2022 Monaghan SFC Final: Scotstown (holders) v Ballybay Pearse Brothers (St Tiernach's Park, Clones, 3pm tomorrow)
THE old dogs for the hard road? Or the eager young pups?
As ever, those descriptions can blur into each other. Sure, Scotstown are targeting a title treble, and their seventh triumph in eight seasons, in their 10th consecutive Monaghan SFC Final – but they've had to introduce youngsters due to injuries to senior men.
Ballybay may be aiming for their first senior success in a decade, but they've been in the 2020 and 2018 Finals, and they're still led up front by the evergreen Paul 'Jap' Finlay.
Form favours the Pearse Brothers, not least because of the McGuinness brothers, Christopher and Shane, and Thomas Kerr's free-taking. The men in maroon brushed Clontibret aside by nine points in the semi-final, 1-18 to 0-12, and Shane McGuinness might have had a hat-trick before midfielder Dessie Ward did find the net.
Having seen off last year's beaten finalists, Truagh Gaels, even more impressively in the quarter-finals, by 3-13 to 0-8, Ballybay have that classic combination of defensive solidity and attacking flair.
Finlay is still pulling the strings, providing the passes for the McGuinnesses in particular to finish off.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the win over Clontibret is that Ballybay's best-known current county players, the Wylie brothers Drew and Ryan, didn't catch the eye much. Drew didn't drive forward from centre half-back, and Ryan didn't make a major impact in a free role. Both have the quality to show much more against 'An Bhoth' tomorrow.
Yet Scotstown are literally the ultimate test in Monaghan senior football, have been ever since Ballybay were last champions.
Until the Pearse Brothers beat them in this year's opening round robin encounter, a two-point home victory in Ballybay, only Clontibret had managed to get the better of Scotstown at the highest domestic level over the last 10 years.
Both those wins for the O'Neills came in county finals, in 2014 and 2019. The first was by the minimum margin, the latter by six points, a real surprise then as Scotstown were aiming for a five-in-a-row and had only narrowly last the 2018 Ulster Final against Donegal's Naomh Conaill of Glenties.
Scotstown bounced back, and thrashed Ballybay by 10 in the 2020 decider, then saw off Truagh by 1-1-13 to 0-10 last year.
Their manager Colin McAree, who has enjoyed previous success with the Monaghan Minors, is wary of Ballybay's quality, and their desire for revenge, having also lost the 2018 Monaghan Final by just two points.
That was Scotstown's tightest tussle in their brilliant recent run: otherwise they won finals by 15, nine, four, 10, 10, and six point margins – an average winning margin of nine points.
It will be a major shock if they maintain that ratio tomorrow, although Scotstown do remain favourites with the bookmakers.
That's not a surprise: the Blues obviously have a host of experience and talent, from goalkeeper Rry Beggan to centre half-back Damian McArdle, the vastly experienced and versatile Darren Hughes, to skipper Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy in attack.
McAree is optimistic that Kieran Hughes, who can be effective anywhere from midfield up, can also play some part after hamstring troubles.
Ballybay have a top class management team with two Down men at the forefront – Kilcoo guru Jerome Johnston and Mark Doran of Longstone. The latter is set to join up with Colm Collins in Clare in a coaching capacity, having performed a similar function when Paddy Tally was in charge of the Mourne County.
The challenge for them is to manage expectation and help their players deal with pressure – Ballybay are the form team, but they haven't won a senior final for a decade, whereas Clones is a second home for Scotstown, who have won far more finals than they've lost.
Scotstown showed that winning mentality in their semi-final, doing enough to defeat Inniskeen by 3-8 to 0-12, but were hugely grateful to a freak second goal, before a superb major score from McCarthy sealed victory.
Ballybay were much more dominant against a Clontibret team containing the experience of new Monaghan manager Vinny Corey and Dessie Mone, plus county stars Conor Boyle and Conor McManus.
Clontribet could not contain the runs of Shane McGuinness, who got through for several goal chances, while Ward was a threat too from deeper positions. The champions will have to block the central channel much more effectively than Clontibret did.
Scotstown retaining the Mick Duffy Cup would shock no one – but Ballybay have the quality to be crowned county senior football champions for a ninth time.
