Ulster Senior Club Football Championship semi-final: Scotstown (Monaghan) v Trillick (Tyrone) (tomorrow, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 1pm, live on TG4)
WITH attention-grabbing wins in the quarter-finals, both of these clubs underlined their credentials as serious provincial contenders.
Scotstown went into their opener against Kilcoo as slight underdogs. The Magpies had been All-Ireland champions in 2021 and had looked in superb form in the latter stages of the Down championship and in the Ulster preliminary round win over Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly.
But David McCague’s experienced side battled back from four points down to level in injury-time and the latest in Rory Beggan’s highlights reel of spectacular scores meant they claimed a dramatic one-point victory at the death.
The night before, Trillick had also come from behind to win. They trailed Crossmaglen at half-time but dominated the Armagh champions after the break, holding them scoreless and clipping over a series of quality points to claim a mighty impressive win over a side packed with county players.
Read more:
Ulster stakes raised now for Glenullin and Ballyhaise
Casement Park needs new main contractor after Heron Bros exit
Andy Watters: Sport should be enjoyed, not endured. Let's go Dutch
Sunday’s clash is a repeat of the 2015 semi-final between the clubs which the An Bhoth boys won by a couple of points at Brewster Park and, having got past Kilcoo, Scotstown assistant-manager Diarmaid Scullion hopes his adopted club can clinch the same result on Sunday.
“We didn’t plan to go out and win with the last, dramatic kick of the game against Kilcoo,” said the Bellaghy native.
“We missed a lot of chances in the first half and we missed a number of chances early on in the second half… We conceded a poor penalty and a couple of scores so, if we had been a bit sharper with our defending, the game mightn’t have gone to the wire like it did.
“We were delighted to win but we’ve looked at our performance and thought there were certainly areas for improvement. We’ll be trying to eke those out because we know Trillick have had a really good campaign themselves.”
Playing without Tyrone star Mattie Donnelly, Jody Gormley’s St Macartan’s side are dogged in defence and efficient in attack. They dug their heels in to beat defending champions Errigal Ciaran in the Tyrone championship final. That game went to extra-time and Trillick had also gone to extra-time, and then won on penalties, in their opener against Loughmacrory.
“They’re formidable footballers,” said Scullion.
“What’s been so impressive about them is how different players have stepped up and taken the responsibility. If you look through their team, there are a number who have played at county level like Richie Donnelly, Rory Brennan and Lee Brennan that everybody is familiar with but other players have come through for them as well.
“James Garrity, Sean O’Donnell and Ciaran Daly have all been chipping in with scores as well so they’re a team to be reckoned with, we know that. They’re a well-rounded team, they can shut out the opposition and tag on some impressive scores so they pose a huge headache for us.”
Rory Beggan’s ability to kick scores from distance is almost impossible to legislate for and Scotstown had six other scorers against Kilcoo including Jack McCarron, who marked his Ulster club debut with two points and will relish being part of the competition.
“The Ulster club is one of the jewels in the GAA calendar," said Scullion.
“Every club wants to be here and every game is competitive and has drama so it’s just exciting to be a part of. Some of our players have huge experience in the competition but they never take it for granted – they’re approaching this game with the diligence that it warrants.”
The last Tyrone representatives to win Ulster were Errigal way back in 2002 and because of their county’s relative lack of success, Trillick are flying under the radar to an extent but they are an excellent side full of quality players who looked in good form against Crossmaglen.
Meanwhile, Scotstown have reserves of quality, experience and that never-say-die Monaghan spirit. They won't give the ball away as cheaply as Crossmaglen did and they get the nod to shade a close encounter.
