Beggan strikes late to send Kilcoo packing

OVER: Scotstown goalkeeper Rory Beggan celebrates after he scored the winning point from a free.

Ulster Club SFC quarter final

KILCOO 1-8 SCOTSTOWN 0-12

A seven-year itch was scratched by Kieran Hughes and Rory Beggan as they sealed this frenetic Ulster club SFC quarter-final victory for Scotstown over 2021-22 All-Ireland champions Kilcoo in Páirc Esler.

Even with so many inter-county men to call on, few pictured the Monaghan champions progressing to a semi-final against Trillick later this month. And when Paul Devlin sent over a free in the fourth minute of additional time to put Kilcoo a point up there were fewer.

But up stood Hughes, first to claim a mark and boom it over, an ever-so-true attempt completely at odds with his poor kicking display against Kilcoo in Scotstown’s 2016 provincial defeat - never mind his opening shot here, which was so bad it went over for a sideline.

Hughes then worked terrifically to spoil Niall Kane’s kick-out to Ryan Johnston and win a free, which Beggan arrowed over as if he hadn’t missed three strikes at goal in the first half. For a man who himself felt the game seven years ago was a poor one for him, the accompanying final whistle came ever so sweet.

“I would never have to be persuaded to take a free,” said Monaghan’s No 1. “My job is to take those frees as they come up. You miss some. Everybody misses some frees. But I was delighted to get a chance to make up for it. I have missed big frees in the past and you probably thought you would never get a chance to make it up.” 

For manager David McCague, Beggan and Hughes’ interventions were acts of trust. “We had a serious belief in ourselves. Even to use the old cliché about being written off, we’d have a serious belief in the ability within the group. If we produce a performance that represents our people and the pride we have in our game, we can match anyone on our day. Look, the cards fell our way in the last two or three minutes and that’s what it came down to.” 

Scotstown also had heroes in Darren Hughes and Jack McCarron, the latter who was struggling to feature until the final quarter. “You talk about clutch moments and taking advantage of opposition mistakes – but they’re good footballers,” said McCague. “To go along with that, they have experience. We had huge experience on the field there at the end.

“In terms of what Kieran did, what Rory did, Darren caught a great ball in the square, Jack had a couple of great scores inside. We have great experience on the field and great ability. You put those two things together and a wee bit of luck, it helps.” 

After a massive Beggan point from play, Scotstown were one up in the 37th minute but found themselves two down less than three minutes later when Devlin dispatched a penalty to Beggan’s net. Ceilum Doherty was fouled by Darren Hughes in the area and referee Noel Mooney awarded 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 but they managed one further point.

McCarron pointed 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 darted between the posts 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, their team’s use of the advanced mark proving effective.

“I wouldn’t be a fan of the advanced mark but you play the game within the rules and whatever the rules permit, you try to take advantage of them,” remarked McCague. “The mark is something we would have alluded to and paid attention to in our preparation. So it’s great that fellas have the presence of mind and composure to seek out those opportunities.” 

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

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 for Scotstown: 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).