AIB Ulster Ciub Senior Football Championship final: Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 2-17 Scotstown (Monaghan) 2-12 (after extra-time)
Crossmaglen
Paul Hearty: Some kick-outs could have been better placed, although Scotstown’s midfield dominance made it difficult for him. 6
Paul Hughes: Tracked the dangerous Conor McCarthy throughout and did a solid job. McCarthy escaped to fire over in the second half. 7
Aidan Rushe: Did a reasonable job on Shane Carey but once the Monaghan county ace fired over early stages of the second half, made way for Stephen Finnegan. 6
Paul McKeown: Kept Orin Heaphey to just one point from play and stuck to his man like glue. Broke forward and had two scoring attempts. 7
Aaron Kernan: Very dominant against Donal Morgan in the first half and sprayed some brilliant passes. Shipped a heavy tackle but recovered and was extremely composed in awful conditions. 7.5
Martin Aherne: Did a good marking job on Ross McKenna. Picked up a lot of ball and used it wisely. 7
James Morgan: Lost a contact lens just before he misjudged the bounce that allowed Darren Hughes to major. Recovered really well and won this key battle. Sent off in the final throes of extra-time. 8
Johnny Hanratty: He struggled in the early stages against Francis Caulfield but was just coming into the game when he suffered a head injury. 6
Rico Kelly: Named at full-forward but moved to midfield and although his distribution was ropey at times, he did have some good moments. 6.5
Michael McNamee: Claimed numerous assists and off-loaded to Tony Kernan who found the back of the net just before half-time. Excellent work-rate and showed good football intelligence. 7.5
Stephen Kernan: Scotstown put their best marker on him – Emmet Caulfield – but Kernan started very brightly. Forced to move to midfield which never really suited him. 6.5
Oisin O’Neill: Showed a great pair of hands on a number of occasions and created Johnny Murtagh’s 22nd minute point. 6.5
Johnny Murtagh: Started slowly but grew into the game. Hit two first half points and had a goal chance that was tipped over by Beggan in the second half. 7
Kyle Carragher: Fisted home Crossmaglen’s extra-time goal and shaded his battle with Mark Duffy. 7.5
Substitutes
Stephen Finnegan: Replaced Aidan Rushe and probably broke even with Shane Carey. 6
David McKenna: Bagged a point in extra-time and broke one vital kick-out down. Lacks mobility of old. 6
Jamie Clarke: Set up many scores including Kyle Carragher’s goal. 7
Callum Cumiskey: Grabbed a point. 7
Danny O’Callaghan: Sent off for elbowing James Turley, lasting less than five minutes. 4
Aaron Cunningham: Made two cameo appearances. Harshly blown up after he appeared to be fouled. 5
Garvan Carragher: In the thick of it in extra-time. 5
Padraig Stuttard: Hit a lovely point in extra-time. 6
Kyle Brennan: Never saw much possession. 5
Diarmuid McConville: Not on long enough to be rated.
STAR MAN
Tony Kernan
In the pressure moments, Tony Kernan delivered every time. Scored a peach of a goal with his weaker left foot to put Cross ahead at the break and converted a tricky free moments later. There was a lot riding on his converted frees in the 48th and the 70th minutes.
Scotstown
Rory Beggan: Had a mixed day, converting a ‘45’ for the opening score but later missing some admittedly difficult frees. Denied Murtagh a goal with a tip-over, but his poor kick-out led to Carragher netting. 6.5
Damien McArdle: Started on Stephen Kernan, spent some time against Tony K, and settled after a shaky start. Was later handed the tough test of tailing Jamie Clarke and trailed him a few times. 6.5
Emmet Caulfield: Began at right half-back, switching at times with McArdle in marking the forward Kernans, losing Tony for his goal. Pushed forward more to good effect, including scoring a fine point. 7
Padraig Keenan: Struggled whenever high ball came in towards Oisin O’Neill but did fairly well otherwise, keeping close to opponents. 6.5
Mark Duffy: A forceful showing, first marking Kyle Carragher, but at times going to pick up Hanratty or pushing up to win possession on his wing. 6.5
Kieran Hughes: An up and down display, much better going forward than doing his defensive duty at full-back, with Murtagh’s movement troubling him. Pushed out to provide some inspiration – but his red card cost his team dear. 6
Fergal McPhillips: Found it hard going to keep tabs on the ever-running Michael McNamee and was replaced in first half injury time. 5
Francis Caulfield: Up against Hanratty, slightly got the better there, and helped Scotstown be on top at midfield, battling hard when big David McKenna came on. 7
James Turley: Began brightly and was full of running, forcing Kelly to track him. Bounced back from O’Callaghan’s blow to set up a few attacks. 7
Orin Heaphey: Cut in for an early point, although he had the chance to go for goal. Drifted around and troubled McKeown but gave way to McGinnity. 6
Donal Morgan: Took quite some time to make an impact, troubled by the forward forays of Aaron Kernan, but did score a sweet point and kept trying to spark attacks. 6
Conor McCarthy: Tracked back to make a great block and his pace posed problems going forward. Scored one great point and added a free but Hughes is a sticky marker. 6.5
Shane Carey: Began around centre half-forward and was well involved. Pushed up inside in second half, scored a good point, and Cross’ brought on Finnegan to mark him. Very good free-taking. 7
Darren Hughes: Continued his fine form by classily converting the opening goal and always offered an outlet. Morgan marked him tenaciously but he still set up second goal. Red-carded at the end. 7.5
Ross McKenna: One of those number 15s who drifts out behind the three-quarter line. Got on the ball a bit but his positioning allowed Aherne to push up to more noticeable effect. 6
Substitutes
Brendan Boylan: Replaced McPhillips in first half injury time and was more effective against McNamee, getting on the ball more. 6.5
David McCague: Came on for the deep-lying McKenna but operated even deeper, around midfield, to impressive effect. 7
Brian McGinnity: Looked keen and lively from his introduction and snapped up a goal late on. 7
Extra time
Dermot McCrudden: Took over from Duffy for final 10 minutes but could not prevent Cross’s second goal. 5.5
Sean Mohan: Didn’t have much time to get into a game that was going away from his team. 5.5
Barry McMeel: Not on long enough to be rated.
Daniel McNally: Not on long enough to be rated.
