Stacked Scotstown grasp Monaghan glory

David McCague was able to bring Kieran Hughes off the bench to add to Scotstown’s contingent of county men.

CHAMPS: Scotstown captain Damien McArdle lifts the cup after the Monaghan County Senior Club Football Championship final. Pic: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

Scotstown 0-17 Inniskeen 0-14 

Scotstown regained the Monaghan SFC title with a hard-earned win over Inniskeen.

A high-quality first half saw 20 points scored, including 15 from play, with Scotstown leading by two at the break. 

John McEntee’s Inniskeen drew level towards the end of the third quarter as Seán Jones grew into the game, but their 75-year wait for a county title continues after Scotstown’s experience came to the fore down the home straight. 

Leading the way with 0-6 was Jack McCarron, rounding off his first campaign with Scotstown after his transfer from Currin earlier this year.

Scotstown started brightly with points from Conor McCarthy and Jack McCarron, before Dónal Meegan got Inniskeen off the mark. 

McCarron was a thorn in Inniskeen’s side early on, adding a point from play and his second forward mark, but Scotstown missed a goal chance when Mícheál McCarville rattled the crossbar from close range.

Scotstown captain Damien McArdle added his name to the scoresheet, but well-taken points from Andrew Woods and Tommy Durnin kept Inniskeen in touch. 

Darren Hughes - alternating between midfield and full-forward - Emmet Caulfield, Shane Carey and Rory Beggan took Scotstown’s first-half tally into double figures as they moved four clear, but Inniskeen replied through Woods and Ciarán McNulty to halve their deficit at 0-11 to 0-9.

Scotstown were first up and running after the restart through Jason Carey, but a string of fine scores from Seán Jones brought Inniskeen back on level terms. 

The Grattans couldn’t quite edge ahead, however, as a ‘45 by Beggan and another attacking mark by McCarron regained the lead for Scotstown. 

McCarthy and Matthew Maguire doubled their advantage to four and although Jones kicked his sixth late on, McCarron matched his tally to help Scotstown over the line.

Scorers for Scotstown: J McCarron 0-6 (3m, 1f); R Beggan (1f, 1 ‘45), C McCarthy, S Carey 0-2 each; D McArdle, J Carey, E Caulfield, D Hughes, M Maguire 0-1 each.

Scorers for Inniskeen: S Jones 0-6 (1m, 1f); C McNulty (1f), Andrew Woods 0-3 each; T Durnin, Dónal Meegan (f) 0-1 each.

Scotstown: R Beggan; B Boylan, R O’Toole, D McArdle (Capt.); D Morgan, R Malley, E Caulfield; D Hughes, M McCarville; M Maguire, S Carey, J Carey; C McCarthy, J Hamill, J McCarron.

Subs: K Hughes for Malley (32); M McPhillips for Hamill (39); F Maguire for J Carey (45); R McKenna for McCarville (59); F McPhillips for M Maguire (64).

Inniskeen: R Meegan; S Hanratty, C Hanratty, M McKenna; S Kindlon; C Meegan, M Monahan, S Woods (Capt.); T Durnin, C Gernon; O Monahan, C McNulty; A Woods, S Jones, D Meegan.

Subs: D McConnell for Gernon (52); G Burns for McKenna (54); H Monahan for O Monahan (57).

Referee: Niall McKenna (Emyvale).