Scotstown edge out Magherafelt in Ulster senior club football championship thriller

Scotstown (Monaghan) 2-21 Magherafelt (Derry) 2-20 (after extra-time)

The Ulster senior club senior football championship just keeps on giving. On Saturday evening Scotstown edged out Cavan champions Gowna in an unforgettable encounter by 1-22 o 2-18 but this one in Clones was even better as Derry champions Magherafelt lot after extra time to the more experienced Scotstown the reigning champions. Nobody could question the bravery of the Rossa men but a few wrong choices proved costly. Their generally short passing game allowed the champions to get back in numbers and make scoring more difficult. Four times in the second half Magherafelt dropped shots into the hands of Rory Beggan the Scotstown captain who could have been in trouble after a wild challenge that flattened Shane Heavron. The Magherafelt corner forward cut in from the left and attempted to fist the ball over from a tight angle. After he had parted the ball Beggan leading with his knees clattered into Heavron. When a free was signalled he remonstrated with the match official over the award of the free. He should have been happy not to have got a card.

The Derry champions were on the brink of a famous victory when they finished normal time like a train to lead by a point, but Nicky Sherlock produced a late reprieve for the champions, who hit 1-03 in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half of extra-time. Showing great spirit the Derry champions fought back and came close to a semi final spot. Last year the then Derry champions Newbridge lost to the Monaghan side after extra time and penalties. In the last twenty years Scotstown never beat the Derry champions in an hour’s football. Their victory has set up a semi final spot with Donegal champions St.Eunan’s Letterkenny while the other pairing is Armagh champions Crossmaglen against Eendork(Tyrone) who survived a stiff test against Antrim champions St. Brigid’s.

Even then, there was more drama as a Magherafelt rally sent nerves jangling, but Scotstown advanced by the narrowest of margins. They had Rory Beggan to thank for a couple of vital saves along the way, particularly from a Shane Heavron effort on 58 minutes, while in attack, Tommy Mallen, Shane Carey and Nicky Sherlock hit a combined 2-09. That was an area where the Magherafelt defence probably could have done better. The Rossas left it all out there with a performance full of endeavour, but it just wasn't enough to claim Scotstown’s scalp.

In an opening ten minutes featuring a series of turnovers and misplaced passes, Magherafelt had the only score through Paddy McLarnon, until Francis Maguire opened Scotstown’s account. Shane Carey got on the end of a well-worked move to hit the net and open the game up, but Magherafelt responded when Cormac Murphy palmed an Eoin McEvoy pass home from close range.

Neither side could establish any real momentum in the first half, as despite points from Kieran Hughes, Tommy Mallen and Carey regaining the lead for Scotstown, Magherafelt responded with a two-point free by Shane Heavron and further scores from McLarnon and Conall Higgins.It was level on the half-hour mark, but Scotstown hit a brace of two pointers during added time via Rory Beggan (free) and Mallen to move ahead, 1-10 to 1-06.

A Nicky Sherlock point moved the holders five clear after the restart, but Heavron, Cormac Murphy and McLarnon kept Magherafelt in touch due to the influence of Eoin McEvoy and Dan Higgins at midfield.

Points from Mícheál McCarville and Francis and Matthew Maguire looked set to guide Scotstown through, but a two-pointer from impact sub Rory Small gave Magherafelt renewed energy. Higgins and Murphy brought the O’Donovan Rossa club back on terms and after Beggan ‘collided’ with Heavron as he stopped an attempt at a fisted point, a free was eventually awarded, which Heavron tapped over.

Magherafelt had the lead and the momentum at this stage, but Scotstown worked a chance for Sherlock to make it 1-15 apiece at the death.The teams managed three points each during the first half of extra-time, with Sherlock, Mícheál McCarville and Matthew Maguire on target for Scotstown and Murphy, Small and McLarnon bringing Magherafelt level once again.

Scotstown started the last ten minutes with a bang, as points from Sherlock and Jack McCarron sandwiched a goal by Tommy Mallen, before Max Maguire marked his introduction to put six between the teams.

A Magherafelt comeback looked very unlikely by now, but Caolán Higgins netted from close range and when Conall Higgins added a two-pointer, the gap was suddenly back down to the minimum and the big crowd were on their feet with the excitement going into over drive. Scotstown held on, however, to set up a semi-final meeting with St Eunan’s on 21 November.

Scotstown: Rory Beggan (Capt., 0-2, 1 2-pt-f); Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle, Darren Hughes; Mark McCaffrey, Donnchadh Connolly, Darragh Murray; Mícheál McCarville (0-2), Kieran Hughes (0-1); Conor McCarthy, Nicky Sherlock (0-4), Shane Carey (1-2); Tommy Mallen (1-3, 1 2-pt), Jack McCarron (0-2), Francis Maguire (0-2). Subs: Matthew Maguire (0-2) for Connolly (46); James Hamill for Murray (51); Gavin McPhillips for F Maguire (57).Extra-time subs: Max Maguire (0-1) for Mallen (inj., 12); Seán Óg McElwain for K Hughes (inj., 14); Jason Carey for McCarville (18).

Magherafelt: Odhrán Lynch; Conall Heron, Johnny McErlain, James Murray; Conor McCluskey (Capt.), Michael McEvoy, Giuseppe Lupari; Dan Higgins, Eoin McEvoy; Paddy McLarnon (0-4), Cahir Spiers, Aidan McCluskey; Shane Heavron (0-6, 1 2-pt-f, 2f), Cormac Murphy (1-3), Conall Higgins (0-4, 1 2-pt). Subs: Rory Small (0-3, 1 2-pt) for Spiers (35). Extra-time subs: Caolán Crozier for Lupari; Caolán Higgins (1-0) for M McEvoy (5); C Spiers for Murray (inj., 8);

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).