Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S HAS SCOT TO BE FOUR Monaghan champs big favourites to win again
SCOTSTOWN are poised to continue their recent domination in Monaghan when facing Ballybay in tomorrow’s county final in Clones.
Scotstown - bolstered by potential All Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan and the Hughes brothers, Darren and Kieran - are bidding for four-in-a-row, a feat last managed by the club when winning five on the spin from 1977-81, though Castleblaney were the last to achieve it in 2001.
Ballybay last won the title in 2012 and are back in the final for the first time since.
Former county star Paul Finlay has been in fine form in their run to the decider and is their main man along with county defenders Drew and Ryan Wylie.
But Scotstown look to have too much and should be quite the threat in Ulster, particularly with holders Slaughtneil’s elimination in Derry earlier this week.
Tomorrow’s victors start with a preliminary round tie against Derrygonnelly Harps of Fermanagh on October 21.
In Eire Og may be some way from the halcyon days of the 90s when they claimed a then record five Leinster club crowns, but completing back-to-back county titles would see them some way towards doing that, with Palatine the challengers in tomorrow’s final at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Although it’s their first final meeting since 2012, which Eire Og won, the two clubs have carved up the last three county titles between them.
The tiny area of Mullinalaghta is looking to continue a remarkable winning streak in when they face Abbeylara in tomorrow’s final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
St Columba’s bridged a 66-year gap to their previous title two years ago and are favourites to complete the three-in-a-row against opponents who are bidding for their first title since 2002 and only their third in all.