We ironed out a lot of creases from the group phase: Hughes

THE window after their championship group stages’ defeat to Corduff were the best three weeks of training Scotstown had all year.

That was Darren Hughes’ take in the aftermath of the Oriel giants’ win over Kilcoo to land a fifth Ulster title and a first in 36 years.

Scotstown had drawn with Clontibret in their first game and the defeat to Seamus McEnaney’s side left them third in the group.

A 1-23 to 0-11 quarter-final victory over Latton had David McCague’s side heading into the business end of the season knowing they had the preparation done.

“It was probably the best three weeks training we had all year, from the end of the group,” Hughes told Gaelic Life.

“The Latton game was probably our most polished performance in the Monaghan Championship.

“We had three weeks, it was do or die at that stage, so we had to just get at it. We ironed out a lot of creases from the group phase. We set our stall out for the Latton game and we just built game on game from there.”

Hughes called time on his inter-county career in the middle of Scotstown’s defence of the Mick Duffy Cup.

While the oldest player in the squad last weekend, he was still leading the charge. It was his penalty in the shoot-out against Newbridge that clinched a spot in Saturday’s decider.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Scotstown have a welcome wave of new players on the scene.

It was the first club season Hughes has had an absolute total focus on, having called time on his inter-county career.

“They’ve just revitalised the whole thing and brought out great energy and pace,” said Hughes of the newcomers.

Donnchadh Connolly, Max Maguire and Nicky Sherlock all made their championship debuts this year and started against Kilcoo.

“Then you’ve Sean Óg (McElwain) and Tommy (Mallen) out injured with hamstrings,” Hughes added of another two who are tasting senior for the first time.

“You’ve Mark McCaffrey coming there as well in behind them, he’s a year younger.

“They’re very mature for their age and have revitalised us because we were probably pretty predictable in how we played over the years.

“There were different boys in and out, but the spine of your team was always the same. It worked with the new rules, everything just sort of fell into place and we just built momentum game on game.”

Scotstown put an end to their search for glory having lost finals to Gaoth Dobhair and Crossmaglen after extra-time.

There was also a narrow defeat to Glen two years ago. Last year was a different story with Kilcoo hitting them for five semi-final goals.

Hughes doesn’t pinpoint any defeat as tougher than the rest. Last year was the same. A defeat is a defeat and he counts himself lucky to have had the county scene to lean on.

“I’m just rolling into Monaghan every year and vice versa,” he said.

“You lose your last game with Monaghan; it is a loss. You get your couple of weeks off and you’re rolling into Scotstown. You dust yourself down and you go again. That’s been the way it’s been from 2013.

“We’re playing at the very top, so you’re just rolling from one to the other. Disappointment didn’t get a chance to set in as you’re into a new group.

“It was actually great because it got rid of the disappointment, whereas the boys (club players) had to slog it out for a few months on their own and get back to club training.”

Eventually getting his hands on an Ulster medal, Hughes is fully aware of the history etched all over the club. He was brought up with it.

Wall to wall Monaghan titles, the three-in-a-row Ulster winning team and the men of 1989 who won the club’s fourth provincial title.

After the breakthrough in 2013, the current crop have written their own history but Saturday was the chapter that has taken the most blood, sweat and tears.

“You still had the men that had the Ulster Club have one over on you,” he said, “so it’s a bit of a leveller now. We have a few to catch up on other boys but we’ll enjoy this one.”