With the Monaghan ladies senior county team taking centrestage during the past year and reaching the All-lreland final at Croke Park in September, other competitions were somewhat put in the shade by their great achievement. However, we must not lose sight of the other great successes notched up by county sides at national level, particularly the minor team which also captured the Ulster title and reached the All-Ireland final, only to lose out to Galway. The under 16s too had a mighty year, also capturing the Ulster title, only to lose out to Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, while the under 14s did likewise, but they too fell to Cork at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Add to all that the fact that the senior Ladies also made it to the semi-final of the national football league, while the 'B' team gave a wonderful account of themselves in Division 3. While all that w-as going on, the county competitions were carried out at a hectic pace, and full marks must go to the County Board on their fine achievement in running off such a long series of fixtures so successfully despite many set backs, especially from the weather during what was one of the wettest summers ever experienced. The rain and flooded pitches, however, did not deter their enthusiasm or diminish their ability to proceed with the back-log that had piled up as a result of postponements. Congratulations to all on a job well done! In the senior championship, the four top clubs in the county gave us one of the most hectic championships on record and ended with Monaghan Harps taking their third senior county title on the trot. In the first semi-final Aghabog and Monaghan Harps met at Tyholland on Friday 9th August and what a close encounter this turned out to be, with only a single point separating the sides at the end of a hugely entertaining hour, a brilliant goal by Slainey Murray proving decisive. Harps started magnificently and Orla Callen sent over the first point after less than a minute. Aghabog were not shaken, however, and Aisling Tierney , the Clones teenager playing for Aghabog as her own club was not competing, sent over the equaliser. Monaghan then hit a purple patch with Brenda McAnespie leading the way with a goal after twelve minutes and two further points coming from the corner forwards. Aisling Tierney revived Aghabog hopes with her second point and then both goalkeepers came to the fore with some magnificent saves. Orla Callan, Anita Harvey and Brenda McAnespie added further Harps points but their shooting during this spell left something to be desired. Despite that, they still led at the interval on a scoreline of Monaghan Harps 1-6, Aghabog 0-3. Aghabog were much improved in the second period, but it was again the Harps who opened the scoring with two points to put them well ahead, 1-8 to 0-4. A penalty for Aghabog was converted by Mairead Kelly and there were now only four points between the sides. Aisling Tierney pointed and the sides were level when Siobhan Kelly found the Monaghan net to make it 1-8 to 2-5. It was now all to play for but the Harps struck back with a Murray point, only for Aghabog to level again when Diane Fay sent over, 1-9 to 2-6. It was then that Slainey Murray struck with a wonder goal and in an all-out Aghabog onslaught in injury time they could only manage two points from Tiemey and Greenan with the final whistle sounding before they could equalise. Final score: Monaghan Harps 2-9, Aghabog 2-8. Monaghan: Alison Treanor, Louise Colton, Donna Toal, Olga Connolly, Jennifer Treanor, Michelle Lavelle, Charlene Graham, Anita Harvey, Michelle Murphy, Aisling Larkin, Lorraine Connolly, Seanine McConnell, Slainey Murray, Brenda McAnespie and Orla Callen. Subs used: Eileen Mc Elvaney and Irene Doyle. Aghabog: Amanda Maloney, Emma O'Donohue, Mary Croarkin, Siobhan Kelly, Davina McCaffrey, Jenny Greenan, Rose Coyle, Catriona Brady, Aisling Smith, Caroline Murphy, Mairead Kelly, Danielle McGorman, Marie McBride, Aisling Tierney and Diane Fay. Subs used: Lucy McEntee and Colette Connolly In the second semi-final Magheracloone had something of an easier passage when they overcame Donaghmoyne at Aghnamullen on August 11th. The greater experience of the Magheracloone girls was the deciding factor in this one and, despite the very wet conditions, the shooting of county stars Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne was deadly accurate and just too much for the gallant Donaghmoyne cailini Edel Byrne had started the scoring with an early point but Donaghmoyne hit back with a goal from Catherine McGinley. Edel Byrne (2), Niamh Kindlon and Fiona Kindlon, however, restored Magheracloone's supremacy with well taken points. Donaghmoyne were not to be denied, however, and levelled with points from Louise Ruddy and the sides were again level after Kindlon and Majella Woods swapped scores. Just before the interval Magheracloone went ahead with further scores from Kindlon and Byrne to lead 0-8 to 1-3 at the break. It was very much Magheracloone's game in the second half and Niamh set the scene with three points on the trot, Edel Byrne and Marie Doogan adding two more. Before the end Donaghmoyne had two consolation points from Catherine McGinley to leave the final score: Magheracloone 0-13, Donaghmoyne 1-5. Magheracloone: Amy Duffy, Sandra Carroll, Emma Kelly, Ciara McGuinness, Sharon Doogan, Christina Reilly, Louisa Kieran, Fiona Kindlon, Marie Doogan, Lorraine Freeman, Niamh Kindlon, Edel Byrne, Orla McMahon, Catriona Hamill and Karen Kelly. Sub used: Denise Byrne. Donaghmoyne: Anne Marie Burns, Niamh Lynch, Geraldine Coleman, Joanne Geoghegan, Sharon Courtney, Aine Gilsenan, Una McMahon, Fiona Courtney, Joanne Courtney, Laura Burns, Majella Woods, Lisa Kingham, Louise Ruddy, Catherine McGinley and Angela Lennon. Subs used: B McCooey, C McMahon, H Kingham and S Burns. Superb county final saw harps set record The final between Monaghan Harps and Magheracloone was the showpiece of the year and was played at Donaghmoyne on August 25th before a great crowd. A last-gasp goal by Orla Callan in injury time was the score that decided the issue and sent the county town girls into the record books as they became the first club ever in the county to win three senior county championships in succession. Hard Luck on gallant Magheracloone who were pipped at the post and only beaten by the narrowest of margins. Magheracloone opened in superb fashion with points from Edel Byrne (4), Niamh Kindlon (2) and Marie Doogan to give them a handsome lead. Harps finally got on the scoresheet when Brenda McAnespie found the net. Niamh Kindlon had two points but Harps replied through Slainey Murray and Orla Callen while Kindlon and Jennifer Treanor swapped points just before the break to leave the half-time score: Magheracloone 0-10, Monaghan Harps 1-4. The second half was hectic with Byrne, Kindlon and Doogan having three for the Mitchells, but the Harps hit back per McAnespie and Callan. Kindlon had another but the Harps had their second goal from Irene Doyle, and after further points had been exchanged Edel Byrne had to retire with an injury. Niamh Kindlon hit Magheracloone's only goal in the 27th minute and Niamh Kindlon returned to the fray. Still more points were exchanged before Callan fired Monaghan's third goal, to be followed by the fourth from Slainey Murray. Time was running out and Magheracloone were leading by two, only to be sent home empty handed when Oral Callan found the net for Harps' fifth goal, and the title was Monaghan-bound on a final scoreline of MonaghanHarps 5-8, Magheracloone 1-19. Monaghan:- A Treanor, L Colton, D Toal, O Connolly, J Treanor (0-2), Michelle Murphy, C Graham, A Harvey, M Lavelle, A Larkin, L Connolly, Mairead Murphy, S Murray (1-1), B McAnespie(l-l) and O Callan (2-4). Subs used:- I Doyle (1-0)and E McElvaney. Magheracloone:- A Duffy, C McGuinness, E Kelly, S Carroll, S Doogan, C Reilly, L Kieran, F Kindlon, M Doogan, (0-3), L Freeman (0-1), N Kindlon (1-7), E Byrne (0-8), O McMahon, C Hamill and K Kelly. Subs used:- S McCahey, E Morris and D Burns. Intermediate and junior championships Four teams contested the Intermediate championship and in the semi-finals played during the first half of August, Scotstown had a decisive win over Inniskeen by 6-15 to 2-3 while the O'Neill-Shamrocks combination were also extremely impressive when they easily disposed of Carrickmacross by 2-17 to 0-3. In the final played at Tyholland on August 25th Scotstown took the title by defeating O'Neill-Shamrocks on a final scoreline of 2-10 to 0-8. Seven clubs contested the junior championship and, in the opening round, Tyholland defeated Rockcorry by 2-11 to 3-4; Latton overcame Corduff by 3-15 to 0-4 and Aughnamullen accounted for Emyvale by 5-25 to 0-4. In the semi-finals Latton disposed of Aughnamullen by 4-7 to 3-5; and Tyholland got a walk-over from Donaghmoyne 'B'. This left the way open for a final clash between Tyholland and Latton with the north county side taking the title in a well contested decider at Carrickmacross on August 23rd on a final scoreline of Tyholland 3-10, Latton 2-6. The county leagues were divided into three sections with five tearns in each: Division One: Monaghan Harps, Magheracloone, Aghabog, Donaghmoyne and Inniskeen. Division Two:Scotstown, Aughnamullen, Tyholland, Carrickmacross and O'Neill-Shamrocks. Division Three: Latton, Corduff, Emyvale, Rockcorry and Donaghnoyne 'B'. A highly successful minor championship and league was also run off while in Juvenile ranks O'Neill-Shamrock's were successful at U16 level and Emyvale at U14 and U12 1evels. Tweet

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