2003 proved to be a blue riband year for Monaghan Harps as they hit all the high notes to win the JFC title. The club's all-conquering campaign was the proverbial rollercoaster ride as Kevin Carney recalls This time last year, all and sundry around Monaghan Harps appeared to be singing from the same hymn sheet. The message richocheting from the surrounds at Rooskey was that it was time for the club's finest to stand up and be counted. Well, some 12 months on, the local faithful are pleased to report that the message rang home. And, you've guessed it. A year later they're still a united lot - united in the belief that following on from JFC title success, 2004 can't come quickly enough! Certainly judging from the commitment, perseverence, hunger and ability shown by the Harps' premier footballers in 2003, the cream of the crop at intermediate level in Monaghan had better watch out in the coming year. Yet club members at the county town bastion of Gaelic games will readily admit that they had to work their socks off to bring a tidy and very enjoyable conclusion to their championship campaign. Of course a lot of preparatory work went into honing fitness and skill levels over the course of some rather testing league matches. Like so many of their co-contestants though, the Harps took some time to find their stride as the season stretched its legs and the rustiness and lethargy that goes hand in hand with a season in its infancy took some time to be dispensed with. The Harps had begun the league in reasonable form and a berth and three victories from their first four games helped morale among the players as the championship opener loomed large on the horizon. However the would-be title winners didn't think for a moment that first round opponents Aughnamullen were going to be push-overs. Indeed last year's beaten finalists were fancied by many shrewd pundits in the county to go one better in 2003. And as things panned out on June 1, the Harps' best proved good enough to record a fine 0-12 to 1-7 victory at Scotstown after what was a fine game of football. In a preview of what was to transpire in the county final itself, the Harps saved their best wine 'till last in bagging the spoils on offer. That said, the Harps did live dangerously and entering the last 15 minutes of the game, the destination of the spoils were dangling in mid-air and, if anything, looked bound for Sarsfields' territory. Aughnamullen had dramatically taken the lead with a 1-3 tally in a spellbinding five minute period which left the county town side trailing by three points with time against them into the bargain. In the end, five unanswered points did the trick for the would-be champions with parity being secured with four minutes remaining before Mark McAdam rifled over a brace of frees to see off the Aughnamullen challenge. As was their wont at times during their run to lifting the title, the green and whites did make life a tad difficult for themselves against Aughnamullen - that analysis brooks no debate. Earlier in the game, the Harps laboured somewhat to ease ahead at the interval by 0-4 to 0-3. But like true champions, they rolled up their sleeves to show a lot of character and ambition to get their title-winning run off to a flying start. Matters weren't nearly as claustrophobic on the scoreboard next time out for the Harps as they accounted for an understrength Currin team by 1-23 to 1-4 at the Clontibret venue in mid-July. While the margin of victory may have slightly flattered the match favourites, there was never any doubt as to the result. Currin gave as good as they got for the most part in the first half and the concession of a penalty by the Harps in the 19th minute highlighted a lively opening by both teams. Currin's goal gave the county town just the jolt they needed at that juncture as they had waltzed their way into a seven point lead, thanks in part to a Darren Swift goal in the 10th minute which put his side six points in front and, apparently, in cruise control. Currin hung in there and reduced the Harps' lead to two points entering the final three minutes of the first half. However, two points in quick succession from Gerard O'Callaghan and one from Conor McCaughey, in injury time, served to catapult the Harps back into pole position at the interval as they led by 1-8 to Things proceeded thereafter to go very much the Harps' way and in the run up to the end of the third-quarter, the Harps flashed over six points without reply to open up a 12 point gap. By that juncture, Currin's cause was next to hopeless. The Currin win marked a thoroughly professional display by Seamus McEnaney's charges and the fact that all six of the starting forwards and three subs got on the scoresheet was a real bonus to the management. Thereafter the Harps went into their semi-final clash with Killeevan as clear favourites on foot of the latter's defeat to Currin and the Harps' considerably more healthy position in the league. And with key defender Colin McAree back from suspension, hopes were high among the Harps contingent that a place in the final could be attained at the first time of asking. However having to do without the suspended Peter Coyle at midfield, the county town side were taking absolutely nothing for granted as they travelled to Scotstown in mid-August. Ultimately though, the Harps got an easier ride that they might have anticipated with their seven point winning margin, 0-14 to 1-4, scarcely reflective of their long-time dominance of the exchanges over the hour. The green and whites did most of their best work in the opening half. The Harps got down to business right from the off, sprinting into a four point lead after just nine minutes with Nicholas Treanor getting the Monaghan town boys up and going with the opening point inside the first minute. Michael McCoy proceeded to notch the first of his six points a minute later and then another one from him and one from the aforementioned Treanor served to have Killeevan in trouble very early on. The Harps never left their feet off the gas and they went onto hit six points without reply to go in at the interval nine points to the good, 0-10 to 0-1 with a point by Shea McAleer in the 23rd minute and one from McCoy in the 27th being the pick of those six scores. The second half was a pretty pedestrian affair with a cloak of inevitability enveloping proeedings even if Killeevan did cause a shock by cracking home a goal via the boot of Dermot Lynch in the opening minutes. A couple of weeks later, the Harps duly proved they were tops in Monaghan junior football circles by defeating previously undefeated Cremartin Shamrocks by 0-12 to 0-9 in an entertaining clash at Clontibret on September 7th. Even without the services, once again, of influential midfielder Peter Coyle, the county town side proved just too determined, too classy for the Shamrocks on the day. Two points to the good after the first ten minutes, the Harps played controlled football in the early stages of the match but allowed Cremartin to settle to the extent that the Harps only led by the odd point in nine at the interval. The Harps weren't exactly in tune up front in that opening moiety and they really ought to have been further in front by the half-time whistle. Indeed when Cremartin levelled matters after 26 minutes, it seemed like the tide might have been turning. However a good point by Darren Swift in added-on time and another free by Nicholas Treanor helped to counter a point for Cremartin by Barry Carragher to ensure the Harps went in at the break, 0-5 to 0-4 to the good. The opening minutes of the second half were no less hotly-contested with Barry Carragher and Nicholas Treanor fighting out their own personal duel from dead-ball situations. The sides remained deadlocked at the third-quarter mark but then Cremartin really put it up to their opponents by taking the lead in the 16th minute. Questions were now being asked of Monaghan in a big way and the introduction of a Stephen McAleer and Gareth Treanor was both timely and helpful in engineering a winning surge past the finishing post. Stil, Cremartin managed to edge two points in front with just eight minutes remaining and the tension at that stage was almost palpable. The pressure on the Harps was eased somewhat in the 24th minute when Darren Swift fired over a point to give his side a vital lift. Another fine point thereafter by Nicholas Treanor levelled matters as the spoils dangled tantalisingly in front of the finalists. Then, in the 32nd minute, the Harps eased in front when Stephen McAleer lobbed over a 45 and as Cremartin tired, the Harps began to find something akin to their best form. With the winners' enclosure firmly in sight, the Harps went for the jugular and duly hit the target with two more points from Nicholas Treanor and Gareth Treanor to put the tin hat on a memorable, hugely significant and, possibly, watershed victory for the county town club. The team, subs and scorers, that featured in the Harps' 0-12 to 0-9 win over Cremartin in the 2003 JFC final was as follows; Mark Hughes; Dermot McKenna, Colin McAree, Johnny Sherry; Gary Murray, Shea McAleer, Mark Morgan; Kieran Garvey, Denis Sheridan; Paul Smyth, Michael McCoy, Conor McGaughey; Nicholas Treanor (0-7), Gary McAleer, Darren Swift (0-3). Subs used; Stephen McAleer (0-1), Gareth Treanor (0-1), Ronan Garvey. minors make amends Monaghan Harps minor team reached the County Championships and League finals in 2003. In both, their opponents were Carrickmacross Emmetts. In the championship Harps had a convincing win over Scotstown 4-05 to 0-7. The semi-final against Castleblayney Faughs at Tyholland on the 15th August was rescued by a last gasp penalty brilliantly put away by Nicholas Treanor and ended in a draw, on a score of Harps 1-11, Castleblayney 2-08. On then to the semi-final replay on the 22nd August. This time Harps were really up for a win and came out on top 2-12 to 1-06. The final was a curtain raiser to the Monaghan Senior Final, the opponents Carrickmacross. Carrick started at a blistering pace and by half time were well on top. Harps came out in the second half and strenuously attempted to get back into the game. However, the mountain was just too difficult to climb and the game finished with Carrick winning on a scoreline of 3-15 to 2-09. In the minor league Harps registered wins over Clontibret, Emyvale, Truagh and lost to Carrickmacross with a depleted team. Again Harps came up against Castleblayney Faughs in the semi-final and showing excellent form won easily. The final played on 4th October brought the two top minor teams in the County to Clontibret for what was a thriller. This time Harps lead by three points with minutes to go but Carrick swarmed back and registered three unanswered points to earn a draw. The replay took place again in Clontibret and was again a curtain raiser to the Intermediate Championship final replay. Monaghan Harps went into the game with something to prove and took the game to Carrick from the start. At the finish on a scoreline of Harps 1-11, Carrick 1-08, the disappointment of a championship final lost was replaced with the satisfaction of a great league victory. The season was complete and the players had proved themselves. Monaghan Harps Minor Panel: Rory McCarville captain, Shane Scott, Mark McAdam, Michael Buckley, Stephen McAleer, Mark Morgan, Shane Coyle, Gerard Gilsenan, Ronan Garvey, Nicholas Treanor, Shane Smyth, Gabriel Treanor, Finian McKenna, Con O'Hanlon, Neill McAdam, Stephen Finnegan, Stephen Driver, Darragh Mallon, Dean Fanning, Michael Boyce, Darren Molloy, Darren Toal, Ronan McGann, Nigel McEntee, Gary Trappe, Padraic Donnelly, David Murphy, Stephen McElvaney, Mark Gilsenan, Sean Duffy. Division 1 championship's back to back The Under 16 League commenced on Tuesday 6th May. Following the success of the 2002 League and Championship hopes were high that success would again come the way of the Harps Under 16 team in 2003. The first league hurdle was a tricky assignment away to an improving Sean McDiarmada squad. After a tough encounter our lads run out winners by a narrow margin. Nex t came Scotstown for our first home fixture in Gavan Duffy Park, Rosskey. Playing quite poorly, a lack lustre performance precipitated a heavy defeat. There then followed two successes against Ballybay and Cremartin and a draw with Castleblayney, which guaranteed qualification for a semi-final place in the league. The county championship commenced with a walkover when Ballybay withdrew. There then followed two epic encounters against a talented Carrickmacross team in the championship semi-final. The first game played at Toome's very well laid out grounds and ended in a draw, Harps 0-14, Carrickmacross 2-08. There then followed the replay at St. Mary's Park Castleblayney and in a mighty tussle the Monaghan Harps team displayed enormous grit and club spirit to win narrowly on a scoreline of 3-11 to 3-08. The final was played in Clontibret on Sunday 7th September as a curtain raiser to the Junior Championship final Harps v Cremartin. Scotstown were the opponents and what a game was played out before the gathering Junior Championship crowd. Harps were fortunate to be leading narrowly at half-time thanks to a goal from Stephen Finnegan after a skilful shimmy and a well placed sidefoot shot to the left hand post. After the restart Scotstown in typical fashion shot a great goal shortly after the resumption to regain the lead. It was now that Harps showed their true grit and resilience in the face of a newly spirited Scotstown. Grasping the initiative to the urging of the now settled Harps supporters, the County town team scored seven unanswered points to eventually win on a scoreline of Harps 1-14, Scotstown 2-05. A unique feature of the day was that Shane Smyth one of the most influential players in the Under 16 final also played a significant part in the Junior Championship Final that immediately followed. Two nights later, Scotstown were again the opponents in the League semi-final. Atonement for their championship loss was uppermost in the minds of the lads from An Bhoth, and they ran out winners on a scoreline of 3-02 to 0-07. Monaghan Harps Under 16 Division 1 County Champions 2003: Chiam Chukwuemeka, Con O'Hanlon, Darragh Mallon, Ciaran Boyce, Pauric Donnelly, Stephen Driver, Robert Moyna, Paul Whelan, Neill McAdam, Conor Galligan, Michael Boyce, Tiarnach McGinnity, Dean Fanning, Shane Smyth, Stephen Finnegan, Mark Gilsenan, Mark O'Connor, Nicholas Scott, Philip Drohan, Gerard McElvaney, Gary White, Frank McGarry, John McQuaid, Gearoid Lenehan, Gary Martin, Neil Brannigan, Emmett McArdle, Paddy Connolly. Team Manager: Damien Morgan. Coach: Adrian Trappe. Selectors: Conor McGirr, Brendan Buckley, Conor Devlin Unique Double Not for the first time the band of players who represented Na Clairsigh at Under 14 level in 2003 take pride of place in the Role of Honour in Rooskey. They repeated the 2002 victory, in which nine of this year's team started, to win two-in-a-row Division 1 Mason Cup finals over keenest of rivals Scotstown. This completed a unique double in that this panel had earlier taken Ulster honours in the highly successful Feile Peile na n Og held in Co Tyrone in early July. Harps qualified for the final, played at Clontibret, by way of a hard fought victory over Cremartin on a score line of 1-9 to 2-4. Scotstown, on the other hand, had crushed what had been up to then a very promising Truagh side. Previous encounters between Harps and An Bhoith had produced thrillers and this was no exception. The match contained the best of skill, flowing football and individual endeavour. 24 seconds makes the difference Harps ran into an early 0-6 to 0-1 lead, but credit to the Scotstown lads they tied the game at half time on a score line of 1-8 each. Harps upped their game in the second half both defensively and offensively. Captain Conor Galligan and many peoples Man of the Match, Emmett McArdle, at midfield broke even with the strong Scotstown pairing of Shane Maguire and William Carroll. In defence Harps began to dominate in no small measure due to a top-rated displayed by Centre Back Donal Cuddy. Time and again he blocked and dispossessed the player coming through, from which he set up numerous attacks. With two minutes of injury time to play the score stood at Harps 1-14 to 1-11. A precarious lead- especially as Scotstown were awarded a 13 metre free dead straight in front of the goal. Shane Maguire got the signal from the sideline: GO FOR GOAL - BLAST IT'. That would level the match and give the momentum entirely over to the Blues. Harps lined the goal with eight players. Kevin Martin, the 12-year-old goalkeeper, with a very bright future, and later to be honoured (with Paul Toal) by wearing the Tyrone colours in Croke Park on All Ireland Semi Final day, was in the centre. On his right was full back Ciaran Boyce, who missed the semi, and to his left full forward Nicholas Scott and Conor Galligan. On the near post was tight defender Philip Drohan and beside him the wily Aidan Connell, son of hurling great Owen. On the far post was Gary White- the bigger the occasion the better Gary plays and this final served to augment his reputation. Beside him was centre back Donal Cuddy. The referee blew for the free to be taken. Maguire ran up, stole a metre or two, and 'BLASTED IT' with his considerable strength. Cuddy blocked. Galligan cleared in an instant. "Anywhere" said the Video Commentator. But it wasn't anywhere it was in the hands of second half sub Paul Toal who gave a good ball to Bryan McElvaney. He made 20 yards before clearing down to corner forward Gary McArdle who managed to get a left foot shot to Raymond Treanor. Raymond shot left footed, to the top right hand corner of the net giving no chance for the Blues' keeper. It was an outstanding move and a brilliant shot, and one that sealed victory for the Harps by six clear points. 24 seconds earlier it could have been all square! What a difference a save makes! Joy erupted among the Harps supporters around the grounds. There was no way back for Scotstown who had been restricted to three points in the second half. This group of players have achieved doubles at Under 12 Coyle Cup in 2000/1 and now Mason Cup in 2002/3. Into the bargain they competed successfully at the top level in Ulster. These lads are great prospects for the Rooskey based Club. The line out for the final was: Kevin Martin; Aidan Connell, Ciaran Boyce, Gary White; Philip Drohan, Donal Cuddy, Matthew Mullen, Conor Galligan (Capt), Raymond Treanor, David Hughes, Donal Hahessy, Emmett McArdle, Colm Reilly, Nicholas Scott, Niall Brannigan. Subs: Gary McArdle, Paul Toal, Bryan McElvaney, Mark O'Reilly, Pauric Redden, Jonathan Reidy, Mark Cassidy, Mark Mulhall, Gareth Treanor, John Cusack Under 14's win Div 1 Ulster Feile The Ulster Feile was staged throughout County Tyrone on July 5th. It brought together the best of Ulster underage football. Scotstown and Harps had the honour of carrying the Monaghan challenge in the Premier 32 Club Division. Harps were based in Donaghmore. Our opening game saw us pitted against Eglish, home club of all Ireland star Cormac McAnallen. Niall Brannigan proved his versatility with a superb performance as Harps fielded without regular goalkeeper Kevin Martin. Indeed Niall had a superb tournament between the posts. Two goals by Nicholas Scott either side of half time and a goal by Mark O'Reilly saw Harps win comfortably on a score line of 4-8 to 2-3. The next opposition came from the Tyrone stronghold of Dungannon. Harps produced some of the finest football fashioned by any side at any age in 2003 in this encounter. In the process they crushed all efforts by the Tyrone side and scored 8-13 in the process. The nine players who lit up the scoreboard were: Colm Reilly 3-1;Scottie, Mark Mulhall 1-2 each; Mark O'Reilly, John Cusack 1-0 each; Bryan McElvaney, Donal Hahessy, Donal Cuddy 0-2 each and Pauric Reddan 0-1. The final Group game was played against St Peters Armagh. Harps dominated the opposition from the start and the outcome was never in doubt thanks to a fine team performance. Especially impressive were Ciaran Boyce, Gary White, Mathew Mullen, Philip Drohan, Conor Galligan, Jonathan Reidy and Gary McArdle. David Hughes produced one of the outstanding moments of the year in this game. Collecting the ball wide on the right, 45 metres out, he beat two defenders, came in along the end line and from the narrowest of angles beat the keeper on the near post. Emmet McArdle showed his forward potential with four points from play. As section winners we played the Final against top Donegal representatives St., Eunan's. In a tight first half the tie turned in our favour with an excellently worked and taken goal by Gary McArdle. Top scorer Nicholas Scott added another major before the break. In defence Aidan Connell kept popping-up to make well-timed clearances. The spine of the Team of Brannigan; Boyce; Cuddy; Galligan; Treanor; Hahessy and Scott dominated the game and left little room for the Donegal side to launch an attack. While Eunan's started the second half strongly and reduce the deficit to two points, Harps played some sparkling football to win on a score line of 4-10 to 3-5. The received their Gold medals following a hugely impressive parade of all 96 participating teams in Carrickmore. The team left for Rooskey a very tired but equally proud. They had combined Jaffa Cakes; bananas; relaxation and adrenalene to produce the achievement of the year for Monaghan Harps. The panel of players who did themselves, their club and Co Monaghan proud were: Conor Galligan, Aiden Connell, Jonathan Reidy, Philip Drohan, Ciaran Boyce, Bryan McElvaney, Matthew Mullen, Gary White, Colm Reilly, Donal Cuddy, Emmett McArdle, Nicholas Scott, John Cusack, Donal Hahessy, Pauric Reddan, Niall Brannigan, Mark O'Reilly, Gary McArdle, David Hughes, Mark Mulhall, Raymond Treanor. Harps starlet Nicholas Treanor was the man of the match in the junior championship decider. Here he lets us in on his thoughts . . . . . On the Harps' capacity now to go on and consolidate their 2003 JFC title win: "There's a great buzz back in the club and we're all determined to push on from here, keep our heads down, work hard and at least hold our own at intermediate level." On the squad's preparatory work for the blue riband competition: "Our training in the first few months from January under Michael Doherty was all about gearing us towards peaking for the championship. "It wasn't very surprising that we started a bit slowly in the league, winning some of our games without being too convincing. "The sessions were tailored to get us right for the summer and we hadn't really a settled team until the championship came around." Before facing last year's beaten finalists, Aughnamullen - a team fancied by many shrewd pundits in the county to go one better than in 2002. "We knew they'd be tough opposition but that if we played to our full potential, we'd be okay." Regarding the suggestion that his team's win over Aughnamullen was particularly significant: "I thought we might have been in trouble after they went three up in the last ten minutes but we kept plugging away and re-grouped and deservedly came good in the end. "The win did wonders for our morale and confidence." On trying to avoid the proverbial banana skin: "We were on a hiding to nothing against Currin. "The big thing for us was not to get complacent, to keep focussed and we felt that if we got off to a good start, we'd be alright. It helped too though that they beat Killeevan in the first round so that was just the warning we needed. "I remember we were five points ahead at half-time which wasn't a lot, partly because they got a penalty which gave them a good boost." About why it was felt the win over Killeevan was a watershed victory: "We had drawn with Killeevan earlier in the year in the league so we went into the championship game with them under no illusion as to how well we had to play to make the final. "We got a great start, played some really good football in the first half and never really looked back. "We probably played as well in the first half against Killeevan as did all year. "Even after they came out in the second half and got a goal early on, we were never really worried although we did sit back a bit too much defending our lead instead of keeping the pressure on them. "After that game, the confidence was really high among the lads and we definitely felt we were the best team in the championship." Regarding the less-than-potent display up front against Cremartin: "Cremartin were an unknown quantity as far as most of us were concerned but Seamus (McEnaney) gave us the lowdown on them. "We didn't play that well overall but the defenders were solid but though we won a lot of possession, we didn't really translate that into scores. "We kicked too many wides which made life uncomfortable for us right to the very end of the match," Nicholas reflects. On the Harps' indifferent first-half form against the aforementioned Shamrocks: "Seamus (McEnaney) told us at half-time that the match was there for the taking but we had to increase our workrate and keep plugging away. "We really should have been seven or eight points in front at half-time but the wides cost us. "Maybe the occasion got to us, it's hard to know. We kept our nerve though even when we went seven points to nine down with about five minutes to go. "But we showed great character in getting five points on the trot to win through." On being afforded the man of the match award in the county final: "Getting the award was nice but it would have meant nothing to me had we lost the final. We worked hard all year and got what we deserved in the end. "With no offence to the rest of the clubs at junior level, we needed to get out of junior ranks. That was our aim from the start of the year and it was just great to be able to give the supporters something to cheer about." Tweet

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