McCarthy on fire for Scotstown hat-trick
SCOTSTOWN 2-17 M’CLOONE 0-13
A MORE composed Scotstown completed another three in a row of senior football titles in Clones yesterday to secure their 18th championship victory.
They proved too strong in most departments for Magheracloone in what was a fairly low-key final that was nevertheless played in a good spirit.
Scotstown were only behind once in the entire contest and that was in the opening minute, when Michael Metzger opened the scoring with a point for Magheracloone.
Scotstown took the lead with a brilliant solo goal by Darren Hughes in the fifth minute and they built on that initiative for the remainder of the first-half.
They led by 1-9 to 0-6 at the break, with Conor McCarthy chief among the points scorers – he went on to finish top scorer with 1-8 and picked up the Man of the Match award for good measure.
Magheracloone opened the second-half with two points, but normal service was soon restored and when Conor McCarthy flashed to the Magheracloone net for Scotstown’s second goal – sub Kieran Hughes the provider at the end of a strong run – it really was all over as a contest.
Magheracloone, to their credit, kept prompting and probing, but they found the Scotstown defence, in which goalkeeper Rory Beggan was in superb form, difficult to penetrate.
The best they could manage was a number of points from frees by Tomás Freeman, but the champions were never really troubled and ran out comfortable winners with 10 points to spare.
Scotstown now play Donegal champions Kilcar in Clones on Sunday, October 29.
SCORERS – Scotstown: C McCarthy 1-8 (0-4f), D Hughes 1-1, R Beggan 0-3 (’45, 2f), D McArdle, J Hamill, S Carey, D McCrudden and O Heaphey 0-1 each.
Magheracloone: T Freeman 0-5 (5f), M Metzger 0-3 (2f), G Doogan 0-2, J Ward, J Kieran and A Kieran 0-1 each. SCOTSTOWN: R Beggan, F McPhillips, W Carroll, S Mohan, D Morgan, D McArdle, E Caulfield, F Caulfield, J Turley, J Hamill, S Carey, D McCrudden, O Heaphey, D Hughes, C McCarthy. Subs: K Hughes for F Caulfield, R McKenna for J Hamill, M McCarville for D McCrudden, P Keenan for D McArdle (Black Card), D McCague for J Turley, K McMeel for W Carroll. MAGHERACLOONE: D Kirk, P McArdle, P Ward, P McMahon, M Jones, J Ward, J McMahon, G Doogan, J Kieran, P Kirk, M Metzger, B Kieran, P Finnegan, A Kieran, T Freeman. Subs:
J Lambe for M Jones, A McCahey for P Finnegan, P Tuite for B Kieran.
REF – X Coyle (Tyholland).