Fixtures: Thursday, July 14: U-15 FL Division One v Castleblayney (Away) at 7.30pm
Friday, July 15: U-15 FL Division 5B v Corduff (Home) at 7.30pm
Sunday, July 17: IFL Q-F v Cremartin (Away) at 1pm; U-17 FL Division 3B v Carrickmacross (Home) at 12pm
Monday, July 18: U-13 HL v Carrickmacross (Away) at 7pm
Tuesday, July 19: U-19 FL Division Two Final v Scotstown
Wednesday, July 20: SHC v Carrickmacross (Home) at 8pm; U-15 HL v Carrickmacross (Home) at 7pm
Ógie Ó Dufaigh Way: From this Friday, one very important road, Slí Ógie Uí Dhufaigh, will become our way in and way home from Gavan Duffy Park All club members are invited to join with the Ó Dufaigh family and Monaghan County Council for the unveiling of the road at Old Cross Square at 7.30pm. A plaque will be unveiled at the clubhouse by our senior team captain Aodhán Óg McAnespie. This will be followed by the book launch of Ómós d'Ógie in our clubhouse. Entertainment and refreshments will be provided and this will be a fitting tribute to Ógie, whose first Anniversary Mass will take place this Saturday in St. Joseph's at 10am. Ógie and his family are never far from our thoughts and we send the Ó Dufaigh clann our best wishes this weekend.
Monaghan Harps Lotto: Our July 3 lotto draw was postponed as a mark of respect to our former Assistant Treasurer, Charlie Shalvey. This draw took place on Wednesday, July 6. The numbers were 14, 22, 23 and 30. Jackpot of €2,300 not won. The four €40 lucky-dip prize winners were: Peter Coyle c/o Barry Sullivan; Betty Clerkin c/o Séamus Treanor; Patrick McNally c/o Barry Sullivan; and Joanna Farmer c/o ClubZap. The sellers' prize of €20 was won by Barry Sullivan. The numbers for last Sunday's draw were 4, 11, 15 and 21. Jackpot of €2,400 not won. The four €40 lucky-dip prize winners were: Joe Finlay c/o himself; Emmett McKenna c/o Maria McKenna; Derville Murphy c/o Matt McCaughey; and Daragh Croarkin c/o himself. The sellers' prize of €20 was won by Paddy Kelly. Jackpot for Sunday, July 17 is €2,500. 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.
Sympathy: We send sincere sympathy on behalf of the club to the families of the late Charlie Shalvey, Raymond McAree and Annie Treanor. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
Seniors: We hosted Tyholland in an important Intermediate Football League game on Saturday, July 2. We had ten scorers on the night as we secured a 3-16 to 1-13 that ensured our place in the quarter-finals. Dean Doherty, Éimhín Morahan and Luke McManus got a goal each, while Neil McAdam, Nicholas Scott, Michael Galligan, Kevin Loughran, Nathan Lavery, Lochlainn Power and Shea Swift were also on target.
Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Jake McConnon, Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Liam Conway; Nicholas Scott (0-2), Kevin Loughran (0-1), Gary Devlin; Neil McAdam (0-4, 1 '45), Dylan McKenna; Nathan Lavery (0-1); Dean Doherty (1-0), Michael Galligan (0-2f), Lochlainn Power (0-1); Luke McManus (1-1), Éimhín Morahan (1-3, 0-1f).
Subs: Oisín Fagan for Galligan; Shea Swift (0-1) for McAdam; Niall Greenan for Morahan.
We then travelled to IFL table-toppers Corduff last Wednesday, when a very slow start left us chasing a five-point deficit. A spirited comeback by our youthful team saw five points from Éimhín Morahan and one each by Daragh Croarkin, Shane McMahon, Shea Swift, Luke McManus and Oisín Fagan bring us back into contention, eventually losing out by a goal (1-10 to 0-10).
Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin (0-1f); Jake McConnon, Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Liam Conway; Shane McMahon (0-1), Nicholas Scott, Nathan Lavery; Dylan McKenna, Lochlainn Power; Gary Devlin, Éimhín Morahan (0-5, 2f), Shea Swift (0-1); Dean Doherty, Luke McManus (0-1f), Oisín Fagan (0-1).
Subs: Kevin Moran for Scott; Gary White for Swift; Niall Greenan for McManus.
We are away to Cremartin in the IFL quarter-finals this Sunday at 1pm. Please support!
Pitch development: We are very happy that the work has begun, but in order to secure funding to complete additional works at Rooskey, we need people to subscribe to the monthly option for our lotto. This can be done by going into ClubZap, selecting club shop, play lotto online and finally selecting the €20 per month option. This will be a huge support to securing additional funding from Croke Park. I am aware that we all purchase weekly and at games etc., but it is the regular subscriptions that are needed as evidence of regular money coming into the club. Thanks in advance, Rose Donnelly 0860825782.
U-19: Our U-19s have a final to look forward to after they edged a high-scoring shoot-out away to Castleblayney on Tuesday night. Our lads got off to a flying start, with a point straight from the throw-in by Liam Conway setting the tone and early goals by Michael McMorrow and Daragh Croarkin building up a big lead, but Blayney responded with a flurry of scores to turn the game on its head. We needed a goal from Luke McManus to go in level at half-time (4-4 to 2-10) and the momentum continued to swing after the restart. Blayney threatened to pull away with a couple more goals, but Shea Swift, Shay Cooney, Luke and Daragh took our goals tally to eight. Calculators were almost needed during an exciting finish, where points by Jamie Coyle, Shea and Luke pushed us three clear, before two late replies from the home side left the final score a remarkable 8-11 to 6-16 in our favour by the narrowest of margins.
Team and scorers: Jason Allister; Gregory O'Connell, Jake McConnon, Shane Moran; Jordan Crampton, Nathan Lavery, Gary Devlin; Kevin Moran, Liam Conway (0-1); Cian Bradley, Shea Swift (1-2), Mark McManus (0-1); Luke McManus (2-6, 0-3f), Daragh Croarkin (Capt., 3-0), Michael McMorrow (1-0).
Subs used: Senan Cudden; Shay Cooney (1-0); Jamie Coyle (0-1); Ali Galligan.
Our U-19s are now due to face Scotstown in the Division Two Final next Tuesday night. Please check online to confirm fixture.
Minor: Our U-17s hosted Carrickmacross in a thrilling Division One league game last Tuesday (July 5). We had seven scorers during an excellent contest, where a late goal by Eoin O'Hanlon looked set to earn us maximum points until Carrick struck in added time to win it by 1-16 to 2-12.
Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Max Aughey, Shane Moran (Capt.), Max Mallen; Kyle Cooney, Ethan McCaffrey (0-2), Jack Kierans; Jack Lynch (0-1), Eoin O'Hanlon (1-1); Dara Mullin, Oisín Treanor (0-2), Dónal Moran; Fionán Ó Gallchóir (1-2, 1-0 pen), Cian Bradley (0-1), John McCrystal (0-3).
We were then away to Castleblayney last Sunday. A brilliant solo goal by Fionán Ó Gallchóir helped us cut a six-point deficit to two (1-7 to 1-5) by half-time, but we were unable to make a series of chances count in the second half, which saw a more clinical Blayney side eventually pull away to win on a scoreline of 4-12 to 2-8.
Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Max Aughey, Shane Moran, Max Mallen; Mark Clerkin, Ethan McCaffrey (0-1), Kyle Cooney; Senan Cudden (Capt.), Jack Lynch (0-2); Dara Mullin, Jack Kierans, Dónal Moran; Fionán Ó Gallchóir (2-4, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), Cian Bradley (0-1), Eoin O'Hanlon.
Subs used: Ali Galligan; Dáire Conlon.
Our next Division One game is at home to St. Pat's on Sunday week, July 24. Our Division 3B team were away to Donaghmoyne last night (Wednesday), with a rescheduled home game v Carrickmacross set for this Sunday.
U-15: Our U-15 Division One team made a long-awaited return to action at home to Carrickmacross last Thursday. A strong first-half performance saw the Harps take charge of the game, but Carrick weren't to be shrugged off easily and they stayed in the contest right to the end. Some excellent defending by the likes of Orrin Doherty, Daniel Alexis and Shay Lambe helped keep Carrick at bay in the second half, before Mark Lynch tucked home our third goal to seal a 3-9 to 2-7 win. The Division One Cup section continues with an away game in Castleblayney this evening (Thursday), while our Division 5B campaign continues at home to Corduff tomorrow (Friday).
U-13: After the end of the leagues, our U-13 teams look forward to the championships.
U-11: After the end of their Spring League campaign, our U-11s are looking forward to the Liam Stirrat Development League, which begins this Saturday away to Corduff.
Cúl Camp: Our 2022 Kellogg's Cúl Camp at Gavan Duffy Park took place last week. Thanks to the coaches and everyone involved in organising the camp.
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.
