Scotstown 0-17 Inniskeen 0-14
Scotstown regained the Monaghan SFC title with a hard-earned win over Inniskeen in an enjoyable final played in front of over 5,000 in Clones.
A high-quality first half saw 20 points scored, including 15 from play, with Scotstown leading by two at the break.
John McEntee's Inniskeen drew level towards the end of the third quarter as Seán Jones grew into the game, but their 75-year wait for a county title continues, after Scotstown’s experience came to the fore down the home straight.
David McCague was able to bring Kieran Hughes off the bench to add to Scotstown’s contingent of county men, five of whom were among their nine scorers as they made it seven championship wins since 2013.
Scotstown started brightly with points from Conor McCarthy and Jack McCarron, before Dónal Meegan got Inniskeen off the mark. McCarron was a thorn in Inniskeen’s side early on, adding a point from play and his second forward mark, but Scotstown missed a goal chance when Mícheál McCarville rattled the crossbar from close range.
Scotstown captain Damien McArdle added his name to the scoresheet, but well-taken points from Andrew Woods and Tommy Durnin kept Inniskeen in touch. Darren Hughes - alternating between midfield and full-forward - Emmet Caulfield, Shane Carey and Rory Beggan took Scotstown’s first-half tally into double figures as they moved four clear, but Inniskeen replied through Woods and Ciarán McNulty to halve their deficit at 0-11 to 0-09.
Scotstown were first up and running after the restart through Jason Carey, but a string of fine scores from Seán Jones brought Inniskeen back on level terms. The Grattans couldn’t quite edge ahead, however, as a '45 by Beggan and another attacking mark by McCarron regained the lead for Scotstown.
McCarthy and Matthew Maguire doubled their advantage to four and although Jones kicked his sixth late on, McCarron matched his tally to help Scotstown over the line.
Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-02, 1f, 1 ‘45); Brendan Boylan, Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle (Capt., 0-01); Dónal Morgan, Ryan Malley, Emmet Caulfield (0-01); Darren Hughes (0-01), Mícheál McCarville; Matthew Maguire (0-01), Shane Carey (0-02), Jason Carey; Conor McCarthy (0-02), James Hamill, Jack McCarron (0-06, 3m, 1f).
Subs: Kieran Hughes for Malley (32); Mark McPhillips for Hamill (39); Francis Maguire for J Carey (45); Ross McKenna for McCarville (59); Fergal McPhillips for M Maguire (64).
Inniskeen: Ronan Meegan; Shane Hanratty, Christopher Hanratty, Matthew McKenna; Séamus Kindlon; Colm Meegan, Michael Monahan, Shane Woods (Capt.); Tommy Durnin (0-01), Conor Gernon; Oisín Monahan, Ciarán McNulty (0-03, 1f); Andrew Woods (0-03), Seán Jones (0-06, 1m, 1f), Dónal Meegan (0-01f).
Subs: Dylan McConnell for Gernon (52); Gareth Burns for McKenna (54); Harry Monahan for O Monahan (57).
Referee: Niall McKenna (Emyvale).
