GAA wrap: Scotstown need extra time to beat Kilcoo in Ulster final

Kenneth Fox

It took a taxing and at times agonising decider, but after extra time, Scotstown secured their first Ulster crown since 1989.

Rory Beggan kicked 11 points in a man-of-the-match display.

The crucial period came in the first half of extra time. The goalkeeper nailed a long-range free and 45, and substitute Conor McCarthy added another three.

That four-point margin gave them the boost required to end a long wait.

The first half was a remarkable case study for the current state of Gaelic football. Despite the enormous change, control is still attainable for smart teams.

Kilcoo won the toss and decided to go against a strong wind. If you offered them a 0-6 to 0-1 half-time scoreline, they would likely have taken it.

From their first nine attacks, they scored nothing. They barely had a shot. It was an exercise in keep ball, waiting patiently and killing the clock. They wanted to go slow. Scotstown let them.

Mattie Maguire scored his first of two early points from one early turnover while Beggan landed two frees from outside the arc.

The Monaghan number came sprinting out for a dropping shot but failed to gather it. From that break, Eugene Branagan scored Kilcoo’s only point of the half.

What is smart football in such conditions? Press hard, mark up for any long-range frees to make sure the opposition can’t go short, work some two-point opportunities.

David McCague’s outfit didn’t do much of that. Darren Hughes and Mícheál McCarville did have a go from outside the arc. Both missed.

Elsewhere, in the All-Ireland Ladies' Football Club Senior Club Championship Final, Chloe Miskell and Lynsey Noone grabbed goals as Kilkerrin-Clonberne defeated St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass.