Football

Scotstown boss McGleenan hails Darren Hughes factor

 Mattie McGleenan: "Darren had a super game today, his two goals and his movement and positioning for the first goal was absolutely fantastic".
 Mattie McGleenan: "Darren had a super game today, his two goals and his movement and positioning for the first goal was absolutely fantastic".  Mattie McGleenan: "Darren had a super game today, his two goals and his movement and positioning for the first goal was absolutely fantastic".

WITH one of the game’s best full-forwards in the form of his life, Scotstown are living the dream.

Darren Hughes has hit 3-6 in two games to shoot down Slaughtneil and Trillick and set up an Ulster Club Championship final meeting with Crossmaglen.

The Monaghan star was at again yesterday at Brewster Park, hitting both his side’s goals in a tense semi-final win over Trillick.

Quality strikes in each half, both of which owed much to opportunism and game intelligence, gave Mattie McGleenan’s side the edge, and ultimately a first appearance in the provincial decider in 26 years.

“Darren had a super game today, his two goals and his movement and positioning for the first goal was absolutely fantastic, a lovely wee knock-down into the corner of the net, it was class,” said McGleenan.

And for the second goal, anticipation and alertness had him perfectly placed to collect and net after Conor McCarthy’s shot for a point had come back off a post.

“We spoke about it at half-time, in weather conditions like we had today, there’s always a chance a ball might come off a post, might come out of somebody’s hands or spill in around that area – be in on top of it.

“And brilliantly for us, Darren was in the right place at the right time and took a super goal.”

In the latter stages of the game, Scotstown displayed their defiant side, getting bodies back to pressurise their opponents and stifle their attempts to work vital scores.

“That was the nature of the game today. I would suggest Trillick did exactly that to us as well with their work-rate off the ball.

“The weather conditions weren’t fantastic, it was going to come down to who wanted it the most.

“It was always going to come down to one opportunity in terms of taking your score, I felt.”

Former Tyrone attacker McGleenan was fulsome in his admiration of a Trillick side that has come straight out of intermediate football to within a kick of a ball from an appearance in an Ulster senior final.

“Trillick aren’t Tyrone champions for nothing. It’s some championship to win, and it takes some team to win a Tyrone championship.

“We knew they were going to keep going to the final whistle, and our job was to make sure we get a couple of scores and get a bit of breathing space. And that’s what it came down to.

“Trillick have had a fabulous season. They came out of Intermediate football last season. I don’t think it was ever done, where you turn round and win a senior county championship.”

Trillick’s heroes stood tall with pride in the face of crushing disappointment.

Each player lined up to congratulate every one of his team-mates in their final act in a remarkable season that looks set to define a bright new era for the club.

“I’ve been immensely proud of them all year,” said their manager Nigel Seaney.

“They have applied themselves superbly from day one, they’re a group who really want to improve and to get better. In every challenge that has been put up to them, they have proved the equal of it through pure hunger and desire to do well.”

Seaney agonised over what might have been, at the conclusion of a tight contest which his side lost by a couple of points.

“On a different day, we could have won that game. We had the opportunities to win it. When you’re at this level it’s about small, small margins. 

“You must be efficient when you get your chances, take advantage when you get your purple patch. We weren’t today, and we paid the price for it. 

“But that’s not to take anything away from any of our lads. There was a lot of bravery, a lot of game play, and it gives us things to look at and improve on.”