Ulster Club SFC final
Kilcoo v Scotstown
Saturday, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 6.15pm

By Michael McMullan

BEFORE a ball was kicked, seven other county champions were handed the task of derailing the final most predicted.

Newbridge pulled themselves from the jaws of defeat to come mighty close in a pulsating semi-final decided on a penalty shoot-out.

Scotstown’s four penalty takers held their nerve with one, goalkeeper Rory Beggan, diving right to deny the in-form Sean Young.

On the other side, Kilcoo came through with relative comfort. They still had to keep their eyes on the road but it’s familiar ground.

And there it is. Kilcoo and Scotstown, the fancied horses, are left standing.

Scotstown are in a third final in 10 campaigns. Glen had two points to spare on the way to their All-Ireland title. Crossmaglen (2015) and Gaoth Dobair, three years later, needed extra-time.

The Oriel kingpins were a kick away in 2015. With time up and the side level, Beggan got too much right-hand spin on a late free in the dying embers of normal time before the Rangers got the job done in the 20 minutes that followed.

Kilcoo, All-Ireland champions in 2023, are in a seventh decider during the span of their Down dominance. That’s a mighty return.

The surprising thing is how the Magpies only have two Ulster titles. In both years, they reached the All-Ireland finals. Many clubs would give their right arm for half of that, but Kilcoo, like any competitor, will rue the ones that got away.

But for the brilliance of Errigal’s Peter Óg McCartan, they could be going for back-to-back crowns on Saturday in Armagh.

Themselves and Sleacht Néill were in arguably Ulster winning form in 2020 when the campaign was pulled during the Covid lockdown.

Saturday would’ve been new ground for Erne Gaels or Newbridge. Instead, there is familiarity in both dressing rooms.

Six players remain from Scotstown’s 2015 challenge. The Hughes brothers, Beggan, captain Damien McArdle, playmaker Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy. Current manager David McCague came in off the bench.

From the Kilcoo team who played in Sleacht Néill final loss 12 months later, eight played last month’s semi-final win over Erne Gaels. Substitute Conor Laverty made it nine. Only for injury, Aaron Branagan would’ve taken it to double digits.

There is also the recent history of between both clubs. A stoppage time Beggan free edged Kilcoo in Páirc Esler two years ago. Last year, goals from brothers Chrissy and Micéal Rooney tore Scotstown apart.

The other championship meeting was a low-scoring 2016 preliminary round game in Clones decided by a second-half goal from Kilcoo half-time substitute Ryan Johnston.

As much as Kilcoo and Scotstown were tipped to navigate their respective paths to Saturday, that only came after they stepped out of their own lands.

As Charlie Carr’s two-point free floated towards goal in their semi-final with Clonduff, Kilcoo’s seven-in-a-row hopes rested on the outcome but it tailed wide.

In a season when a loss to Corduff and a draw with Clontibret saw Scotstown finish third in their group, they also needed extra-time to pull clear of Inniskeen in the decider.

On the Farney Amy podcast in the midst of the group stages, Monaghan fanatic Fergal Monaghan spoke of how you only get one crack at Scotstown and it needs to be in a knock-out game.

They do what champions do. They invariably find a way. They’ll need a slice of luck at times, but they keep showing up.

If we think back to 1999 and a night in the Nou Camp. Had the towel been thrown in, then ‘Fergie Time’ doesn’t exist. Sheringham and Solskjær. Seamus Darby in 1982.

Even more relevant again, on the day Harry Ruddle’s goal pulled Ballygunner over the finish line, Jerome Johnston’s goal was the killer blow as Kilcoo won their All-Ireland too.

It’s hard to imagine anything other than drama in Armagh on Saturday night. The football fanatic will hope the season extends to extra-time and beyond.

Now come the questions. Calling this game is impossible but will Kilcoo have Aaron Branagan? Will Scotstown’s extra-time semi-final drama make them or break them?

This time last year, Kilcoo had ran them ragged in a five-goal rout. A freak result, yet difficult to zone out from completely. Fast-forward to now and there is a freshness.

Tommy Mallen, Max Maguire and Donnchadh Connolly came off Monaghan’s All-Ireland minor final team of 2022. Sean Óg McElwain would’ve been another.

Nicky Sherlock and Darragh Murray, who hit two goals against Naomh Conaill to get the Ulster ball rolling, are others that have injected that new car smell.

Darren Hughes is at the other end of the age spectrum but was still going strong in extra-time against Newbridge. Some man for one man and still delivered the winning penalty off the outside of his right foot.

A look back to Kilcoo’s victory over Loughmacrory spelt out the difference experience makes. The Tyrone champions tried to force the kick forward early on.

On the other side, Martin Corey’s side kicked when it was on and played their slow phase football when they needed to.

Anthony Morgan, Shealan and Ryan Johnston kicked points either foot to show their dedication to the basic skills that often gets brushed under their workrate tag. Kilcoo have both style and graft.

They’ll have looked at how Newbridge eventually got to grips with the Scotstown midfield giants.

Faced by the Beggan, McPhillips, McCarville, Kieran and Darren Hughes, Nathan Rocks went short around the arc with Paudi McGrogan winning nine kick-outs over the hour.

Niall Kane’s ability to kick off right and left foot will keep Scotstown from cheating on a side and they’ll have to box clever at the other end.

Like the debate over Shaun Patton all summer, it’s the same with Rory Beggan. Drop off and he’ll pick out a man. Press up and he can put your lights out. Think back to his kick-out to Kieran Hughes for McCarville’s goal.

As the game went on, Paudi McGrogan, Shea McAteer and Sean Young all hoovered up long kicks over the press. McGrogan’s in particular was a mixture of positioning and sheer guts.

Kilcoo won’t go in with their eyes closed and they’ll have seen the balance to Scotstown’s play. They’ve been around the block enough times.

The direct ball to Jack McCarron and Mattie Maguire has yielded goals. Shane Carey often picks passes
when playing deep behind midfield too.

Kilcoo are a more streetwise version of Newbridge. They match up quite well but the Down men have oceans of experience at Ulster’s coalface. And they have the hurt.

Scotstown have both too. Their hurt is more recent and deeper. Leaking five goals always hurts more. There is a fresher look to the Oriel champions than Kilcoo but they’re still carrying the monkey on their back of never having delivered when the chips are down.

They’ve been close but they’ve never managed to get there.

On the flip side, Kilcoo will feel their two Ulster titles isn’t near enough from what they’ve brought to the competition.

Sentiment doesn’t matter one iota when Sean Hurson throws in the ball. There is a blank canvas. You’d be a fool to try and predict where Seamus McFerran is going to spend Christmas. One thing is certain; nobody will take their eyes off this one early.

When all nine teams posed for the pre-competition cameras on launch night, Kilcoo and Scotstown were the favourites. So here it is.

ROAD TO ARMAGHDown SFC: Kilcoo 0-22 Bryansford 1-8, Kilcoo 0-18 Clonduff 0-14, Kilcoo 1-23 Loughinisland 2-18, Kilcoo 1-15 Clonduff 0-17, Kilcoo 1-17 Carryduff 1-11
Ulster SFC: Kilcoo 0-16 Loughmacrory 0-11, Kilcoo 4-12 Erne Gaels 1-10
Monaghan SFC: Scotstown 1-22 Clontibret 1-22, Scotstown 6-18 Cremartin 3-10, Scotstown 0-18 Corduff 1-17, Scotstown 0-19 Truagh 0-17, Scotstown 1-23 Latton 0-11, Scotstown 2-15 Clontribret 1-12, Scotstown 0-22 Inniskeen 0-17 AET
Ulster SFC: Scotstown 2-16 Naomh Conaill 2-16, Scotstown 2-20 Newbridge 2-20 AET (Scotstown won 4-2 on penalties)
STOCK
KILCOO were All-Ireland champions in 2022 when Jerome Johnston hit a late goal to snatch a dramatic victory. They lost in the final two years earlier, after extra-time, to a Corofin team who were completing three-in-a-row.
Scotstown have a staggering 24 county titles to their name but you have to go back to 1989 for the last of their four Ulster titles. Their sole All-Ireland final appearance came a decade earlier, losing to seven-time winners Nemo Rangers.
Kilcoo
Down: 23
Ulster: 2 (last 2021)
All-Ireland: 2022
Scotstown
Monaghan: 24
Ulster: 4 (last in 1989)
All-Ireland: None
ULSTER SFC TOP SCORERS
Cian Shekleton 0-12 (2tp, 2f), Oisin Doherty 0-11 (8f, 1tp), Paul Devlin 1-6 (3f, 1tp), Shealan Johnston 1-5 (1tp), Conor Grimley 0-8 (2tp, 2f, 1tpf), Max Maguire 0-7 (2tp), Keelan Molloy 0-6 (2f, 1tp), Shea Malone 0-6 (3tp), Tommy Mallen, Mícheál McCarville (1tp) 1-3 each, Darragh Murray 2-0
Kilcoo: Paul Devlin 1-6 (3f, 1tp), Shealan Johnston 1-5 (1tp), Ceilum Doherty 1-1
Scotstown: Max Maguire 0-7 (2tp), Tommy Mallen, Mícheál McCarville (1tp) 1-3 each, Darragh Murray 2-0
ONES TO WATCH
Kilcoo
Darryl Branagan: The Kilcoo heartbeat. He presents himself for Niall Kane’s kick-out around the arc. An important factor is how he knows to sit and bomb forward where he can add a score.
Shealan Johnston: He set the tone for the victory over Loughmacrory. Johnston was lively and able to kick off either foot. His pace is something Scotstown will have to keep an eye out for.
Scotstown:
Rory Beggan: If Scotstown decide to close every one of Kilcoo’s kick-out pockets, Beggan is another man mountain. That’s before going into his goalkeeping.
Mattie Maguire: When the Monaghan champions opt for the kick pass, Maguire is an option both for the long ball and showing for passes in space.
BETTING
Paddy Power (Kilcoo 4/6, Draw 8/1, Scotstown 13/8)
Boylesports (Kilcoo 8/11, Draw 6/1, Scotstown 6/4)
Bar One (Kilcoo 8/11, Draw 6/1, Scotstown 6/4)
THE RECENT PAST
2024 – Ulster Club SFC semi-final
Kilcoo 5-10 Scotstown 0-14
AN eight-minute goal blitz either side of half-time saw Kilcoo into a fourth final in six seasons.
Goals from brothers Micéal and Chrissy Rooney, one from Ceilum Doherty and an own goal from Shane Carey made all the difference.
Chasing the game, Scotstown, were hit by the pace of the Magpies who had the job done long before Sean Hurson’s final whistle.
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1 45); N Branagan, R McEvoy, C Rogers; M Rooney (2-0), D Branagan, E Branagan; Aaron Morgan (0-1), R Johnston (0-2); C Rooney (1-1), Anthony Morgan (0-1), S Johnston (0-1), C Doherty, J Johnston (0-3, 1f), J Devlin. Subs: C Laverty for Rooney (41), N Roders for Devlin (54), M Hynes for R Johnston (62)
Scotstown: R Beggan (0-2f); D Murray (0-2), D McArdle, J McKevitt; J Hamill (0-2), R O’Toole, C McCarthy (0-1); M McCarville (0-1), G McPhillips; J Carey, S Carey (1-1, 1-0 own goal), K Hughes; F Maguire, D Hughes, J McCarron (0-2, 1f). Subs: Mattie Maguire for F Maguire (33), N Sherlock for J Casey (35), R McKenna (0-1) for Hamill (42), M McPhillips (0-1) for G McPhillips (45), E Caulfield (0-1) for McDevitt (54)
2023 – Ulster Club SFC quarter-final
Scotstown 0-12 Kilcoo 1-8
A FREE from goalkeeper Rory Beggan free saw Scotstown edge out Kilcoo in a tight encounter in Páirc Esler.
Conor McCarthy levelled the match at 0-4 each at half-time before a 39th minute Paul Devlin penalty put the Down champions two ahead.
Devlin’s injury time free edged Kilcoo ahead but a converted mark from Kieran Hughes levelled the game before Beggan’s late winner.
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1f); N Branagan, R McEvoy, A Branagan; M Rooney, (0-1) D Branagan (0-1), E Branagan (0-1); Aaron Morgan (0-1), R Johnston; S Johnston (0-1), J Devlin, Anthony Morgan (0-1); P Devlin (1-1, 1-0pen, 1f), C Laverty, C Doherty. Subs: S McCusker for J Devlin (42), C Rooney for Laverty (57)
Scotstown: R Began (0-3, 2f); B Boylan, R O’Toole, D McArdle; C McCarthy (0-1), D Morgan (0-1), E Caulfield; D Hughes, M McCarville; J Carey (0-2, 1m), S Carey (0-2, 1f), J Hamill; Mattie Maguire, K Hughes (0-1m), J McCarron (0-2, 1f). Subs: D Murray for Caulfield (46), M McPhilips for Hamill (51), O Heaphy for J Carey (60+3)