Fixtures: Thursday, April 28: U-15 FL Division One v Corduff (Away) at 7.30pm; DHL v Truagh (Away) at 7.30pm
Saturday, April 30: U-13 Spring League v Aughnamullen (Away) at 11am
Sunday, May 1: U-13 Spring League v Inniskeen (Away) at 1.15pm
Tuesday, May 3: U-15 FL Division 5B v Corduff (Away) at 7pm
Wednesday, May 4: RFL Division 1A v Scotstown (Home) at 7.45pm
Monaghan Harps Lotto: The numbers for last Sunday's draw were 9, 14, 25 and 30. Jackpot of €1,300 not won. The four €40 lucky-dip prize winners were: Peter McGinn c/o Barry Sullivan; Lorcán & Fiadh Donnelly c/o Paddy Donnelly; Natasha Kavanagh c/o Niamh Kelly; and Séamus Treanor c/o Sheila Treanor. The sellers' prize of €20 was won by Niamh Kelly. Jackpot for Sunday, May 1 is €1,400. Thanks to everyone for their continued support for our lotto, which plays an integral part for the club. Please note that the cut-off point for ClubZap each week is 6pm on Sunday.
Scór: GRMA to everyone involved in our Scór celebration evening in our clubhouse last Sunday. This was a great evening of music and song from our own club members, whose efforts have seen us crowned Club Is Fearr in Scór na nÓg for the last three years. We wish Dearbhla Ní Mhearáin the very best of luck in the All-Ireland Scór na nÓg Final in Killarney this Sunday, May 1. Dearbhla has already done her club and family proud by winning county and Ulster titles this year. Ádh mór ort ag an deireadh seachtaine!
DIL: Darkness Into Light returns in its traditional format on Saturday week (May 7). Registration is open now at darknessintolight.ie.
National Club Draw: The 2022 National Club Draw will take place on June 2, with prizes including a car, €2,000 cash and All-Ireland Hurling & Football Final packages. We ask club members who have yet to collect their book of tickets to contact Rose Donnelly ASAP and anyone who has sold a book of tickets to return them to Rose. All proceeds go directly into the running of our club. GRMA.
IFL: We hosted Toome in round one of the Intermediate Football League last Sunday at 2pm. Neil McAdam converted three frees into the wind during the opening quarter, but we found ourselves trailing by 1-4 to 0-3 after 22 minutes. A strong finish to the first half saw Kevin Moran, Conor McCrystal and Éimhín Morahan bring us back on level terms at 0-8 to 1-5, before Michael Galligan and Conor edged us ahead in the early stages of the second half. A second goal for Toome swung the momentum back in their favour and although our lads rallied late on with points from Lochlainn Power and Éimhín cutting the gap to one, we fell short on a scoreline of 0-16 to 2-12. Well done nevertheless to Jake McConnon, Gary Devlin and Luke McManus on making their competitive senior debuts on Sunday. Our next IFL game is away to Magheracloone on Saturday week (May 7).
Team and scorers: Conor Callan; Jake McConnon, Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Jamie Shields; Kevin Moran (0-1), Thomas Croarkin, Gary Devlin; Neil McAdam (0-3f), Dylan McKenna; Dean Doherty, Shane McMahon, Lochlainn Power (0-1) Conor McCrystal (0-3, 1f), Éimhín Morahan (0-6, 3f), Tiarnán O'Rourke.
Subs: Michael Galligan (0-2, 1f) for Doherty (H-T); Gary White for Shields (35 mins); Luke McManus for McMahon, Nathan Lavery for McKenna (both 48).
Reserves: We returned to winning ways in the RFL Division 1A away to Clontibret last Wednesday. Tiarnán O'Rourke hit the net early on and with Lochlainn Power, Shea Swift, Conor McCrystal, Niall Greenan and Luke McManus all on target, we led throughout the first half. We had to play into the breeze in the second half, but goals by Luke McManus and Conor Duffy kept us ahead and with Conor McCrystal adding a couple of points, we stayed ahead to win on a scoreline of 3-10 to 1-11.
Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Jamie Shields, Kevin Moran, Jake McConnon; Gary Devlin, Gary White, Nathan Lavery; Lochlainn Power (0-1), Conor Duffy (1-0); Shea Swift (0-2), Conor McCrystal (0-4, 3f), Niall Greenan (Capt., 0-2f); Dean Doherty; Tiarnán O'Rourke (1-0), Luke McManus (1-1).
Subs used: Niall Hahessy; Oisín Fagan; Jordan Crampton.
We played Tyholland in the RFL Division Three last night (Wednesday). Our next RFL Division 1A game is at home to Scotstown next Wednesday at 7.45pm.
U-19: Sunday's U-19 game away to Magheracloone has been postponed as a mark of respect, following the tragic death of Aoibhe Byrne. We offer our condolences to the Magheracloone club and the Byrne family at this difficult time.
Minor: Both our teams had a busy week in the U-17 Spring Leagues. We concluded Group F with a dramatic win away to Seán McDermotts last Sunday. A series of scores by John McCrystal, Dara Mullin, Julian Coyle and Ethan McCaffrey had us 2-8 to 3-2 up at half-time, but an injury meant the second half was played at 12-a-side, with the Seáns gradually building up a healthy lead. Our lads dug in though, with Kyle Cooney's move up front seeing him hit some nice scores, before Ali Galligan and Julian hit the net late on to earn us a narrow win (5-12 to 4-14). We wish John McCrystal a speedy recovery.
Team and scorers: Oisín McGeown; Diarmuid McGinnity, Max Mallen (Capt.); Ali Galligan (1-0), Kyle Cooney (1-3, 0-2f), Fergal Magee; Ethan McCaffrey (0-1), Dara Mullin (0-2); Jack Kierans, John McCrystal (1-5), Julian Coyle (2-1); Rohann McKenna-Malocca, James Gunn.
Next up was the last scheduled Group A fixture at home to Clontibret on Tuesday evening. Fionán Ó Gallchóir, Senan Cudden, Cian Bradley, Ethan McCaffrey and Oisín Treanor were our scorers in a hard-earned 2-14 to 1-9 win.
Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Ali Galligan, Kyle Cooney, Diarmuid McGinnity; Max Aughey, Mark Clerkin, Max Mallen; Shane Moran, Senan Cudden (Capt., 1-1); Dara Mullin, Ethan McCaffrey (0-3, 1f), Jack Kierans; Fionán Ó Gallchóir (1-6, 0-1f), Cian Bradley (0-3), Oisín Treanor (0-1).
Subs used: Julian Coyle; Dónal Moran; Rohann McKenna-Malocca; Oisín McGeown; Eoin O'Hanlon.
U-15: Our U-15 Division One team had a good win at home to Castleblayney last Thursday. After an even start to the game, our lads moved through the gears to put some excellent moves together and claim a fine win. The Division 5B lads hosted Castleblayney last night (Wednesday). Both teams travel to Corduff for their next games: Division One this evening (Thursday) and Division 5B next Tuesday.
U-13: The U-13 Spring Leagues reach the head-to-head stage this weekend, with our lads facing another busy schedule of away games. First up is a meeting with Aughnamullen on Saturday at 11am, followed by a trip to Inniskeen on Sunday at 1.15pm. The Magheracloone game has been postponed.
U-11: Our U-11s hosted Scotstown in an entertaining double-header last Saturday. Well done to everyone involved. Their next games are away to Clontibret on Saturday week (May 7).
County: Good luck to Seán Callan, Jack Lynch, Oisín Reilly and the Monaghan minors in their Ulster MFC game v Armagh at the Athletic Grounds tomorrow night (Friday) and to the county senior teams in Saturday's double-header in Clones. Please note that all upcoming championship games are all-ticket. There will be no cash sales at the venues.
Championship preview night: Thanks again to our sponsors for our recent championship preview night in the Hillgrove Hotel. These included Monar Civil & Ground Works; Lennox laboratories; Local Power Ltd.; McConnon's Londis, Monaghan; Ulster GAA; Off the Ball; Dolan's Pharmacy; Magill's Jewellers; Andy's Bar & Restaurant; Bogue's Forecourt; and McNally's Service Station.
Upcoming club events: The next date for your diary for a big club event is our Golf Classic on June 10. Before then, Darkness Into Light returns in its traditional format on May 7.
Saturday-morning coaching: Our U-9, U-7 and nursery groups have enjoyed the return of their weekly coaching sessions over recent Saturdays. Thanks to all the coaches, parents and everyone involved.
Urgent: Ground-development works need to start ASAP as grant funding expires soon. Matching finance is needed from the club. Please support our lotto frequently. Become a regular lotto player by buying weekly or setting up a recurring entry on ClubZap or direct debit or contact Rose Donnelly 086 0825782. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Registration: Registration fees for 2022 can now be paid via Foireann.ie (use your log-in details from last year's return-to-play questionnaires). When you open the app, select 'my club' and 'membership' to pay your membership in seconds. Fees are as follows: juveniles €30; senior citizens €30; adults and all adult players €50; family membership (two adults and up to three juvenile players) €90. You can also renew your membership by contacting club registrar Kevin Treanor or treasurer Rose Donnelly. Please note that all juvenile and adult players must be paid-up members.
Club app: As well as offering an option to support our lotto, our new club app also has a function to pay your annual membership, make financial donations to the club, as well as a communication suite for all that goes on at the club. You can get involved by downloading 'ClubZap' on your phone and registering as a Monaghan Harps GAA Club member.
