a home game against Magheracloone this Saturday at 5pm. Note earlier than scheduled throw-in time.

 

Under-21s: Our Under-21 footballers begin their league campaign at home to Donaghmoyne next Wednesday, April 10, at 7pm.

 

Minors: Our minor footballers played Magheracloone on Tuesday – see our website for result. The minors host Carrickmacross next Tuesday at 7pm.

 

U-16: Our Under-16 footballers have their first game of the league against St. Patrick’s this Thursday. Note that this game is now in Ballybay. Good luck to all involved.

 

U-14: The Under-14 FL Division One began with a convincing win at home to Killanny last Wednesday. Points by Michael Mulligan, Thomas Croarkin and Conor McCrystal (two) had our lads ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of an evenly-matched first period and it was mostly one-way traffic for the rest of the match, with Thomas, Michael, Nathan O’Donoghue, Ben Kearns-Flynn and Ethan Murphy all helping themselves to goals. The lads also host Magheracloone in the league tonight (Tuesday) and are away to the same opposition in the championship next Tuesday. Best of luck to the players and management.

Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Zach Mallon, Seán McKenna; Anthony Greenan, Aidan Burns, Niall Ward; Ben Kearns-Flynn (1-1), Jamie Shields; Conor McCrystal (0-3, 1f), Ethan Murphy (1-0), Thomas Croarkin (Capt., 4-3, 0-1f); Nathan O’Donoghue (1-0), Michael Mulligan (3-1).

Subs used: Colin Peppard, Ryan McKenna, Oisín Power, Adam O’Neill.

 

U-12: The Under-12 Football Spring Leagues started last Saturday when we hosted Scotstown in a double-header. Our first team lost out to a strong Scotstown side, but our second team produced an impressive performance to put a first win on the board. Next up is another double-bill away to Emyvale on Saturday week (April 13).

 

Hurling: Our Under-14 team had a good win over Inniskeen on Monday, while our minors were also involved in a win over Castleblayney on the same evening as part of the Truagh Harps amalgamation. Well done to everyone involved. Our senior hurlers start off their campaign with a home match versus Truagh this Thursday. It was in the same fixture that they finished last season with a win, and hopefully they get the ball rolling with the same outcome. Throw-in is at 7pm at Gavan Duffy Park. Other senior fixtures for the month of April are: 11th v Carrick (A), 18th v Blayney (A) & 25th v Truagh (A). Players are also reminded that membership is due.

 

Saturday morning coaching: Our coaching for Under-10s resumes this Saturday morning (April 6) from 10.30-11.30. Anyone who wants to help out in any way is more than welcome to get involved.

 

Harps watches: We are now selling wrist-watches with the Harps crest for €10. Contact Liadhan Treanor at 086 7837204 for more details.

 

County teams: Good luck to Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan and the county senior footballers in their promotion-deciding NFL game against Antrim in Clones on Sunday. Good luck also to Ciarán McQuaid, Conor Burns, Tiarnán Bramley, Conor O’Neill, Paul Bannon and the county minor hurlers in their Ulster league final against Cavan tomorrow night (Friday) and to Fearghal McMahon, Kevin Loughran and the minor footballers who also play Cavan on Saturday.

 

The Gathering: We are organising some events for current and former Harps players and members to coincide with the ‘Gathering’ initiative. It is hoped to have the first of these next month. Anyone willing to get involved can contact any committee member.

 

Scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta: Interviews for Gaeltacht Scholarships to Coláiste Bhríde, Rann Na Feirste will be held in GAA Administration Office, Cloghan on Saturday, April 20. Interviews for students who are pre Junior Cert will start at 10am, while interviews for post- Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students will begin at 11.30am. No pre-booking is required.