Fixtures: Tuesday, September 1: U-17 FC Division One v Castleblayney (Away) at 6.30pm
Thursday, September 3: U-15 FC Division One v Castleblayney (Home) at 6.45pm
Friday, September 4: U-15 FC Division Five v Scotstown (Home) at 6.45pm
Saturday, September 5: IFC S-F v Emyvale in Scotstown at 3.30pm
Sunday, September 6: Ladies' JFC Final: Killeevan v Seán McDermotts at Gavan Duffy Park at 1pm
Tuesday, September 8: Ladies' U-16 FC v Inniskeen (Home) at 6.45pm
Monaghan Harps Lotto: We are delighted to have resumed our club lotto, using the ClubZap platform. Numbers 4, 6, 10 and 29. Jackpot of €6,000 won by Helen Scott via ClubZap. Congratulations to Helen from all in the Lotto committee and the club! Jackpot for Sunday, September 6 is €1,000. The club is asking members willing and financially able to contribute through our lotto towards club maintenance and running expenses. This can be done by two options: set up a standing order to our club lotto via quarterly or annual payments or using our new club app by downloading 'ClubZap' on your phone, registering as a Monaghan Harps GAA Club member and buying club lotto in bulk or on a weekly basis. Anyone interested can contact either Rose Donnelly (086 0825782); Maria McKenna (086 1057725) or Adrian Dalton (087 7859582). Thanks to everyone for their continued support for our lotto, which is so important to the club in these times. Please note that the cut-off point for ClubZap each week is 6pm on Sunday, while physical tickets should be with the lotto committee by 9pm.
Seniors: We booked our place in the McElvaney Recycling Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals with a hard-earned win over Corduff in Aughnamullen last Saturday. Like last year's clash between the teams, this game went down to the wire, with our lads recovering from a slow start to eventually go through this time by the narrowest of margins (3-8 to 1-13). A team showing five changes from a similarly hard-earned win against Emyvale took time to settle, with Corduff using the wind at their backs well to build up a six-point lead before a Gary White goal gave us a welcome boost. Éimhín Morahan also found the net to send us in level at 2-3 to 0-9 and we pushed on after the restart, helped by a third goal from Shane Smyth. With Éimhín adding to his tally and Conn O'Hanlon and Aodhán Óg McAnespie driving forward to kick points, we led by five heading into the final quarter, but having been reduced to 14 men, we had to hold off a strong finish by Corduff to set up another meeting with Emyvale. The semi-final has been set for Scotstown this Saturday at 3.30pm.
Team and scorers: Dylan McAree; Conn O'Hanlon (0-1), Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt., 0-1), Kevin Loughran; Nicholas Scott, Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh, John Mulligan; Stephen Driver, Neil McAdam; Michael Galligan (0-1f), Conor Galligan (0-1), Thomas Croarkin; Conor McCrystal, Gary White (1-0), Éimhín Morahan (1-3, 0-2f).
Subs: Dean Doherty for Mulligan, Shane Smyth (1-1) for White (inj.), Shane McMahon for M Galligan, Jamie Shields for McCrystal, Lochlainn Power for Morahan.
Gavan Duffy Park: Thanks to the club members who had Gavan Duffy Park in fine condition for last Sunday's JFC quarter-final between Aughnamullen and Aghabog despite the weather in the previous week. We are set to host the Ladies' JFC Final between Killeevan v Seán McDermotts this Sunday at 1pm. This will again be played behind closed doors.
Golf Classic: Plans are underway for the 2020 Monaghan Harps Golf Classic on Friday, September 18 at Rossmore Golf Club. To enter a team of 4 costs €160. Tee times are filling up quick, so please contact Kevin Treanor on 087 1497159 to get involved. Amid the ongoing restrictions, this is a particularly important fundraiser for the club this year, so all support is greatly appreciated.
Minors: Our U-17s played their last round-robin game of the Maguire International Division One Championship against Magheracloone in Annaghminnon on Tuesday, August 25. After getting off to a strong start, an improved all-round team performance saw us claim a 2-14 to 0-7 win. Jake Power and Shay Cooney got the goals in either half, while Tiarnán O'Rourke, Luke McManus, Shea Swift and Daragh Croarkin were also among our scorers as we set up a play-off away to Castleblayney, which takes place this evening (Tuesday) at 6.30pm.
Team and scorers: Karol Parsyzkwa; Jordan Crampton, Nathan Lavery, James Curley; Gary Devlin, Kevin Moran, Mark McManus; Tiarnán O'Rourke (Capt., 0-4, 1 '45), Liam Conway; Shea Swift (0-2), Daragh Croarkin (0-2, 1f), Jamie Coyle; Luke McManus (0-3), Shay Cooney (1-2, 0-1f), Jake Power (1-1).
Subs used: Gregory O'Connell, Eoin McCleary, Conor Treanor.
Please see ClubZap/social media for the result from Tuesday's play-off.
U-15: Our U-15 Division One team returned to championship action with a good win away to Truagh last Thursday. We had an excellent spread of scorers in the first half, with all three half-backs (Ethan McCaffrey, Seán Callan and Shane Moran) joining Eoin O'Hanlon, Ali Galligan, Fionán Ó Gallchóir, Cian Bradley and goal-scorer Jack Lynch in hitting the target. A hat-trick of goals during the second half helped secure a win on a scoreline of 4-14 to 2-5. Second place in the table is up for grabs when our lads host Castleblayney this Thursday. The Division Five Championship resumes with a home game against Scotstown on Friday. Both games throw in at 6.45pm.
Team: Oisín Reilly; Diarmuid McGinnity, Dáire Conlon, Max Mallen; Ethan McCaffrey, Seán Callan, Shane Moran; Senan Cudden, Eoin O'Hanlon; Mark Clerkin, Jack Lynch, Ali Galligan; Fionán Ó Gallchóir, Cian Bradley, Dara Mullin.
U-13: Our U-13 teams hosted Carrickmacross in a double-header last Saturday. After enjoying a lot of possession early on, our lads needed a goal from Daniel Alexis to lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at half-time, Daniel, Eoin Sheridan and Orrin Doherty all found the net in the second half to help secure a 4-9 to 2-7 win.
Team: John Paul Brannigan; Dáire McKenna, John Sherry; Rhys McCaffrey, Josh Cassidy, Joe Gunn; Mark Lynch, Eoin Sheridan; Shane McGarry, Orrin Doherty, Shay Lambe; Shea Corrigan, Daniel Alexis.
The Division Five game was a cracking encounter, where the momentum swung several times, but Carrick eventually finished on the right side of a 6-8 to 6-6 scoreline.
This young Harps panel includes: Jack McMahon, John Paul Brannigan, Denas Nagulevicius, Seán Lambe, Kyle Lavery, Robert Uskans, Ruairí Smyth, Joseph O'Neill, Charlie O'Brien, Rhys Coyle, Lewis Duffy, Ethan Grant, Ryan Grant, Alex Flynn, Calum McCaffrey, Daithí Devlin, Daniel Aughey, Daniel Jansons, Caolán Conlon.
The knock-out stage of the U-13 championships is due to start this Saturday, with fixtures not available at time of writing. Please see ClubZap/ social media for details.
GAA return: We are grateful to our ever-willing volunteers and our Covid supervisors for their efforts throughout the return to play. Dressing rooms will remain closed until further notice, while club games are unfortunately now to be played 'behind closed doors' as per a recent Government announcement. Monaghan GAA streamed last weekend's games (thanks again to Joe Ó Gallchóir for doing commentary) and will have more live streams available this weekend. Please see ClubZap/ social media for the links.
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.
Membership: Please note that any outstanding membership fees for this year should be paid as soon as possible. Registration can be paid to club registrar Kevin Treanor or using ClubZap. Fees are as follows: U-11s €20; juveniles/seniors €30; family membership €60.
Hurling:
Seniors: Our senior team are continuing in their preparations for the Junior Championship Final on September 13. Please keep an eye on our social media for updates in relation to this fixture.
Juveniles: Training continues on Sunday morning at 11.30.
Ladies:
Minors: Our minors had a good win at home to Seán McDermotts last Saturday in their final-round fixture of the Division Three Championship.
U-16s: Our U-16s host Inniskeen on Tuesday at 6.45pm.