McCague hoping Scotstown can scratch Ulster itch

By Shaun Casey

NOTHING beats being there and Scotstown manager David McCague is glad that his team is back competing in the Ulster Club Championship, which he hails as “the best competition in Gaelic football” ahead of their meeting with Naomh Conaill.

McCague’s men recently retained their county title to represent Monaghan in the provincial series for the 10th time in the last 13 years. They defeated Inniskeen by five points in the showpiece, 0-22 to 0-17 after extra-time, to keep their vice-like grip on the Mick Duffy Cup.

While Scotstown are one of the regulars on the provincial scene, winning the competition is still an itch that they have yet to scratch in recent times

The An Bhoth men haven’t won an Ulster title since since 1989, their fourth title, and they’ve lost finals in 2015, 2018 and 2023.

They were ruthlessly knocked out at the semi-final stage last season at the hands of Kilcoo, with the Down champions rattling off five goals in their 11-point win at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds. Still, Scotstown head into the campaign as one of the favourites for the crown.

“I do a bit of work with TG4, and I keep telling Brian Tyers (TG4 commentator) that this is the best competition in Gaelic football,” McCague said of the Ulster Club Championship.

“Every year it produces drama, plenty of collisions, big hits, great games, great contests and we’re just really lucky to be involved in it and we’re relishing the opportunity again.”

A number of new teams are chasing the Seamus McFerran Cup, with maiden county champions like Madden and Loughmacrory getting their first taste of provincial action while Newbridge, Erne Gaels and Kingscourt don’t have a whole lot of experience either.

Scotstown are part of the furniture in the Ulster Club Championship at this stage and their opponents this weekend, Naomh Conaill, have featured in the competition quite regularly over the past number of years as well.

Martin Regan’s team, who last reached the Ulster final back in 2019, are back in the championship for the eighth time in the past two decades and have come out of Donegal four times in the last six seasons.

Looking ahead to their first-round encounter with Glenties, McCague said, “It’s a huge challenge. I’ve spent a bit of time going over some footage of them and getting my own head into that space and they’re a very impressive outfit.

“They’re seasoned and they are experienced, and they have a great track record in Donegal. I remember a few years ago seeing them play against Glen down in Omagh (2023) and I felt that they were the best team that night and should have come through that fixture.

“They’ll be just as hungry as we are to get into the next phase of the competition so it should be a really good tussle.

“Two teams in blue going up against each other in Clones on Sunday, so we’re really looking forward to it.”