Heady days for Harps
December 08, 2006
Defeat in the intermediate football final but a terrific year all round for Monaghan Harps. The county town club were no strangers to final day appearances in 2006 and we place our focus on five
of those 'big day outs'.
While the intermediate side tripped up at the final hurdle against Carrickmacross, the past year will go down in the annals of the club as a highly creditable one.
For starters, having just gravitated up a division, even the most demanding of Harps' supporters must surely have viewed the team's run to the intermediate championship decider as progress.
The team-management of Mattie McGleenan and Paddy Kelly along with Paudge Connolly, Brendan McCann, John Mulholland and John Sherry plus all the players can be rightly proud of their efforts in 2006.
It's just a pity that the team's excellent 2-12 to 3-7 semi-final championship win over Corduff couldn't have been suitably embellished with an end-of-September county final triumph.
Not that the Harps didn't give it their best shot. In fact, the team showed a lot of character and courage to nip away at the heels of Carrick after a tentative and apparently nervy start.
Indeed, while the Harps never actually led in the contest, their success in getting on level terms, 0-5 apiece, after 24 minutes of the first half suggested that their esprit de corp would perhaps win the day for them.
But the loss of right-back Stephen Driver in the early minutes with a shoulder injury was to place an increasingly heavy burden on his team-mates.
Indeed, it seemed that the greater physical strength sported by Carrick grew all the more pronounced as subs were introduced in the trying conditions.
The Harps showed their ambition early on in the second half as they attempted to reel in Carrick's 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
An opening point from Shane Smyth and another one from David Loughran - countering an earlier Carrick effort - raised spirits greatly in the Harps' camp.
Sadly Carrick upped the ante thereafter and opened up a five points gap by the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, the Harps enjoyed a majority of possession and gradually ate into Carrick's lead with some fine movements and scores.
However the goal the county town side badly needed to pull the fat from the fire unfortunately never materialised and eventually time ran out on them.
There was to be no shame in defeat though. Lessons will be learned and the experience of playing in the final will be put to good advantage no doubt in 2007. Final score; Monaghan Harps 0-11 Carrickmacross 0-14. The Harps' line-out in the 2006 IFC final was as follows; Bernard Murphy; Stephen Driver, Colin McAree, Paddy Kelly; Pat Murphy, Mark Morgan, Shea McAleer; Peter Coyle, Joe Coyle; Nicholas Treanor (0-2), Darren Swift (0-1), Stephen Creighan; David Loughran (0-3), Shane Smyth (0-2), Neil McAdam.
Subs used; Paul Rushe (0-1), Ashley White (0-1), Johnny Sherry, Kieran Garvey (0-1), Ciaran O'Connell.
Minors end 13 year famine
Finishing with a flourish was the name of the game for the Harps' minors as they claimed the club's first MFC title in 13 years with a 0-8 to 0-6 championship final win over Scotstown in Clones on the undercard of the SFC final bill in late October.
In a predictably tight contest, the county town lads fairly rose to the challenge when the chips were down and, in the end, proved that they had that bit more in reserve to go the distance and achieve their ultimate reward.
A point from a free by David Hughes after seven minutes got the would-be winners up and running and three further points from Nicholas Scott (two) and Hughes again had the green and whites in flying form. Although Scotstown came more into it in the second quarter, the Harps stood firm but at half-time it was all to play for as the teams saw themselves locked together at 0-4 apiece.
Within a minute of the restart, the Harps were back in front thanks to Dean Fanning free. Young Fanning was on the mark again in the 9th minute - after a good pass from Gareth Treanor - to make it a two points game. However by the three-quarter hour mark, the spoils again dangled tantalisingly in front of the combatants, waiting to be grabbed, as Scotstown rallied to gain parity once more. Monaghan Harps dug in though and top-scorer Fanning restored his side's lead with a converted free in the 19th minute.
Two good scoring chances were created in the ensuing minutes but, on both occasions, the Scotstown goal survived. It was tense, frenetic football and, at the other end of the field, Harps' 'keeper Niall Brannigan showed his worth between the posts to keep a clean sheet. Nerves seemed to play a part in proceedings in the dying minutes as one team, and then the other, conspired to miss chances which would have sewn up the issue.
With the Harps' single point lead coming under renewed attack, some relief was called for and, right on cue, the unerring boot of the aforementioned Fanning came to the rescue in the 29th minute to fire over the final score of the game. In the dying seconds, the tension was almost unbearable and while Scotstown threw all but the kitchen sink at the Harps, Monaghan's finest stood their ground to claim an exciting and fully-deserved victory.
The Monaghan Harps team, and subs, that featured against Scotstown in the 2006 MFC final was as follows; Niall Brannigan; Mark Meehan, Emmet McArdle, Philip Drohan; Paddy Connolly, Conor Galligan, Gareth Treanor; Robert Moyna, Neil McAdam; David Hughes (0-2), Dean Fanning (0-4), Colin Reilly; Donal Hahessy, Mark O'Connor, Nicholas Scott (0-1). Subs used; Tiarnach McGinnity, Gary White, Sean Egan, Raymond Treanor.
Harps triumph in under 16 championship
As things transpired, it was all too easy for the Harps' under 16 footballers in the championship final in St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney on September 10th against Donaghmoyne. Simply said, the Harps took the game by the scruff of the neck and a brillant 14th minute goal by Colin Reilly - after being set up by Brian Driver - put the Harps firmly on the right path.
From there to the finish, a cloak of inevitability hung over proceedings with Donaghmoyne having to work overtime just to hang onto the shirt tails of the raging hot match favourites. Young Reilly's major was followed up by a hat-trick of points from the oustanding Paul Toal which helped catapult the Harps into a 1-8 to 0-5 lead by the half-way stage.
It was a similar story on the restart and, in fact, the issue was all but done and dusted after the Harps notched a 1-5 unanswered tally with the aforementioned Toal bagging his side's second goal with 15 minutes left to play. Donaghmoyne rallied to nab a brace of goals, including one in injury time but it was a classic case of too little, too late though leaving the Harps to saunter over the finishing line, 2-15 to 2-6 winners.
After the match, a delighted Harps captain Emmet McArdle received the under 16 Championship cup from Bord na nOg Secretary Paudge Connolly.
Those who started the final against Donaghmoyne were; Conall McKenna; Johnny Flynn, Robbie Smyth, Mark Cassidy; Conor Finnegan, Emmett McArdle, Raymond Lee; Colm Reilly, Mark Campbell; Mark Mulhall, Brian Driver, Pauric Reddan; Niall Hahessy, Aiden McAnespie, Paul Toal.
Significantly, the Harps' team-management's ongoing work to underpin the value of the 'squad' saw them introduce all five permitted subs over the course of the decider, namely, Eamon Curley, Stephen Sullivan, Luke Curran, Fintan Cassidy and Niall Clerkin.
Last but not least, we must not forget the remaining lads in the panel who were; Seamus Cavlan, Thomas Keeleghan, John Clerkin, Dean Treanor and Daniel Duffy.
Minor hurlers in major win
A minor league title is always a good foundation stone upon which to build towards senior success and, in that regard, last August's county final triumph by the under 18 Harps' hurlers revealed a great deal of promise and talent within the club's hurling brigade. August 27th proved to be a red letter day for the Class of 2006 as they triumphed over Carrick in a titantic tussle in Clontibret.
The Harps' eight points winning margin wasn't in the least bit flattering and, instead, proved to be a fair reflection of the balance of power over the hour-plus. From Paul Toal in goals to Paul Lee at corner-forward, the win owed everthing to a grand team display. The Hahessy brothers, Niall and Donal, gave an exhibition of hurling with some fine scores and slick movement of the sliothar. The defence was superbly anchored by Aidan McAnespie at centre-half with starring roles also for Robert Smyth at full-back and alongside him Adam Cullen. Eamon Curley and Robert Moyna covered every blade of grass on the field, tracking their direct opponents as Carrick sought to reap a dividend from their three-man midfield formation.
Conal McKenna showed great opportunism to fire his shot into the Carrick net from a tight angle. Good work on the wing saw Aidan Connell and Raymond Lee team up well. Elsewhere Philip Drohan and Cormac Mackle were very effective wing backs. Meanwhile John Cusack at full-forward broke the ball intelligently and helped frustrate burgeoning Carrick attacks out of defence.
The all-conquering Harps minor hurling team that beat Carrick in the league final was as follows; Paul Toal; Eamonn Curley, Robert Smyth, Adam Cullen; Cormac Mackle, Aidan McAnespie, Philip Drohan; Robert Moyna, Donal Hahessy; Aidan Connell, Conal McKenna, Raymond Lee; Paul Lee, John Cusack, Niall Hahessy.
Subs; Paul Gleeson, Cathal McKenna, Ryan McKenna, Daniel Duffy, Brian Driver, David McCarville, Mark Mulhall.
Brave under 16 hurlers just lose out
It was a case of so near and yet so far for the club's under 16 hurlers as they lost out to Lisbellaw, after a replay, in their county final duel.
The first day out at Clones ended in a draw with Aidan McAnespie firing over a 65 metre free from the sideline to tie the game in injury time.
Sadly the dream of a delightful under 16 football/hurling double died when the hurlers lost the replay by the narrowest of margins after extra-time.
After the concession on an unfortunate goal, the Harps went in trailing by a point at the end of the first half.
However an opportunist goal from the edge of the square gave the Harps the advantage as the dying minutes came into focus.
But a late, late converted free by Lisbellaw forced the game into extra-time to the frustration of the Harps' camp.
Lisbellaw drew first blood in extra time but scores from captain Niall Hahessy, Raymond Lee and Aidan McAnespie had the Harps back on the frontfoot.
The Fermanagh lads hit back with interest though with a goal and a point to put the cat amongst the pidgeons and try as they did, Monaghan's finest just couldn't claw back their opponents' lead.
Hats off though to all concerned though for propelling the team so close. The Harps' squad for the final against Lisbellaw was as follows; Eoin McKenna, David McCarville, Robbie Smyth, Daniel Duffy, Eamonn Curley, Aidan McAnespie, Conal McKenna, Niall Flynn, Paul Toal, Niall Hahessy, Raymond Lee, Paul Lee, Gavin Baxter, Stephen Sullivan, Mark Mulhall, Ryan McKenna, Brian Driver, Liam Hahessy, Phelan Murphy, Nigel Quigley, Stephen Clerkin, Luke McArdle, Conor Curley, Myles Dwyer, Conal Quinn, Aaron Nutley, Rory McCann.
Most Read Stories