Monaghan SFC Final: Scotstown cruise to victory
Rory Beggan, Scotstown, and Oran McElligott, Truagh, in Monaghan SFC Final action. Photo by Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile
Monaghan SFC Final
Scotstown 1-22 Truagh 0-10
By Colm Shalvey at St Tiernach's Park
AIB Ulster Club champions Scotstown retained the Monaghan SFC title with a comprehensive win over neighbours Truagh in Clones.
Scotstown kicked eight two-pointers, including four from their captain Rory Beggan, as they clinched their 25th county title and a fourth in a row. Truagh trailed by just four points on 40 minutes, but Scotstown finished with an unanswered 0-11 to end any doubt over the result.
Scotstown made a blistering start with early two-pointers from Conor McCarthy and Kieran Hughes, plus a Mícheál McCarville effort from just inside the arc.
Christopher McKenna and Seán O’Connell brought Truagh back into it, but a brace of long-range scores from Man of the Match Max Maguire extended Scotstown’s lead and they got the opening goal on 22 minutes when Ryan O’Toole latched onto a Tommy Mallen pass to fire home.
A James McKenna brace and an added-time two-pointer from O’Connell cut Truagh’s deficit to five at half-time (1-9 to 0-7), but Scotstown started the second half with the first of four doubles from Rory Beggan.
Ronan Boyle and Luke H McKenna replied for Truagh to leave four between the teams, but they didn’t score in the remaining 28 minutes, including added time. McCarthy, Maguire, O’Toole and Donnchadh Connolly added to Scotstown’s tally, while Beggan was unerring from two-point frees as they pulled away in style.
Scotstown will face the winners of the Derry SFC Final between Magherafelt and Newbridge in Ulster early next month.
Scorers for Scotstown: Rory Beggan 0-8 (4 2-pt-f), Max Maguire 0-5 (2 2-pt), Ryan O’Toole 1-1, Conor McCarthy 0-3 (1 2-pt, 1f), Kieran Hughes 0-2 (1 2-pt), Donnchadh Connolly 0-1, Mícheál McCarville 0-1, Shane Carey 0-1 (f).
Scorers for Truagh: Seán O’Connell 0-3 (1 2-pt), Luke H McKenna 0-2 (1 2-pt), Christopher McKenna 0-2 (1 2-pt), James McKenna 0-2; Ronan Boyle 0-1.
Scotstown: Rory Beggan (Capt.); Mark McCaffrey, Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle; Donnchadh Connolly, Darragh Murray, Darren Hughes; Mícheál McCarville, Kieran Hughes; James Hamill, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey; Tommy Mallen, Max Maguire, Matthew Maguire.
Subs: Nicky Sherlock for Matthew Maguire (H-T), Jack McCarron for Hamill (43), Francis Maguire for Max Maguire (52), Mark McPhillips for D Hughes (55), Jason Carey for Mallen (60).
Temporary sub: Jack McDevitt for D Hughes (36-42).
Truagh: Caolán McGee; John McCarron (Joint-Capt.), Kalum McKenna, Ryan Mohan (Joint-Capt.); Louis Kelly, Ronan Boyle, Cormac McKenna; Darren O’Neill, James McKenna; Pádraig McKenna, Luke H McKenna, Oran McElligott; Christopher McKenna, Gary Mohan, Seán O’Connell.
Subs: Adam McCarey for P McKenna (22), P McKenna for Cormac McKenna (48), Luke O McKenna for O’Connell (52), Caolán Tracey for McCarey (inj., 57), Lewis McElwaine for O’Neill (60 + 4).
Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Donaghmoyne).
