Manager: Dermot Brannigan Selector: Gary McAleer This season started in early April with the team having a narrow one-point victory over Inniskeen away, the manner in which the team earned this result, through endeavour and application was to be shown time and time again during the year. We beat Emyvale in our second game and the team began to take shape in personnel with our defence and midfield being consistent and forwards revolving. The season looked promising however, the loss of a number of senior players early in the year saw younger players blooded in Senior Championship football, and in turn leaving them unable to play for this team for the remainder of the season. In the championship, we at times outplayed a very strong Aghabog team only to lose by a late goal, our season by this stage took a dip with narrow defeats against Scotstown home and away, Castleblayney at home and Truagh away. The game that marked the end of our competitive season took place against Castleblayney away in the league. Our young team played with strength and passion that belied their years with outstanding performances from Martin Sheridan, Michael McElevaney and Mark Morgan in defence, Colin McElevaney and Bernard Murphy at midfield and superb displays from Shane Scott, Stephen McElevaney and Conor Devlin in attack. The game we lost, however with spirit shown by those mentioned and by many more throughout the year can only bear fruit for the future. The blend of youth, experience and leadership in the form of an exemplary team captain Martin Sheridan, made the year every rewarding for all followers. Squad for past year is as follows; Martin McManus, Gabrelle Treanor, Sean Duffy, Pat Murphy, Martin Sheridan, Micheal McElevaney, Gary Murphy, Gary Murray, Dermot Brannigan, Kerian Donnelly, Adrian Higgins, Mark Morgan, Micheal Buckley, Charlie Livingstone, Shane Coyle, Bernard Murphy, Kenny Caldwell, Stephen McElvaney, Shane Scott, Oisin Loughran, Conor Devlin, David Murphy, Gary Murphy, Trevor Brannigan, Stephen Brannigan, David Loughran, Niall Clerkin, Stephen McAleer, Damien Morgan, Martin McKenna, Darren Smyth, Jimmy Croakin, David Ballintine, Gary Trapp, Fergal Coyle, Conor Malone, Shane Docherty. All played their role in a rewarding season, however the most memorable event of the year will be left to a person who kept us all on the right road and never stuck, the infamous bus driver with no name and no boots. Mason Cup win US College Football coach icon Joe Paterno has a saying "the will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital". Determined to regain the county title they held two years ago as U12's the Harps Mason Cup (U14) squad were not found wanting in either component of this dictum. Training under the guidance of team management Brian Lenehan, Colm MacCinna and Tom Cuddy commenced in April and involved twice weekly sessions. These well attended sessions placed an emphasis on working with the ball as much as possible and focused on individual technique and team playing style. By the time the league campaign commenced the team were shaping up well, winning the opening four games against Carrickmacross, Cremartin, Donaghmoyne and a thriller against Blayney which the Harps won on a 8-6 to 2-18 scoreline. After suffering a reverse against Truagh, the Harps got back on track with a victory over Inniskeen. The final league match was against Scotstown. Played in poor conditions a better Scotstown side ran out deserved winners 5-9 to 3-3. Notwithstanding this defeat the team still achieved an all important semi final berth. In this they were paired against Castleblayney in what was a re-match of last year's U13 semi final when Blayney emerged victorious by a one point margin. For the second time this year against a talented Blayney side the Harps had to come from behind to see off their challenge. In a game that was always expected to be close Blayney were quickest off the mark, making better use of their possession to build up a early 2-2 to 0-1 lead. Despite our best efforts, Blayney maintained this advantage and at half time lead by a seven point margin 2-5 to 0-4. Working hard to narrow the gap Harps seemed to have made the break through with a well taken David Hughes goal, Blayney showed their own determination for victory and quickly replied with their own major. What might have proved a fatal set back seemed only to steel the resolve of the Harps back division and from that point on Blayney found scores extremely difficult to find. In contrast the Harps, with Donal Hahssey weaving his magic up front found a rich seam of scoring form. A brace of goals from Niall Brannigan and one from Mark O'Connor put the Harps firmly in the driving seat. Blayney were not going down without a fight and a frenetic last ten minutes saw them mount sustained attacks on the Harps defence. With Sean Egan and Ciaran Boyce leading by example the defence stood firm. In the end Harps emerged victorious with a five point winning margin 4-9 to 3-7 and a well earned place in the Mason Cup final. A final show down between the juvenile "Old Firm' of Scotstown and the Harps was assured when Scotstown saw off the challenge of Carrick 6-24 to 2-06 in the second semi final. Scotstown went into the final as firm favourites on the basis of their earlier 12 point victory over the Harps and a superb league campaign where they were unbeaten. A large crowd witnessed the Harps make the early running thanks to two Dean Fanning frees. Gradually Scotstown began to impose themselves on the game due in no small part to the work of their half back line, John McAree, James Turley and Daniel McNally. During a 15 minute spell in which Scotstown scored six unanswered points, the Harps defence with Sean Egan and Matthew Mullen to the fore were having to work overtime to contain the dangers posed by Eoin Heaphy and Paul Grant. Five minutes before the break witnessed a turning point in the game. A goal bound shot from Shane Maguire was brilliantly blocked and deflected over the bar by Harps full back Ciaran Boyce. Within two minutes of this let-off, the Harps had scored two goals at the other end. For the first a flying Mark O'Connor combined one-two with Tiernach McGinnity to split open the Scotstown defence, eventually squeezing the ball home from a tight angle. The second goal saw David Hughes launch an audacious lob which found its way into the top corner of the Scotstown goal. At half time the scoreline read Harps 2-5, Scotstown 0-8. In the second half two points from Tiernach McGinnity saw the Harps begin to stretch this lead. Harps keeper Emmet McArdle was then called upon to make two vital stops in as many minutes. Any hopes however of a Scotstown revival were dealt a severe blow when Dean Fanning got on the end of long Neil McAdam punt to score the Harps third goal. As Scotstown looked for the elusive breakthrough, Emmet McArdle had to make an excellent goal line stop after Ciaran Hughes latched on to an Eoin Heaphy effort that came back off the crossbar. With just 10 minutes remaining the Harps had scored their fourth goal from the penalty spot when Dean Fanning was fouled and Neil McAdam converted. Shortly after this a sweeping Scotstown move saw William Carroll, Paul Grant combine to set up Mark McDevitt to score Scotstown's only goal. When this was followed up by a Ciaran Hughes point it looked as though Scotstown might stage a late rally. However, there was to be no way back for the blues and the Harps finished strongly with three further points, including two from Donal Hahessy. With the final score reading Monaghan Harps 4-12, Scotstown 1-13, Harps were once again county champions. A combination of the will to win and the willingness to prepare ensuring that the Mason Cup made a welcome return to Gavan Duffy Park after a three year absence. Harps panel and scorers in the final - Emmet McArdle, Matthew Mullen, Ciaran Boyce, Philip Drohan, Conor Galligan, Sean Egan, Gary White, Tiernach McGinnity 0-2, Neil McAdam 1-5, David Hughes 1-0, Dean Fanning - Capt 1-3, Paddy Connolly, Donal Hahessy 0-2, Niall Brannigan, Mark O'Connor 1-0. Subs used: Gearoid Lenehan and Peter Creighan, Francis McGarry, Robert Moyna, Nicholas Scott, Raymond Treanor, Gary Martin, Mark Meehan. Tweet

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