Scotstown 0-22 Inniskeen 0-17
(after extra-time)
Scotstown completed three in a row in Monaghan with an extra-time victory over Inniskeen.
The 2023 Ulster Club SFC finalists were pushed all the way by an Inniskeen side who were chasing their first county title in 77 years, but the introduction of Ryan O'Toole and Conor McCarthy helped to push the game beyond their reach.
Scotstown had gone through the entire campaign without O’Toole and McCarthy due to injuries, but they came on to make an impact in the closing stages, the latter contributing 0-03 and winning a handful of frees after coming on in the full-forward line.
Inniskeen battled gamely throughout their second final in three years, Andrew Woods and Seán and Conor Jones combining for 0-14, but their challenge faded during extra-time, in which Scotstown outscored them 7-2.
Rory Beggan, Darren and Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey and current captain Damien McArdle all remain from Scotstown’s 2013 county final win, while Tommy Mallen top-scored on the day, just 12 months on from winning a minor title.
Scotstown almost had the ball in the net from the very first attack when Matthew Maguire was denied by Ronan Meegan, Maguire then converting his forward mark to open the scoring.
Tommy Mallen and Jack McCarron were also on target during the first five minutes as Scotstown started strongly, although Inniskeen responded through Andrew Woods and Shane Hanratty.
Seán Jones and Shane O’Connor brought the challengers within one on the 20-minute mark, but the excellent Mallen finished the half with scores from either side of the arc to make it 0-10 to 0-06 in Scotstown’s favour.
The Jones brothers kicked the first two scores of the second half to cut Inniskeen’s deficit to the minimum, only for a two-point free by goalkeeper Beggan to keep Scotstown clear.
A two-pointer from Woods and a close-range effort by Michael Monahan brought the Grattans level, before Scotstown ended a 21-minute wait for their first point from play of the second half, courtesy of Shane Carey, who added a free to double their lead.
A second orange flag from Conor Jones levelled it up again though, before Mallen’s sixth point was cancelled out by a close-range free by Woods. Both teams missed chances to win it during added time as the hour ended all-square at 0-15 apiece.
Scotstown faced the breeze again for the first half of extra-time, but they hit the first three points through Mallen, Conor McCarthy and Carey.
A two-pointer from Seán Jones right on half-time kept Inniskeen in touch at 0-18 to 0-17, but that was their only score of the extra 20 minutes.
Frees by Carey and McCarron sandwiched a McCarthy two-point effort as Scotstown pulled away down the home stretch to set up an Ulster quarter-final meeting with Donegal champions Naomh Conaill.
Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-2, 1 2-pt-f); Darragh Murray, Damien McArdle (Capt.), Donnchadh Connolly; Max Maguire, Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Mícheál McCarville, Gavin McPhillips; Tommy Mallen (0-7, 1 2-pt), Shane Carey (0-4, 3f), James Hamill; Francis Maguire, Jack McCarron (0-4, 1 2-pt, 2f), Matthew Maguire (0-2, 1m).
Subs: Ryan O’Toole for Connolly, Conor McCarthy (0-3, 1 2-pt) for F Maguire (both 47); Nicky Sherlock for Matthew Maguire (57).
Extra-time subs: Mark McPhillips for Mallen (H-T); Seán Treanor for Hamill (14); Jason Carey for Max Maguire (17).
Inniskeen: Ronan Meegan; Séamus Kindlon, Christopher Hanratty, Conor Gernon; Colm Meegan, Michael Monahan (Capt., 0-1), Shane O’Connor (0-1); Oisín Monahan, Harry Monahan; Shane Hanratty (0-1), Ciarán McNulty, Conor Jones (0-4, 2 2-pt); Gareth Burns, Andrew Woods (0-5, 1 2-pt, 3f), Seán Jones (0-5, 1 2-pt, 2f).
Subs: Dónal Meegan for Gernon (37); Aidan Woods for Burns (43); Shane Woods for H Monahan (56).
Referee: Raymond Malone (Castleblayney).
