Scotstown cruise into Ulster semi-final showdown with Kilcoo
ON SONG: Jack McCarron scored eight points for Scotstown. Photo by Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile
Scotstown laid down a strong marker on their intentions in this Ulster Club Championship as they cruised to a 13-point win in Enniskillen.
The game was over as a contest after 20 minutes with Scotstown moving into a nine-point lead.
Last year’s beaten finalists were relentless on the Erne Gaels kickout, turning it over repeatedly and it yielded several scores for them.
The Belleek outfit whose elation after winning the Fermanagh crown for the first time in 43 years was tempered by the passing of former player and their captain Ryan Lyons’ brother, Mark could not impose themselves on the game in any form.
Jack McCarron pointed from a mark after minute and while Oisin Kelm responded for Erne Gaels shortly after it was all one-way traffic for most of the half.
Míchéal McCarville and McCarron from a free and play made it 0-04 to 0-01 after 10 minutes.
Poor skills and pressure on the Belleek kickout saw McCarron win another mark and convert before the hugely impressive Shane McCarthy hit two in a row.
McCarthy’s goal bound effort was well blocked before his deflected second attempt went over.
The next three scores came from poor Erne Gaels kickouts to make it 0-10 to 0-01 with McCarron, McCarthy, and Jason Carey on target.
A McCarron free increased the lead before Erne Gaels eventually stopped the rot when newly introduced substitute, Barry McCann did well to find space and score.
But Kieran Hughes quickly cancelled the score out with a fine score from under the stand and this was followed by another McCarron effort, this time off his right.
Erne Gaels did well to force a turnover and move up the pitch with Shane Rooney shooting on the turn and scoring but Scotstown ended with a final score and again it came from winning the Belleek kickout.
Darren Hughes found McCarthy and he turned on to his left and made it 0-14 to 0-03 at the break.
Erne Gaels came out brighter and hit two quick points after the restart through Aogan Kelm and Dan McCann as Scotstown took their foot off the gas.
McCarthy restored the 10-point lead before frees from McCarron and Shane Carey made it 0-17 to 0-05 with 20 minutes to play.
Those closing minutes only saw three more scores from McCarthy and Mattie Maguire for Scotstown.
They did have goal chances in the closing stages from brilliant long balls in. The best came from a McCarthy pass to Nicky Sherlock, but he blazed wide.
Ryan Lyons hit a mere consolation for the Belleek side who had no answer to the Monaghan champion’s quality who look forward to meeting with Kilcoo again next Saturday.
O Kelm, R Lyons, D McCann, A Kelm, S Rooney, B McCann (0-1 each)
J McCarron (0-08, 4f, 2m); C McCarthy (0-6); K Hughes, M McCarville, J Carey, S Carey (f), M Maguire (0-1 each)
B Ryder; S Mimna, J McCann, U O’Reilly; O Kelm, P Ward, R Lyons; M Óg McGarrigle, G McGloin; D McCann, A Kelm, M Gilfeddar; T McCaffrey, S Rooney, U Kelm
B McCann for McGloin (20); P Johnston for Gilfeddar and C Keown for Ward (both h/t); O Johnston for Mimna (40); P McCaffrey for O’Reilly (54)
R Beggan; D Murray, K Hughes (0-01), J McKevitt; R O’Toole, D McArdle, C McCarthy (0-06); M McCarville (0-01), G McPhillips; J Carey (0-01), S Carey (0-01,1f), J Hamill; F Maguire, D Hughes, J McCarron (0-08,4f,2m)
M Maguire (0-01) for D Hughes (h/t); M McPhillips for Hamill (40); N Sherlock for O’Toole (43); E Caulfield for F Maguire and K McKenna for McCarron (both 50); D Morgan for K Hughes (52)
K Eannetta (Tyrone)
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