TOWN FLIERS MAKE IT 4 IN A ROW QUINLAN SCORES GUIDE OGS TO A 28TH CARLOW CROWN
Ballybay had high hopes of a first title since 2012 after a brillant semifinal win over Clontibret, but they were second best throughout.
Winning captain Darren Hughes (below) admitted it was the threat of Ballybay - who Scotstown have beaten in the knockout stages in the last four years which drove them on.
“The rest of the boys have training very hard all year while the county scene was going on and it’s a credit to everyone involved that we are able to do this,” he said.
“Credit must go to Ballybay because they are a reason for us to push ourselves. It would be easy to sit back maybe and think about (achieving) a three in a row but they are always there every year.”
It was clear from early on that this would not be Ballybay’s day with Carey pulling the strings in the halfforward line and Kieran Hughes giving Drew Wylie a tough afternoon.
Scotstown won every kickout from Beggan in the first half and that set the platform for their 19th SFC title.
They raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 16 stress-free minutes. Francis Maguire, Carey, Jamie Mccarey, Donal Morgan and Beggan ( free) giving them an early cushion.
Dessie Ward missed a good goal chance which Ballybay desperately needed him to net - Paul Finlay’s precision pass carved open the defence - but with Beggan coming out, he dragged his shot horribly wide.
Still, they got it back to 0-5 to 0-3 before a superb point from Conor Mccarthy lit up the second quarter.
He soloed with his left and finished with his right to give the 4,496 crowd a real highlight and help Scotstown to a 0-8 to 0-4 halftime lead.
Mccarthy’s goal six minutes into the second half effectively sealed it. His initial shot was saved by goalie Brian Mccabe but he tapped home the rebound and before Ballybay had time to react, they were 1-12 to 0-8 down in a flash with Carey and Mccarthy (free) among the scorers.
Finlay didn’t get on the scoreline until the 43rd minute and he tagged on a majestic score to suggest, at 1-12 to 0-10, that maybe Ballybay could do something late even with only five minutes left.
They did force a late save from Beggan after a goalmouth scramble but Scotstown held on.
Eire Og Palatine Carlow SFC final
0-9 0-5
EIRE OG are Carlow football champions for the 28th time after a hard fought victory over Palatine yesterday.
Murtough Ware opened Eire Og’s account after palatine had hit a couple of early scores and it was just 0-4 by the end of the first-half.
But the Carlow town side hit three points without reply through Evan Kelly, Simon Rea and Niall Quinlan before another brace from Quinlan sealed the deal.
Mullinlaghta Abbeylara
0-6 0-6 SUPPORTERS will hope for better conditions and better entertainment next week after a forgettable Longford football final ended all square at Pearse Park yesterday.
Mullinalaghta were dealt a major blow on the stroke of half-time when talisman James Mcgivney was rightfully black carded.
However, Abbeylara, who played with the wind in the opening half, passed up a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half time with Cian Brady unable to find the net.
That would have given the underdogs a four point lead, which would likely have been insurmountable in an ultradefensive decider.
Mullinalaghta built up a 0-6 to 0-4 lead midway through the second half, but did not register a score in the final 15 minute as two late points from Jason Kelly and Nigel Rabbitte levelled matters.