Scotstown secure first Ulster crown in 36 years with extra time win over Kilcoo

Goalkeeper Rory Beggan kicked 11 points in a man of the match display.

LONG WAIT IS OVER: Scotstown captain Damien McArdle lifts the trophy. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

Kilcoo 0-16 Scotstown 0-19 (AET)

Finally. It took a taxing and at times agonizing decider, but after extra-time Scotstown secured their first Ulster crown since 1989.

Rory Beggan kicked 11 points in a man of the match display.

The crucial period came in the first half of extra-time. The goalkeeper nailed a long-range free and 45, substitute Conor McCarthy added another three.

That four-point margin gave them the boost required to end a long wait.

“I feel like I’m in dreamland.”

Caught up with a very emotional Conor McCarthy after Scotstown finally got over the line. Sounds like he has gone through injury hell. @ExaminerSport pic.twitter.com/XbWgFIJ6nP

— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) December 13, 2025

The first half was a remarkable case study for the current state of Gaelic football. Despite the enormous change, control is still attainable for smart teams.

Kilcoo won the toss and decided to go against a strong wind. If you offered them a 0-6 to 0-1 half-time scoreline, they would likely have taken it.

From their first nine attacks, they scored nothing. They barely had a shot. It was an exercise in keep ball, waiting patiently and killing the clock. They wanted to go slow. Scotstown let them.

Mattie Maguire scored his first of two early points from one early turnover while Beggan landed two frees from outside the arc.

The Monaghan number came sprinting out for a dropping shot but failed to gather it. From that break, Eugene Branagan scored Kilcoo’s only point of the half.

What is smart football in such conditions? Press hard, mark up for any long-range frees to make sure the opposition can’t go short, work some two-point opportunities.

David McCague’s outfit didn’t do much of that. Darren Hughes and Mícheál McCarville did have a go from outside the arc. Both missed.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Scotstown goalkeeper Rory Beggan kicks a free. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Smart teams learn from their experience though. The difference in their approach in extra-time, as Kilcoo once more opted to go against the breeze, was marked.

To their credit, Scotstown strived to keep the pressure on at the start of the normal period second half too. Beggan added a 45.

Ryan O’Toole and Kieran Hughes slotted scores that lifted the blue amongst the 4,845 crowd to their feet.

Kilcoo, as expected, roared back. After an early wide, Paul Delvin found his range and kicked two two-point frees and two regular ones.

Their press was ferocious. Beggan couldn’t get out so he got up the other end to kick a sensational effort into the teeth of the breeze to raise an orange flag.

The fact that he had just missed a 45, after Max Maguire’s goal chance was snuffed out by Paul Delvin, made it more impressive.

With the clock in the red, they were three up against 14 men. Shealan Johnston saw black for dissent. Still, Kilcoo were not done.

Niall Kane came forward to kick his own clutch free from outside the arc and Callum Rogers tapped over to force extra-time.

Kilcoo missed four two-point attempts in extra-time.

Sc orers for Kilcoo: P. Devlin 0-8 (2 tpf, 0-3 f);S. McCusker 0-3 (1 tp); N. Kane 0-2 (tpf); Aaron Morgan, E. Branagan, C. Rogers 0-1 each.

Scorers for Scotstown: R. Beggan 0-11 (4 tpf, 0-2 45, 0-1 f); C. McCarthy 0-3 (1 tp); K. Hughes, M. Maguire 0-2 each; R. O’Toole 0-1.

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

Subs: J. Devlin for Anthony Morgan; s. Og McCusker for J. Johnston (both 46); B. McEvoy for E. Branagan (50); Anthony Morgan for Rooney (70); E. Branagan for D. Branagan (73) Black card: S. Johnston (59-64).

SCOTSTOWN: R. Beggan; R. O’Toole, D. Mcardle, D. Murray; D. Connolly, R. Sherlock, M. Maguire; M. McCarville, G. McPhillips; S. Carey, D. Hughes, K. Hughes; M. Maguire, J. McCarron, F. Maguire.

Subs: C. McCarthy for F. Maguire (49); K. McKenna for M. Maguire (63); J. Hamill for Carey (Temp, 63-64); M. Maguire for McKenna (70); F. Maguire for M. Maguire (75).

Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).