St Brigid's will contest a second AIB All-Ireland club SFC title in three seasons but boy did Anthony Cunningham's side have to battle for their ticket back to Croke Park.
Bobby Nugent's seven-point haul, which included two two-pointers, was crucial in the end while Brian Derwin struck a brilliant goal for the 2013 champions early in the game.
There was a huge cameo too from wing-back Paul McGrath who contributed 0-02 and turned in a huge display, along with the returning Pearse Frost, as they progressed through to the January 18 final against Daingean Uí Chúis.
But Ulster champions Scotstown lost no face in defeat and went down swinging in front of 4,837.
In fact, had David McCague's side been able to take any of the opportunities that fell their way for a second goal in the closing minutes, they might just have rescued some sort of result.
Jack McCarron fired 1-03 for Scotstown and the veteran Monaghan forward was right back on top form after a couple of mediocre displays by his standard.
But he'll have nightmares about how St Brigid's defender Sean Trundle got back to block his 55th minute shot from hitting the net. Darren Hughes was similarly denied by last ditch Brigid's defending while Micheal McCarville blasted just over in stoppage time.
St Brigid's had goal chances they couldn't convert too with Ryan O'Toole twice putting in terrific blocks to save the day for Scotstown in the first-half.
O'Toole picked up Brigid's dangerman Ben O'Carroll who was held to just a single point before being substituted.
But Scotstown weren't able to get the same sort of scoring return from roving goalkeeper Rory Beggan who, after blasting 11 points in the Ulster final, added just one here.
The long-range frees he craves simply didn't materialise as St Brigid's defended masterfully throughout.
Having lost to Glen in the All-Ireland decider two seasons ago, Brigid's will be desperate to get their hands on the Andy Merrigan Cup in a fortnight.
And they can't say they haven't been fully road-tested after taking out the Mayo and Galway champions in Connacht and now a brilliant Scotstown side.
They hinted initially when they ran up a 1-02 to 0-01 advantage that they might win with plenty to spare.
Quick hands in the Brigid's attack ended with the influential Ruaidhri Fallon popping a pass over the top for Derwin to come rushing onto from the left wing and he opened out his foot to kick across Beggan to the far top corner.
It was a stunning finish and Fallon knocked over a point himself in the 10th minute.
But when Mattie Maguire kick-passed down the left to McCarron, who created a sliver of space to get a shot away and rippled the far corner of the St Brigid's net, it was clear that this one would go all the way.
The sides were level three times throughout the first-half but four Brigid's points without reply to close out the half left them 1-10 to 1-06 clear.
McGrath scored back-to-back points in this period while Nugent drilled over a stunning two-pointer from the right wing.
Scotstown sprung former All-Star Conor McCarthy from the bench at half-time. He missed a large chunk of their club campaign due to injury so didn't start but won a second half-free that McCarron pointed.
McCarron nailed three points in a row at one stage while Francis Maguire and Shane Carey were on the mark too.
But Brigid's were always able to reply with a timely score like Conor Hand's 36th minute two-pointer to keep themselves just out of Scotstown's reach.
It was absorbing stuff and as time ticked down and the goal that Scotstown required continued to elude them, Beggan gave up his goalkeeping duties and took up a position in attack.
He couldn't provide the goal they needed to keep their hopes of a first ever All-Ireland club title for the club alive though as Brigid's held on thanks to some stout defending.
St Brigid's: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, Sean Trundle, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhri Fallon (0-01), Brian Stack, Paul McGrath (0-02); Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan (0-01); Ciaran Sugrue (0-01), Conor Hand (0-02, tp), Bobby Nugent (0-07, 0-03f, 1 tp, 1 tpf); Ben O'Carroll (0-01), Mark Daly, Brian Derwin (1-00).
Subs: Ronan Stack for Mark Daly 33, Charlie O'Carroll (0-01) for Ben O'Carroll 49, Senan Kilbride for Nugent 56.
Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-01, 0-01 45); Ryan O'Toole, Kieran Hughes, Darragh Murray; Donnchadh Connolly, Damien McArdle, Darren Hughes; Micheal McCarville (0-02), Gavin McPhillips; Max Maguire (0-01), Shane Carey (0-01, 0-01f), Francis Maguire (0-03; 1 tp); Mattie Maguire, Nicky Sherlock (0-01), Jack McCarron (1-03, 0-01f).
Subs: Conor McCarthy for Sherlock h/t, Tommy Mallen for Mattie Maguire 46.
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
