Harps’ Feile Heroics End in Extra Time Drama.

Armagh Harps’ glorious run in the All Ireland Feile 2000 competition ended in dramatic and controversial circumstances in extra time of their semi final game against Tullamore.

In an exciting low scoring contest Harps were ahead with less than a minute on the clock when a point from the Offaly side put the game into extra time. They then got two crucial points to give then the advantage but Harps pressed them hard and with minutes to go won a close in free in front of goals. Taking it quickly Sean Morrison dispatched it to the net to put Harps back in front but the referee demanded it to be re-taken and from the second attempt he hit the angle between crossbar and upright. The ball came back into play but no Harps forward could get a clean shot on target and the final whistle brought an end to their fantastic run.

The bitter disappointment and despair was cruel and hard for the young players to deal with but they received a sincere ovation from the large contingent of Harps’ supporters there which went some way to acknowledge their display of excellent and committed football and the fact that they had brought great pride on their club.

On a happier note the team did not come back empty handed as they were awarded the prize for the best turned out team in the Feile parade. It was in many respects a little compensation for the bigger prize they could have claimed but it was significant that St Brigid’s camogie team received a similar award in last week’s Feile parade in Belfast. Says something about the pride these Armagh sports people have in their clubs and the way they present themselves!

For the record Harps won their league section outright, winning all three games against Whitehall, their hosts, Naomh Olaf from Dublin and Tullamore who ironically defeated them in the end. In the quarter final they beat a highly fancied Craobh Chiaran (Dublin) who were the beaten finalists in the previous year’s Division One final.

The Harps boys received much praise from the local Dublin GAA supporters and their various opponents for both the team display and the performances of individuals and many of this young team really came of age in their Feile experience. The whole weekend proved to be a fantastic experience for all concerned and the hospitality they received from their hosts Whitehall Colmcilles could mot be matched any where in Ireland and it’s certain that great footballing friendships and contacts will be maintained for years to come between the two clubs.

Harps Present Their Best Side on Parade.

The Armagh Harps team travelled to Dublin on Friday evening to take part in the parade from Parnell Square to the grounds of Clonliffe College, the first part of the Feile weekend.

It was a very colourful event with hundreds of boys and girls teams from all over Ireland and far beyond taking part with a wide variety of club colours and banners on display. It was with great delight that the Harps boys discovered the news that they had won the prize for the best turned out team in the parade and were to receive their award at the Leinster semi final between Dublin and Westmeath in Croke Park on the Sunday.

All club banners were paraded around Croke Park before the senior game and a number of the Harps club representatives proudly received their award in front of the new Cusack Stand and thousands of people, -certainly a moment to remember for all concerned!

The boys then returned to their host families in Whitehall area of Dublin where they received a warm welcome from the players, committee and parents.

Opening Win for Harps in the Morning Rain

Harps 0/7 V Whitehall Colmcilles (Dublin) 0/2

The football business began early on the Saturday morning with a game against the host team, Whitehall Colmcilles on their home pitch. It was a very damp morning which did nothing to aid good football and left the under foot conditions very greasy and slippery. Harps dominated the game right from the start but found scores hard to come by and at half time they were ahead by only two points to one with Stephen Rush opening the Harps’ account and Daren Ward adding the other.

In the second half they found their range and scores came quite freely from Damien McShane, Sean Morrison, Kris Quinn and Cathal Toal. But for the excellent display of goalkeeping from the young Dublin player, Harps would have had a number of goals as well to add to their tally as good chances fell to C Clifford, S Morrison and D Mc Shane.

The Harps defence anchored by Charles Vernon and Fergus McAleavey, were more than able for anything the home side attempted and kept the forwards at bay and scores at a minimum. The final total was 0/7 to 0/2 in favour of the Armagh visitors who were more than happy to start their campaign with such a solid win under their belts.

Harps Continue on Their Winning Ways.

Harps 1/8 V Naomh Olaf (Dublin) 1/2

Harps continued their dominance over the Dublin sides when they accounted for Naomh Olaf in the second game. The conditions were still difficult for the two sides but Harps settled best and began to put the scores on the board .K Quinn and C Clifford had a point apiece before S Morrison added a goal. The Dublin boys only got a point in reply thanks mainly to the tight defending of Ryan Donnelly and Chris Garvey but Harps extended their lead with three further points with C Toal getting in on the scoring act too.

In the second half, Harps eased off a little, mindful of harder games to come and the Dublin team managed to add a goal and point to their tally while in reply Clifford, Toal and Morrison got a point apiece. Martin Mc Cready and Caolan Murphy were steady in the full back line and cut off any serious threat to Kyle McGuigan in goals.

With two victories already in hand, Harps were guaranteed a place in the quarter final line up as were their opponents in the third game, Tullamore (Co Offaly).

Goals Galore Against Tullamore

Harps 4/3 V Tullamore 1/7

Harps’ next game was against Tullamore

In spite of the fact that the final game of the section meant very little to either side, both having qualified and both resting several players, it turned out to be a real cracker of a match. The rain had ended and the crowd and players were able to enjoy the game more fully.

Kevin Kelly brought the game to life when he hit the net after only minutes which sparked the opposition into life with three points in reply. C Clifford put over a point and set Bobby Mc Veigh up for another one before Kelly was first to react to a shot which came off the upright and drove the ball to the net for his second goal of the game. Declan Coulter had moved to a midfield role and was having a great game, setting up his colleagues in the forward line with a good supply of ball

Sean Morrison crashed another goal to the net early in the second period but then Tullamore showed their ability and came back into the game scoring 1 / 4 to put them within a single point of Harps. C Clifford steadied the cause with a point from a free on the right before D MC Shane blasted home a goal from a 15 metre free. Kyle Mc Guigan made a crucial save in the dying moments of play to maintain their lead and to ensure that Harps had won their section outright.

So far the Armagh boys had done their county proud and were playing confident and assured football and had remained relatively injury free although one or two were carrying a few knocks into the next round.

Quarter Final Clash with Last Year’s Finalists

Harps 2 /5 V Craobh Chiaran 2 /3

The Harps’ opponents in the quarter final was Craobh Chiaran again from Dublin, a team who had been beaten finalists in 1999 Feile Division One and who came with a lot of experience and determination. The game was played out in Rush, a small village to the north of the city and a quiet, pleasant trip to the country was on the agenda for Sunday morning, just what the doctor ordered for some of the party!

Harps began confidently, forcing two frees in the opening minutes which S Morrison duly converted. Chris Garvey playing superbly in the half back line went on one of his foraging runs to put over a point just before S Morrison sent a shot to the net. At this stage it was all Harps and two further points were added by C Clifford, one from a free.

The second half began with a flurry of attacks which resulted in a penalty, coolly converted by Clifford to put 11 points between the sides but the game was far from over. The Dubliners scraped back with a couple of points then were awarded a penalty which they too converted. The reshuffled Harps side were forced to defend stoutly when another goal and point were added but time was on their side and they played out the rest of the game holding on to their two point advantage.

They had reached the semi final and the prospect of playing Tullamore again this time wi