Gaelic Games

Scotstown forced to work hard to retain Monaghan title

Injury time goal from Conor McCarthy finally ended the challenge of Truagh

File photo of Scotstown’s Conor McCarthy. Photo: Tommy Dickson/Inpho
File photo of Scotstown’s Conor McCarthy. Photo: Tommy Dickson/Inpho
Sun Nov 07 2021 - 18:21

Scotstown 1-13 Truagh 0-10

Scotstown retained their Monaghan SFC title with a hard-earned win over Truagh in Clones on Sunday. Scotstown were pushed all the way by their near-neighbours as they won their seventh county championship in the space of nine years, with a goal deep into added time by Conor McCarthy finally ending Truagh’s challenge.

Kieran Hughes kicked three superb points in a man of the match performance for the 2018 Ulster club finalists, who came from four down early on after a lightning-fast start by Truagh.

Despite taking 11 minutes to open their account through a Shane Carey free, Scotstown called on all their know-how to draw level by half-time. Kieran Hughes landed a brace of fine points, while Paul Sherlock, Dónal Morgan and Rory Beggan were also on the scoresheet, although a couple of well-taken points from either wing by Adam Treanor kept Truagh firmly in contention at 0-7 apiece.

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Ryan Mohan and Adam Treanor helped Truagh regain the lead after half-time, only for Scotstown to slowly but surely make their experience count, as Kieran and Darren Hughes, Conor McCarthy and Francis Maguire edged them ahead for the first time. A Gary Mohan free was Truagh’s only score of the last 20 minutes, with the full-forward also seeing a goal attempt roll agonisingly wide.

Beggan converted his second 50-metre free for Scotstown, who pulled away with a point from Matthew Maguire and an audacious late strike from McCarthy, who lobbed the ball in from distance for the game’s only goal.

Scotstown will now meet the winners of the Ulster Club preliminary round between St. Eunan’s (Donegal) and Glen (Derry) in next month’s quarter-final.

Scotstown: R Beggan (0-2, 2f); M Meehan, R O'Toole; D Morgan (0-1); J McDevitt, D Hughes (0-1), D McArdle; G McPhillips, K Hughes (0-3); M McCarville, S Carey (0-2, 2f), P Sherlock (0-1); O Heaphey, C McCarthy (1-1, 1f), F Maguire (0-1).

Subs: M Maguire (0-1) for Heaphey (19); R McKenna for McPhillips (44); J Carey for F Maguire (53); S Mohan for McDevitt (62).

Truagh: C McGee; J McCarron, E Kelly, A Coyle; L Kelly; M McQuaid (0-1), R Boyle. Cormac McKenna (0-1); R Mohan (0-1), J McKenna; Adam Treanor (0-3), C McAnenly (0-2, 2f), P McKenna; G Mohan (0-2, 1f, 1 '45), O McElligott.

Subs: A Mohan for L Kelly, Christopher McKenna for McElligott (both 46); S Treanor for McQuaid (53).

Referee: J McAndrew (Ballybay).