Nov 17,2024
Erne Gaels (Fermanagh) 0-06 Scotstown (Monaghan) 0-19
Sizzling Scotstown had far too much power and panache for grief-stricken Erne Gaels in a one-sided Ulster Club Football Championship quarter-final in Brewster Park.
This game was well over at half-time when Scotstown led by 0-14 to 0-03.
Two weeks ago, the Erne underdogs bridged a 43-year gap by taking a county title with a resounding win over Enniskillen.
But tragedy struck when they got the sad news that club legend had Mark Lyons passed away suddenly.
It was always going to be a big ask for the Belleek men and so it proved.
For Scotstown - powered by Monaghan county players Rory Beggan, Ryan O'Toole, Damien McArdle, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey, Kieran Hughes, Darren Hughes and Jack McCarron - won this encounter at a canter.
They were superior in all departments: physically, technically and most crucially in their finishing.
Erne Gaels repeatedly struggled to get their kickouts away and were just not able to match bigger and stronger opponents.
The deadly accurate Jack McCarron opened the scoring for Scotstown with a pointed free which was quickly cancelled by a fie long-range effort from Oisin Kelm.
But that was as good as it got for the beleaguered Gaels who were swept aside by their opponents.
McCarron and the lively Conor McCarthy helped to make it 0-07 to 0-01 after just nine minutes.
The Gaels were struggling to get the ball past midfield as McCarron, McCarthy and Jason Carey made it 0-10 to 0-01 after 15 minutes.
The losers improved a bit in the final quarter and Dan McCann got their second point after Shane Rooney missed a very kickable free in the 21st minute.
But the rout continued with Kieran Hughes, McCarron-a fine effort with his weaker right foot left the winners leading by 0-12 to 0-02 as the break beckoned.
Rooney made up for his earlier miss with a fine point on the turn, but Scotstown finished with two points from McCarron and Carey to leave them leading by 0-13 to 0-03 at half-time.
Belleek began the second half brightly with two fine points from Aogan Kelm and Dan McCann.
But normal service was swiftly resumed as McCarthy, McCarron and Shane Carey clipped over three points.
McCarron struck again along with Ryan Lyons replying for Belleek.
Both sides ran their benches as Scotstown cantered to victory as Erne Gaels reflect on a time of great triumph and tragedy.
Erne Gaels: Brian Ryder; Shane Mimna, Jack McCann, Ultan O’Reilly; Oisin Kelm (0-01) Paul Ward, Ryan Lyons (0-01); Michael Óg McGarrigle, Gregory McGloin; Dan McCann (0-02) Aogan Kelm (0-01) Martin Gilfedder; Tommy McCaffrey, Shane Rooney (0-01), Ultan Kelm.
Subs: Barry McCann for Gregory McGloin (20), Padraig Johnson for Paul Ward and Colm Keown for Martin Gilfedder (h-t), Odhran Johnson for Shane Miman (46), Paul McCaffrey for Ultan O’Reilly (56).
Scotstown: Rory Beggan; Darragh Murray, Francis Maguire, Jack McDevitt; Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle, Conor McCarthy (0-05 ); Micheal McCarville (0-01) Gavin McPhillips; Jason Carey (0-01), Shane Carey (0-01) James Hamill; Kieran Hughes (0-1) Darren Hughes, Jack McCarron (0-09,8f).
Subs: Mattie Maguire (0-01) for Darren Hughes (h-time), Mark McPhillips for James Hamill (40). Emmet Caulfield for Francis Maguire and Killian McKenna for Jack McCarron (52), Donal Morgan for Kieran Hughes (54).
Referee: Kieran Eanetta (Tyrone).
