REIGNING champions Scotstown will play Clontibret in the final of this year’s Monaghan SFC following their victories over Ballybay and Magheracloone respectively in yesterday’s semifinals.
Scotstown 0-14 Ballybay 1-9
THE greater experience of the champions, allied to some superb point-taking by Kieran Hughes were the chief elements that saw Scotstown across the line against Ballybay. The strong wind definitely played a part in the mediocre nature of this contest as it made point-scoring in particular something of a lottery. Hughes, however, made light of that to hit a number of superb points in the second half that helped propel Scotstown to victory.
Ballybay set up somewhat defensively with the result being that Scotstown found scoring chances at a premium in the opening stages. Ballybay’s ability to counterattack quickly saw them grab a vital goal in the 11th minute through Christopher McGuinness, sandwiched that helped them into a four-point lead.
By the 21st minute, though, Scotstown had the margin down to the minimum with three on the trot from Rory Beggan Hughes and Daniel McNally. Ballybay rallied in the closing stages of the half for points by Ciaran Galligan, Paul Finlay and Mark McArdle to lead 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
Two points from frees by Shane Carey in the opening eight minutes of the second half brought Scotstown level and they took the lead for the second time in the game with an beautiful finish by Hughes in the 43rd minute. He hit another two superb points in the 44th and 49th minutes to put Scotstown three in front.
Entering the final 10 minutes, points by Sean Mohan and Paul Sherlock put Scotstown five in front and it was a cushion they needed as Ballybay mounted a strong rally in the closing minutes that saw them pull back points through substitute Hugh Malone, Ciaran Galligan and Paul Finlay from a free.
Ultimately, however, they could not engineer the breakthrough for the goal they needed to turn it around completely.
Clontibret 1-12 Magheracloone 3-4
CLONTIBRET held out to clinch their place in the final as Magheracloone came with a late rally in a frenetic finish in Clones yesterday.
Clontibret had been the more purposeful team for most of the match after Magheracloone got off to a very good start with two goals in the opening eight minutes, both by Paudie McMahon. However, they failed to build on those goals and struggled for scores thereafter, while Clontibret produced a series of points from a variety of players to first of all draw level by the 24th minute and then take the lead through Pauric Boyle.
Clontibret led 1-6 to 2-2 at the break with Magheracloone then failing to register a white flag until a minute from the end of normal time, by which stage Clontibret led by four points. A goal against the run of play that saw McMahon complete his hat trick a minute into the eight minutes of stoppage time threw the issue wide open.
Clontibret were back-pedalling for a spell but they defended well and broke for match-winning points from Conor McManus and Conor Boyle to seal a deserved victory.
