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Scotstown march on in Ulster

Scotstown's Darren Hughes on the attack against Burren.

Scotstown's Darren Hughes on the attack against Burren.

AIB Ulster SFC Quarter-Final

SCOTSTOWN (MONAGHAN) 0-13 BURREN (DOWN) 0-10

By Orla Bannon at Pairc Esler

A point from play from All Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan was the memorable highlight as Monaghan champions Scotstown withstood Burren's final quarter fightback to advance to the semi-finals of the Ulster club SFC.

Despite kicking 13 first-half wides, Scotstown led by 0-11 to 0-4 in Pairc Esler midway through the second half and looked to be cruising, kicking seven points in a row either side of the break.

However a black card for Kieran Hughes coincided with a Burren fightback and they nailed six without reply to to trail by just a point with three minutes to go.

The four-in-a-row Monaghan champions should have been out of sight by half time.

They kicked 13 wides in the opening half and the 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead didn't reflect their dominance.

The highlight was Beggan's point from play in the 24th minute. He sauntered up the field as if to take a free, but ended up taking a one-two with Frank Caulfield to score from play.

Burren switched off and Beggan chipped the free short to Caulfield and took the return, sticking it over the bar to cap off an unforgettable weekend for the Monaghan number one.

Scotstown had superior firepower and opened up an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead with Francis Maguire and Shane Carey scoring from play.

Burren hung in with Eamonn Toner's point from an impossible angle was their first from play 17 minutes in. They drew level soon after through Cathal Foy at three points apiece, but Scotstown took off in the second quarter.

A spectacular Kieran Hughes point with the outside of the boot was followed by Beggan's memorable strike.

But the wides were racking up, with players taking the wrong options and trying to force the play.

Conor McCarthy teed up Orin Heaphey for an easy goal chance but he fluffed his lines as the mistakes going forward mounted up.

Scotstown picked up where they'd left off with four points on the spin, another superb effort from Kieran Hughes with Carey and Maguire also getting their second points from play of the afternoon.

Sub Ryan Treanor made an impact for Burren off the bench and his monster free ended Scotstown's run of seven unanswered points and 26 minutes without a score.

Leading 0-11 to 0-4, it looked all too easy for Scotstown but a black card for Kieran Hughes coincided with a sloppy spell for the visitors.

Burren started to play their best football of the game and Donal O'Hare took advantage nailing four frees without reply.

Points from Foy and Sean Murdock got the home fans on their feet as they sensed their team could snatch it.

But Scotstown rallied with late points from Shane Carey and Donal Morgan. Burren sub David McEntee picked up a straight red right at the death.

Scotstown will face Derry champions Coleraine in the semi-finals in two weeks time.

Scorers for Scotstown: Shane Carey 0-5 (2fs), Francis Maguire 0-2, Kieran Hughes 0-2, Rory Beggan 0-2 (1f), Donal Morgan 0-1, Conor McCarthy 0-1 (f).

Scorers for Burren: Donal O'Hare 0-5 (5f), Cathal Foy 0-2, Eamonn Toner 0-1, Sean Murdock 0-1, Ryan Treanor 0-1 (f).

SCOTSTOWN: Rory Beggan; Brendan Boylan, Ryan O'Toole, Damien McArdle; Jack McDevitt, Donal Morgan, Emmet Caulfield; Frank Caulfield, Kieran Hughes; Francis Maguire, Conor McCarthy, Jamie McCarey; Shane Carey, Darren Hughes, Orin Heaphey.

Subs: Ross McKenna for Heaphey (HT), Paul Sherlock for K Hughes (BC, 44), Dermot McCrudden for Maguire (56), Michael McCarville for Boylan (60).

BURREN: Cathal Murdock; Steven Fegan, Kevin McKernan, Ardan McAvoy; Shay McArdle, Conor Cox, Conaill McGovern; Declan Rooney, Connor Toner; Cathal Foy, Padraig Poland, Ronan McGrath; Liam Kerr, Eamonn Toner, Donal O'Hare

Subs: Cillian Burns for Murdock (HT), David McEntee for Cox (HT), Ryan Treanor for Poland (39), Malachai McAvoy for Kerr (39), Sean Murdock for McGrath (44), Peter Fegan for C Toner (60).

REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).