Monaghan SFC Final

CLONTIBRET 1-14 SCOTSTOWN 0-11

By Colm Shalvey at St Tiernach’s Park

Clontibret became Monaghan SFC winners for the first time since 2014 when they stunned five-in-a-row chasers Scotstown in Clones. In a year of five-in-a-row successes, Scotstown stood on the brink of history, but Clontibret deservedly ended that bid after a very strong performance.

Conor McManus hit five first-half points as he was named Man of the Match, while Ryan McGuigan’s 57th-minute goal put the result beyond doubt after a belated rally by Scotstown. McManus led nine Clontibret scorers as they led from start to finish in dethroning the holders.

Conor McManus and his fellow county man Conor McCarthy swapped points in the early minutes and although Vincent Corey drilled a goal-attempt wide, Clontibret took charge with four unanswered scores. McManus accounted for two of those, while Brian Greenan and Michael P O’Dowd were also on target.

McCarthy had a couple of goal chances at the other end, but his first after a surging run was denied by a superb block from Conor Boyle, while he blazed the second wide. A Shane Carey free ended 15 scoreless minutes for Scotstown and McCarthy added a point, but Dessie Mone and O’Dowd responded, before a McManus special from near the sideline gave Clontibret a 0-9 to 0-3 lead at half-time.

McManus fisted over within a minute of the restart, before Killian Lavelle and Pauric Boyle joined the list of scorers to open up a remarkable ten-point gap. It was all going Clontibret’s way at this stage, but Scotstown finally found some form via a Rory Beggan free and a point from Micheál McCarville. Francis Hughes replied for Clontibret, but a McCarthy brace and frees from Beggan and Carey had Scotstown dreaming of an unlikely comeback.

Clontibret ended any lingering doubts, however, when McManus turned provider for sub Ryan McGuigan to score the only goal. A Darren Hughes point at the other end was cancelled out by Jack Gormley as Clontibret closed out a famous win, which sets up an Ulster Club SFC quarter-final against Armagh champions Crossmaglen.

Scorers for Clontibret: Conor McManus 0-6 (2fs), Ryan McGuigan 1-0, Michael P O’Dowd 0-2, Jack Gormley 0-1, Brian Greenan 0-1, Dessie Mone 0-1, Pauric Boyle 0-1, Francis Hughes 0-1, Killian Lavelle 0-1.

Scorers for Scotstown: Conor McCarthy 0-4 (2f), Shane Carey 0-3 (3fs), Rory Beggan 0-2 (2fs), Darren Hughes 0-1, Micheál McCarville 0-1.

CLONTIBRET: Darren McDonnell; Conor Doyle, Conor Boyle, Liam Savage; Killian Lavelle, Jack Gormley, Colum Greenan; Francis Hughes, Dessie Mone; David Savage; Conor McManus, Brian Greenan (Capt.); Pauric Boyle, Vincent Corey, Michael P O’Dowd.

Subs: Ryan McGuigan for D Savage (38), Darragh Hughes for P Boyle (56), Kieran Greenan for Lavelle (58), Eoin McGuigan for Doyle (59), Cormac Boyle for F Hughes (60 + 2).

SCOTSTOWN: Rory Beggan; Jack McDevitt, Emmet Caulfield, Damien McArdle; Paul Sherlock, Ryan O’Toole, Mark Duffy; Darren Hughes (Capt.), James Turley; Dónal Morgan; Shane Carey, Kieran Hughes; Conor McCarthy, Micheál McCarville, Jamie McCarey.

Subs: Frank Caulfield for McCarey (H-T), Francis Maguire for Duffy (37).

REFEREE: Stephen Hagan (Seán McDermotts).