Murvagh Golf Club Notes

Youth were to the fore again in the John Begley (chemist) sponsored singles stableford at Murvagh recently. 18 year old student Edward Canney (15) shot 43 pts. On the course that is becoming more difficult by the day, to take the overall prize.
Edward’s win cam on the back of a magnificent opening nine of twenty four points that included a birdie at the very long third hole.
Omagh’s Terry Irwin is now the King of Saturday again, taking the first days prize with 41 pts and reducing his handicap to five. Another youth Tom Neary was a point away second, Tom’s brother John again was the gross winner on 36 pts.
Domnick Quinn (23) made a long expected return to the winners enclosure on Sunday also with 41 pts a point ahead of Inver’s Dennis Mc Daid.
The Dr. John McHardy sponsored 3 ball rumble for the Mentally Handicapped takes place on May 28th, followed by the presentation of the monthly prizes.
Results
1. Edward Canney 15 43 pts. Saturday 1. Terry Irwin 6 41pts; 2. Tom Neary 5 40 pts.
Sunday 1. Domnic Quinn 23 41pts; 2. Denis Mc Daid 18 40pts; 3. Diarmuid Mc Gettigan 12 39pts; Gross: John Neary 2 36pts
Omagh’s Terry Irwin (5) a country member at Murvagh, shot to the head of the ‘Golfer of the Year’ leader board with an emphatic win in the Ulster Bank cup competition at Donegal Golf Club over the weekend with 69 nett.
Terry a likely candidate for Pat Britton’s junior Cup team on Sunday has consistently performed well each Saturday over the last six weeks, but this weekends golf surpassed all. He was one under gross after birding three holes in the middle of the back nine at 11, 12 and 14 but unfortunately dropped shots a 15 and 18.
John Bell (18) showed his liking for the sunshine, taking Saturday’s prize on 72 on a break of tie with David Sweeney (16)
The clubs treasurer Peter McDonald (21) was Sunday’s winner on 70, while another junior cup candidate Tom Neary beat John Meehan (an Post) on 71 for Sundays runner-up place.
A possible member of Sunday’s team has come into form at the right time. Oliver Roche (5) was the gross winner on 77 gross. With the junior cup qualifier being decided at Murvagh, the Harbour Restaurant prize will only be over one day, Saturday.

Dr. Mc John McHardy’s mixed rumble for the mentally handicapped takes place Friday with the monthly prize giving that night.
The mixed foursomes team in the heat of Cookstown failed to qualify where the scoring matched the weather. The next rounds of the mixed Foursomes and the spring Fourball must be completed by this weekend which is also the final days for entry for the match play.

Golfer of the year points table 1. Terry Irwin, 184; 2. Tom Neary, 174; 3.Charley McGinty, 168; 4. Sydney Irwine, 162; 5. Peter Sweeney, 152.
C McAleevey

The late Mick Doyle

I kinda knew Mick Doyle. At least as well as you can know someone who was in his last year at college when you were in your first. He was school head boy in the year of 1958 - also captain of the senior rugby team. His brother Tommy was in my class and we went through college and 1st year university together. In Newbridge College, on the wall of the entrance hall, was a board on which all the names of school head boys were listed for posterity. But for many years the name of Mick Doyle did not appear on it. Why? Well in the eye of our order, the Dominicans, Mick committed the ultimate sin.
The finish of the academic year, when the school was breaking up, except for exam classes, was sports day. And on that day, the Kerryman committed the biggest no-no in the Dominican rule book. He took a girl up to his room and was caught. For this misdemeanour, he was expelled from Newbridge College and his name kept off the roll of honour. This situation lasted for many years – until he was picked to play for Ireland. The order had a rethink - peace was made – and Mick was re-instated, indeed going back many times from then to coach the school rugby teams.
I never met Mick again after that year, but followed his sporting career and indeed the ups and downs of his personal life as detailed in his books, with interest. An ebullient, larger than life personality, he certainly suffered his share of pain, physical and mental. May he rest in peace. LH

Our Harps beat on

Not a bad start in the life of supporting Finn Harps, 6 points in two games - two very important games at that, and Harps are only 3 points off the leaders in the first division. Surely Felix hasn’t taken to reading the ‘Times’. For that I’m very grateful, the six points that is, not Felix taking up the ‘Times’. I’m feeling very optimistic right now, very very optimistic. There are of course many reasons why I shouldn’t be and I’ll explain them later.
This optimism stems greatly from Felix Healy’s appointment as manager. In footballing circles the man is a legend - as a player and a manager. In charge of Derry City he won the league and FAI Cup in successive years and came very close to winning the double on both occasions. His appointment at Finn Park has been, to say the least, controversial. Well what else would you expect, the rivalry is intense and both clubs are very proud. ‘I was surprised but nothing surprises me in football’ as Les Ferdinand once said!!! Think about it. Felix is a highly intelligent man. He has arrived at Finn Harps with a plan - a long term plan. Given the turnover of Harps managers in the last year, long term sounds good.

So what has got me feeling so positive? Well here goes. For all you young budding and wannabe soccer stars, this is for you. In Felix’s words ‘Somebody once said to me you must leave a football club better than you found it and that is my aim’. Now this is where I feel Felix has obviously tapped my phone.
When myself and Andrew McElhinney first met in relation to the formation of a supporters club we wanted a supporters club with a difference, we had many ideas, chief amongst them was the idea of promoting soccer and ultimately Finn Harps to children, the future of soccer, the future of Finn Harps. It is therefore encouraging to hear Felix’s plan. ‘I want to develop the club, I want to put in place youth structures from U-12 up to the first team’. This, as a supporter of the club, I can guarantee will happen, it will happen because this is a requirement under UEFA licensing. Harps have no choice in this regard.
Which brings me to the reasons why I am concerned. We don’t or didn’t need UEFA licensing to make this decision. It should have been happening for years, or at least when it was started some years ago, it should have continued, it should have been developed. How else can you guarantee success? How else do you expect a community to support a club unless it keeps it in the community. So before ‘somebody’ tells you this is their brainchild, and knowing the Finn Harps Board of directors, they will, I’m telling you now we are required under UEFA regulations and failure to do so will see the end of Finn Harps involvement in League of Ireland football. I suppose the biggest issue and headache at Finn Park in respect of UEFA licensing is the infrastructure requirement. Again I ask why this hasn’t been addressed. But for fear of accusation of rocking the Finn Harps boat, I’ll reserve such speculation…….. for now at least.

I think at this stage my concerns associated with Finn Harps are beginning to dominate my thought process. I’m beginning to detect that Finn Harps supporters have had enough. Attendances are declining dramatically, for that I’m not surprised. I follow Finn Harps because I love Finn Harps, it goes without saying. What sustains this love affair is the support and the coaching and playing staff. That eternal optimism, that failure to stop believing Finn Harps will return to its rightful place among the top teams in the country.
Back to the football. 2 league wins, not the most convincing of wins but wins nonetheless. Firstly we travelled to Century Homes Park, Monaghan. Supporters attention on our journey to Century Homes usually centres on the steep hill/field/drumlin behind the goal as we try desperately to determine whether the cows actually move. Now Century Homes has presented its problems in recent years. Monaghan United are perennial strugglers in the first division. As I leave the ground I never fail to feel sorry for everyone involved with the club. This was Felix Healy’s first game in charge and I got the distinct feeling things would be different this time around. Not least since the field/hill/drumlin contained three horses. Now, that I hadn’t prepared for. Harps support out-numbered the home support, not hard to do but that’s the way it is. Sad but true. When I say Harps left it late - I mean late, 89mins and Shane ‘Rita’ Bradley scored the winner. It was a result hard earned. A result nonetheless. By the way the referee missed a blatant handball by Monaghan goalkeeper Vladimir Munteanu outside his penalty box, even the horses spotted that one and travelled down to inform the referee to keep his eye on the game.
Next up, a home game against Athlone Town, at Finn Park and Felix Healy’s first home game. The reaction was mixed! Harps left it late, did I mention that before, I’ve a feeling of Déjà vu right now. Aah, maybe not. This time Gary ‘Gazza’ Crossan, cousin of Harps striker Kevin McHugh scored a cracking late winner. Not the most convincing of wins against a very defensive Athlone Town. Still the result is all that matters.
On Tuesday night, Finn Harps entertained Monaghan United in the league cup. Until the previous Tuesday the game was meaningless with Harps having lost 2-0 to Derry City. Nobody would have expected Monaghan Utd to beat Derry City but beat them they did - and Harps were back in with a shout of a quarter final spot in the league cup. The order was tall, Harps needed to win by three clear goals, surely this was beyond them who were without Tom Mohan and Eloka Asokuh. 3-0 they won and a fantastic night was had by a very average attendance at Finn Park, with goals from Kevin McHugh, Gary Crossan and a late winner, an absolute cracker from Niall Bonner, sent Harps fans wild in delirium. Not least because the result saw Derry City dumped out of the league Cup and heaped further pressure on under-fire ex-Harps player and manager, Gavin Dykes.
The reaction by the Harps support was one of acceptance that Felix Healy was here to do a job, and a fine job he has done thus far. 1-0 to Felix. Here’s hoping for continued success at Finn Park!!!!
Brendan Grufferty
Brendan is secretary of Donegal Town and District Finn Harps Supporters Club. For any information in relation to the supporters club or for anybody wishing to join the supporters club, further information may be got by contacting Brendan on 086 1731757, Andrew on 086 3853310 or Pauline at 087 7943635.
The next meeting of Donegal Town and District Finn Harps Supporters Club will be held in Charlie’s Star Bar, Donegal Town on Wednesday the 2nd June 2004, at 8pm. All members are encouraged to attend and new members are welcome.