SCOTSTOWN boss Kieran Donnelly put on a brave face in the aftermath of yesterday’s gutting Ulster final defeat to Gaoth Dobhair, but pointed to the loss of influential forward Shane Carey as a huge blow to their hopes of capturing that elusive provincial title.
It’s 29 years since An Bhoth last got their hands on the Seamus McFerran Cup and, after suffering extra-time heartache against Crossmaglen three years ago, the same fate befell them at Healy Park yesterday.
Shane Ferry landed the final score in the 74th minute of an absorbing contest, but it is was the loss of Carey five minutes earlier that left Donnelly frustrated as he stood in the Omagh tunnel.
The Fermanagh man spoke at length to referee Noel Mooney after the game, the Cavan whistler having shown Carey a straight red for a robust challenge on James O Baoill.
“I felt we were excellent in large periods of the game; at stages we felt we had Gaoth Dobhair panicking because we weren’t giving them pockets of space,” said Donnelly.
“No doubt it’s extremely tough to take, the boys are devastated, football can be a cruel game. I felt the sending off was a massive turning point in the game, maybe just wee things like that didn’t go for us today.
“I did, yeah [speak to the referee]. They have a job to do as well but I felt it was very harsh, in a game of that magnitude… I think it was maybe the linesman called it. It was for a strike to the head – I felt it wasn’t to the head, that was my view.
“You have to be very sure in a game like an Ulster club final where fellas have trained four or five nights a week. Shane was devastated after the game; he’s not even a dirty player, as a lot of people in Monaghan know.
“I thought Shane had an excellent game and to make that call at that stage was massive. There’s a lot of other things we could’ve done better as well, it wasn’t all down to that, but I felt it was a big turning point.”
It was especially hard to take considering Scotstown had looked in control 10 minutes after the break.
A Carey free put them three points up and, with their backs giving little away, it looked a strong platform upon which to build.
However, some poor decision-making allowed the Donegal champions to force their way back into the reckoning before forcing extra-time, eventually sealing the deal.
“There was a lot of pressure on the ball, it wasn’t easy for players out there,” added Donnelly.
“I don’t think anybody understands, with 13 or 14 men behind the ball, the pitch was slippy, very wet, you have to be very sure of your pass.
“In those conditions, I couldn’t fault any of my players at any stage. They gave it their all, any man that pulled on a Scotstown jersey today can be proud of themselves – it’s just disappointing we didn’t finish the job.”
