Monaghan Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Scotstown 0-17 Carrickmacross 1-06

By Jamie Ó Tuama at Páirc Naomh Tighearnach, Cluain Eois

Scotstown advanced to their eighth county final in as many years after a convincing second half performance against Carrickmacross gave them the win in Páirc Tighearnach, Clones, today.

The north county Monaghan club made a bright start to the game and led by four points to no score after eight minutes thanks to two scores from Shane Carey, one from a free, and one apiece from Conor McCarthy and Dónal Morgan.

Carrickmacross found themselves level after 12 minutes, however, after a pointed free from Seán Downey and, moments later, Niall Loughman found himself all alone on the edge of the square in acres of space. He was found with a pass from a teammate and he calmly placed the ball past Rory Beggan for the equaliser.

A score from play for Seán Downey for Carrickmacross and a pointed free from Conor McCarthy for Scotstown followed to leave the teams level at the water break at the midway stage of the first half.

Moments after the restart Scotstown found themselves a point ahead after a nicely placed pass from Rory Beggan, who had ventured out from his goals, found Kieran Hughes who claimed a mark 25 yards out from goal which he duly pointed.

Carrickmacross levelled up shortly after, however, with a well taken 45 from Stephen Gollogly. That is how it remained until deep into first half injury time when Shane Carey put Scotstown one ahead just before the break.

It was all Scotstown after the restart and they began to pull away with four unanswered points – three from McCarthy and one from Matthew Maguire. The Scotstown forwards piled on the pressure on the Carrickmacross kickouts and their hard work was rewarded on the score board.

Carrickmacross opened their account for the second half with a free from Seán Downey in the 37th minute. However, Scotstown found themselves eight points in front by the time the second half water break arrived after two further points from Maguire, one from McCarthy followed by a converted mark from Shane Carey. It was all Scotstown at that stage.

After the water break Matthew Maguire had a chance to put Scotstown out of site but his shot hit the upright after a perfectly weighted pass from Shane Carey put him through on goal.

Stephen O’Hanlon managed two points for Carrickmacross in the final quarter but they were cancelled out by two late scores from Scotstown substitute, Ross McKenna, who has no doubt staked a claim for a place in the starting 15 for the final.

Scotstown ran out comfortable winners and will now look forward to an eighth consecutive county final against Inniskeen or Ballybay in a fortnight’s time.

Scór deiridh: An Bhoth 0-17 Carraig Mhachaire Rois 1-06

Scorers for Scotstown: Conor McCarthy 0-07 (2f), Matthew Maguire 0-03, Shane Carey 0-03 (1f, 1m), Ross McKenna 0-02, Dónal Morgan 0-01, Kieran Hughes 0-01

Scorers for Carrickmacross: Seán Downey 0-03 (1f), Jack McGeown 1-00, Stephen O’Hanlon 0-02, Stephen Gallogly 0-01 (45)

An Bhoth: Rory Beggan, Jack McDevitt, Ryan O’Toole, Michael Meehan, Paul Sherlock, Frances Maguire, Matthew Maguire, Darren Hughes, Frank Caulfield, Orin Heaphey, Conor McCarthy, Dónal Morgan, Shane Carey, Kieran Hughes, Damian McArdle. Subs: James Hamill for Frank Caulfield (38), Seán Mohan for Orin Heaphey (46), Emmet Caulfield for Kieran Hughes (48), Jason Carey for Francis Maguire (52), Ross McKenna for Matthew Maguire (56)

Carraig Mhachaire Rois: Aaron Murray, Conor Duffy, James Conlon, Conor McEnaney, Gary McEnaney, Karl McMenamin, Caolán Martin, Niall Loughman, Aaron Lynch, Cillian Cromwell, Stephen Gollogly, Kevin O’Hanlon, Seán Downey, Peter O’Hanlon Stephen O’ Hanlon. Subs: Jack McGeown for Conor McEnaney (33), Donnach Swinburne for Gary McEnaney (36), Dean Matthews for Seán Downey

Ref: Raymond Malone (Baile na Lorgan)