Scotstown knowhow survives thriller with Trillick

Ryan O'Toole of Scotstown scores a point

Ulster Club SFC semi-final: Scotstown (Monaghan) 0-17 Trillick (Tyrone)  1-13 (AET) 

Scotstown shaded an extra-time thriller to set up an Ulster Club SFC final meeting with holders Glen in two weeks time.

Tyrone champions Trillick ran them close, but the vastly experienced Monaghan side had that little bit extra going down the final stretch, with Jack McCarron and Shane Carey hitting the match-winning frees.

Wind-assisted Scotstown failed to make the best of the opportunities they created with Jack McCarron hitting a handful of wides, but they eased into a two points lead through Emmet Caulfield and Shane Carey, thanks chiefly to the trojan work of veteran Darren Hughes around the middle.

The Monaghan champions’ strong press on the Trillick kick-out helped them maintain the pressure, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan helping them dominate possession around the middle.

After failing to score in the opening quarter, the Tyrone champions built steadily, with Richie Donnelly an emerging and influential figure around the middle, thumping over a long-range point to get his side going, and setting up another for Ciaran Daly.

The Monaghan men had a reply on each occasion, Hughes again breaking lines for Donal Morgan to split the posts, and when McCarron struck a majestic score, they led by 0-6 to 0-3 on 26 minutes.

But Seanie O’Donnell set the game alight with a stoppage time 1-1 salvo in a 30-second flash.

Beggan’s kick-outs had been impeccable, but he was ruthlessly punished for a rare lapse, James Garrity intercepting to send O’Donnell in to hit the net for a 1-4 to 0-6 interval lead.

McCarron drifted deep to create space and the assist for Mattie Maguire to narrow the gap, and shot his side back in front with a difficult free inside five minutes of the restart.

Newly awarded All-Star wing back Conor McCarthy had been well shackled, but finally produced one of his searing ruins to send Michael McCarville through to cancel out James Garrity’s point. 

The Monaghan champions went two clear going into the final quarter, Caulfield and Jason Carey combining to send Maguire in for his second. But the Reds, with the wind in their backs, nailed four of the next five scores, two of them from Lee Brennan, who edged his side back in front on 54 minutes.

Darren Hughes and Rory Brennan put their bodies on the line in vital turnovers for their respective sides, as the tension built in Armagh city.

It was Hughes who sent full-back Ryan O’Toole in for the equaliser, before Lee Brennan’s ’45 had Trillick ahead with just seconds remaining.

But McCarthy’s class shone right at the death, circling on the loop to take Shane Carey’s pass and tie it up at 0-13 to 1-10 with the very last kick.

Kieran Hughes and McCarron helped the Farney champions to a 0-15 to 1-11 lead midway through the added stretch Lee Brennan levelled for a seventh time as Trillick stuck tight to the pre-match favourites, but converted frees from McCarron and Shane Carey helped Scotstown squeeze through.

Scorers for Scotstown: J McCarron 0-4 (3f), S Carey 0-3 (2f) M Maguire, K Hughes 0-2 each, M McCarville, E Caulfield, D Morgan, C McCarthy, R O’Toole, R Beggan (’45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Trillick: S O’Donnell 1-1, L Brennan 0-5 (3f, 1 ’45), J Garrity, D Donnelly, R Gray, C Daly, R Donnelly, R Brennan, C Garrity 0-1 each.

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

Subs: M McPhillips for Hamill (49), D Murray for J Carey (52), R McKenna for Maguire (61) 

TRILLICK: J Maguire; S O’Donnell, P McCaughey, D Tunney; S O’Donnell, R Brennan, D Gallagher; R Donnelly, L Gray; C Daly, N Donnelly, R Gray; D Donnelly, L Brennan, J Garrity.

Subs: C Garrity for N Donnelly (37), D McQuaid for Tunney (47) 

Referee: K Faloon (Armagh).