Additional time Beggan free secures win for Scotstown

WINNING POINT: Rory Beggan seals the win for Scotstown. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Paton

Ulster Club SFC quarter-final

KILCOO 1-8 SCOTSTOWN 0-12 

An additional time, long-range free from Rory Beggan secured a frantic Ulster club SFC quarter-final win for Scotstown over 2021-22 All-Ireland champions Kilcoo in Newry this afternoon.

The Monaghan champions were a point down in the fourth minute of additional time but somehow roused themselves to score the next two points. Kieran Hughes was vital to both of them, sending over a levelling mark before winning a free from a Kilcoo kick-out that Beggan converted with aplomb.

After a gargantuan Beggan point from play, Scotstown were one up in the 37th minute but found themselves two down less than three minutes later when Paul Devlin dispatched a penalty to Beggan’s net. Ceilum Doherty had been upended by Darren Hughes in the area and referee Noel Mooney had no choice but to give the spot kick.

Kilcoo powered on with a couple of more scores, Shealan Johnston and then Anthony Morgan became their eighth different contributor in the 46th minute. Jack McCarron made his first offering to the scoreboard two minutes later to bring Scotstown within a goal. He curled over a free to make it a two-point game in the 58th minute and won a placed ball that Beggan arrowed over in the last minute of regulation time before Jason Carey’s equalising mark.

At the other end, Devlin appeared to have sent over the clinching score for Kilcoo when Ryan O’Toole upended Ryan Johnston but Hughes and Beggan weren’t finished.

Scotstown were off the mark in the second minute while Kilcoo, who replied through Miceál Rooney, were fortunate not to have a man sent off in the sixth minute. Ryan McEvoy was reckless if not dangerous when he jumped through into Brendan Boylan. However, Mooney chose to merely book the Kilcoo full-back following a conversation with linesman Barry McMenamin.

In a game often riddled with dead possession, Kilcoo were finding Scotstown’s cover difficult to break and required oodles of recycling. However, Darryl Branagan found a way through in the 14th minute.

Scotstown’s shooting wasn’t by any means hot and by the end of the half both Monaghan stars Rory Beggan and Jack McCarron had two wides to their name. Jason Carey showed them the way when he took receipt of a Michael McCarville pass and swung over a point.

Kilcoo’s reaction was instantaneous, however, as Eugene Branagan sprinted off from the resultant kick-out to cancel out the point and all of the Down champions’ half-back line had scored from play.

Aaron Morgan doubled Kilcoo’s lead in the 25th minute but the conclusion of the half was in Scotstown’s favour. After Shane Carey converted a free in the 28th minute, Darren Hughes won the next two restarts, the first of them finishing with a Conor McCarthy point, which was enough to square the game at half-time at four points apiece.

Scorers for Kilcoo: P. Devlin (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free); M. Rooney, D. Branagan, E. Branagan, Aaron Morgan, N. Kane (free), S. Johnston, Anthony Morgan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Scotstown: R. Beggan (0-3, 2 frees); S. Carey, J. McCarron, J. Carey (1 mark) (0-2 each); C. McCarthy, D. Morgan, K. Hughes (mark) (0-1 each).

KILCOO: N. Kane; R. McEvoy, N. Branagan; M. Rooney, D. Branagan (c), E. Branagan, J. Devlin; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan; S. Johnston, R. Johnston, C. Doherty; P. Devlin, A. Branagan, C. Laverty.

Subs: S. McCusker for J. Devlin (43); C. Rooney for C. Laverty (58).

Black card: R. McKenna (60+2).

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

Subs: D. Murray for E. Caulfield (46); M. McPhillips for J. Hamill (52); R. McKenna for M. Maguire (58); O. Heaphy for J. Carey (60+4).

Referee: N. Mooney (Cavan).