SCOTSTOWN’S PATH TO GLORY

The Monaghan side are Ulster champions and Shaun Casey looks at every championship game in their famous season

Scotstown 1-22 Clontibret 1-22

THEY began their journey on home soil as they opened their county championship account against Clontibret in round two, having enjoyed a bye in the opening round. A goal from youngster Sean Og McElwain after seven minutes saw the defending champions fly out of the traps and the goal was the difference between the teams at half time. Scotstown were leading late on, when a last minute two-pointer from Dessie Mone earned Clontibret a share of the spoils.

Scotstown 0-19 Truagh 0-17

SCOTSTOWN needed a last-gasp two-pointer from the trusty boot of Rory Beggan to collect their first victory of the championship. Truagh had led for the majority of the contest and headed into the half-time break with two points to spare and held onto that margin leading into the final few minutes of the encounter. David McCague’s side battled back to get on level terms before their goalkeeper earned the hero tag with the winning score.

Scotstown 6-18 Cremartin 3-10

A COMFORTABLE 17-point win over Cremartin saw Scotstown advance to the final round of the group stages in final fettle, still eyeing up that top spot. Francis Maguire raised their first green flag during the opening period before Sean Óg McElwain netted to give them a 2-6 to 1-7 advantage at the interval. Shane Carey then got in on the goal-scoring act while Mattie Maguire, Finaly Foy and Michael Meehan all claimed majors as they ran out handsome winners.

Scotstown 0-18 Corduff 1-17

THE one and only championship defeat for the An Bhoth men this season came in the final round of the group stages to Seamus McEnaney’s Corduff. With only a few minutes remaining on the clock, Scotstown were five points to the good, but Corduff produced a stunning finale to win by two. Feargal Hanratty nailed a brace of two-point frees either side of a Keith McEnaney goal, meaning Scotstown finished in third place in the group.

Scotstown 1-23 Latton 0-11

THE knockout stages of the competition saw Scotstown really hit form and they blew Latton away in the quarter-final. Michael McCarville found the net two minutes before the short whistle sounded and that allowed the champions to carry a five-point lead into the break. Tommy Mallen, Jack McCarron, Max Maguire and Nicholas Sherlock all kept the scoreboard ticking over after the turnaround.

Scotstown 2-15 Clontibret 1-12

BILLED as perhaps the game of the championship, Scotstown got the better of one of their biggest rivals in the county. A pair of quick-fire goals from Darragh Murphy and Jack McCarron gave them a 2-6 to 1-5 lead at half time. Scotstown stayed on top for the remainder of the game, and it was a late two-pointer from Rory Beggan that guaranteed their passage into another county final.

Scotstown 0-22 Inniskeen 0-17 (AET)

SCOTSTOWN needed extra-time to finally shake off the attentions of Inniskeen to secure their third county title on the trot. The introduction of Ryan O’Toole and Conor McCarthy from the bench helped Scotstown over the line in the end. Top scorer on the day Tommy Mallen gave his side a 10-6 lead at half time but Inniskeen fought back to tie things up at 0-15 each by the end of normal time. Scotstown pushed on in extra-time to see out a five-point win.

Scotstown 2-16 Naomh Conaill 0-16

TWO goals from corner-back Darragh Murray during the opening half allowed Scotstown to sail into a ten-point lead when the half-time whistle sounded, 2-10 to 0-6. Naomh Conaill, with the breeze at their backs, did muster up a better display in the second period, but the accuracy in front of the posts from young Max Maguire ensured the Monaghan men advanced to the last four.

Scotstown 2-20 Newbridge 2-20 (4-2 on penalties)

IN one of the most dramatic games of the entire season, Scotstown eventually qualified for the Ulster final after a penalty shootout. Scotstown were cruising at one stage before Newbridge fought back with the most unlikely of comebacks to not only force extra-time, but to bring the game to penalties. Scotstown eventually gained the upper hand, with Rory Beggan, Jack McCarron, Kieran Hughes and Darren Hughes slotting home from the spot.

Scotstown 0-19 Kilcoo 0-16 (AET)

SCOTSTOWN ended a 36-year wait for an Ulster title by beating Down representatives and former All-Ireland champions Kilcoo in the decider. A late Callum Rogers score for the Magpies forced extra-time but like the county final, the introduction of Conor McCarthy, along with an unbelievable personal tally of 0-11 from goalkeeper Rory Beggan, saw Scotstown get their hands on the Seamus McFerran Cup.