Fixtures: Friday, August 19: U-15 FC Division 5A v Castleblayney (Home) at 7.15pm
Saturday, August 20: U-13 FC Division Two v Tyholland (Home); U-13 FC Division Six v Inniskeen (Away) at 2.30pm
Sunday, August 21: IFC v Seán McDermotts (Away) at 2pm
Monday, August 22: U-17 FC Division One v Scotstown (Home) at 7.15pm
Tuesday, August 23: U-17 FC Division 3B v Scotstown (Away) at 7.15pm
Monaghan Harps Lotto: The numbers for last Sunday's draw were 11, 14, 15 and 20. Jackpot of €2,900 not won. The four €40 lucky-dip prize winners were: Gareth Treanor c/o Ann Treanor; Marie McCarville c/o ClubZap; Maggie Deery c/o Paddy Donnelly; and Dermot Coyle c/o himself. The sellers' prize of €20 was won by Daragh Croarkin. Jackpot for Sunday, August 21 is €3,000. 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.
Seniors: We began the Intermediate Football Championship with a hard-earned win at home to Blackhill in our Group Two opener in the heat of last Saturday afternoon. An early goal by Éimhín Morahan got us off to a great start and with Éimhín, Neil McAdam, Conor McCrystal and Lochlainn Power adding fine points, we led by ten at one stage, before a Blackhill goal closed the gap at half-time (1-12 to 2-2). The second half was a very different story as Blackhill worked their way into contention to force a nervy finish. Our scoring rate slowed down in the second half, but points from Luke McManus and Conor were enough to secure a 1-14 to 3-6 win. Well done to Jake McConnon, Gary Devlin and Luke McManus on making their championship debuts. We make the short trip to Threemilehouse to play Seán McDermotts this Sunday at 2pm. Please support!
Team and scorers: Daragh Croarkin; Jake McConnon, Nicholas Scott, Gary Devlin; Thomas Croarkin, Neil McAdam (0-5, 2f, 2 '45s), Kevin Loughran; Aodhán Óg McAnespie (Capt.), Dylan McKenna; Nathan Lavery, Conor McCrystal (0-2, 1f), Lochlainn Power (0-1); Oisín Fagan; Éimhín Morahan (1-5, 0-3f), Luke McManus (0-1).
Subs: Conor Galligan for Lavery, Dean Doherty for Fagan (both 38 mins); Tiarnán O'Rourke for Power (38); Michael Galligan for Morahan (53); Kevin Moran for McKenna (54).
Pitch development: Thanks to the club members, coaches and parents of underage players who attended our recent meetings about the club's redevelopment plan and GRMA to all who have since signed up to the Harps Lotto via ClubZap. Monaghan Harps GAA Club is developing its grounds to improve how we serve the local community. Our second pitch is to be upgraded from a clay pitch to sand-based to allow trainings to continue even in the darker, wetter months. A third sand-based pitch to help accommodate the large and growing numbers in our club community. With football (ladies' & men's), hurling and handball, our club's facilities & coaches provide for so many in our community. To develop our pitches, access and look at floodlit facilities for the future, please help our club's growth financially through buying the lotto each week on the ClubZap app or from our many sellers.
Minor: Our U-17 Division One team contested the Shield Final v Truagh in Threemilehouse on Monday night. 1-2 by John McCrystal and points from Eoin O'Hanlon, Fionán Ó Gallchóir, Cian Bradley and Senan Cudden had us 1-6 to 0-6 up at half-time, but a determined Truagh side rallied after the restart and it took a fine score from Fionán late on to bring us back on level terms at 1-12 to 0-15. It remained tight and tense throughout extra-time in rapidly fading light, but although a brace of points from Seán Callan edged us ahead, Truagh hit a crucial goal that helped them see it out on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-15.
Team and scorers: Oisín Reilly; Fergal Magee, Shane Moran, Max Mallen; Mark Clerkin, Ethan McCaffrey, Jack Kierans; Senan Cudden (Capt., 0-1), Eoin O'Hanlon (0-3, 1f); Dara Mullin, Cian Bradley (0-2), Dónal Moran; Fionán Ó Gallchóir (0-3, 2f), John McCrystal (1-4), Kyle Cooney.
Subs used: Seán Callan (0-2); Oisín Treanor.
We now turn our attentions to the Minor Championships, where both of our teams face Scotstown next week: Division One at home on Monday and Division 3B away on Tuesday.
U-15: Our U-15 teams both begin their championship campaigns this week. Our Division One side started with a win away to Aughnamullen last night (Thursday). After their Division 5B league win, our development team have been promoted to Division 5A for the championship, where we host Castleblayney this evening (Friday). Good luck to all involved.
U-13: Well done to our U-13 Division Two team who started their championship campaign with a thrilling win away to Clontibret last Saturday. Next up is a home game against Tyholland this Saturday (time TBC), while our Division Six team are away to Inniskeen that afternoon at 2.30.
U-11: Our U-11s hosted Castleblayney in the Liam Stirrat Development League last Saturday morning. Their next games are away to Clontibret on August 27.
County: Best wishes to all the Harps juveniles currently representing the club on county development squads. Well done to Ethan McCaffrey, John McCrystal and Jack Lynch who were part of the Monaghan U-16 panel who signed off on the Buncrana Cup with a win over Dublin last Saturday.
Congratulations: To Nicholas Scott and Natasha on the birth of their daughter Hollie.
Harps Sumer Camp: Our own in-house Sumer Camp will not take place this year due to ground development. We look forward to bringing this initiative back next year.
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.
