LAST UPDATE | 12 Nov 2023
Scotstown: 0-12
Kilcoo: 1-8
WHEN YOU DELIVER a performance to knock out the big beasts of Ulster football, you have to bring something spectacular.
Heading into the final quarter here, Kilcoo were 1-7 to 0-6 up. They have been in this situation so many times that only romantics and fools, foolish romantics even, might have felt the game was still there for Scotstown.
Step forward, Jack McCarron with a point from play and a difficult free after spending the first three quarters of the game frustrated with marker Ryan McEvoy’s marking job, living on his toes. He also won a turnover from a Kilcoo kickout on 61 minutes.
Next up, Kieran Hughes. A point down on 65 minutes, Donal Morgan drilled a ball at Hughes who collected for a mark – tight to the sideline, just inside the 45 metre line. He landed it on the roof of the net to level.
Finally, make way for Rory Beggan. Make way!
In the first half he was finding the going difficult. Uncharacteristically, he missed three frees. The duty was then passed to Shane Carey to convert one from distance.
But Beggan came out a different man in the second half. On 36 minutes he held the ball aloft to signal to Kieran Hughes he was sending in a missile. Kicking from 65 metres, the ball took flight and flew over the crossbar.
With a minute to go of normal time, McCarron was fouled by McEvoy. The Scotstown players could be seen to wave Beggan over to kick it. He made it look easy.
And in the final play of the game, Kilcoo goalkeeper Niall Kane went short to McEvoy. He tried a difficult long-range pass to Ryan Johnston under the stand, from almost the exact same position Hughes converted his mark.
This time, Hughes nipped in and grabbed possession. Johnston fouled. Beggan was called over. You’ve seen this movie before. He put it over with plenty to spare and within seconds, referee Noel Mooney’s whistle sounded with Kilcoo gone.
Asked after if there was some reluctance to go back on the frees, Beggan displays the kind of confidence that is essential to doing the job in the first place.
“I would never have to be persuaded to take a free. My job is to take those frees as they come up,” he insisted.
“You miss some. Everybody misses some frees. But I was delighted to get a chance to make up for it. I have missed big frees in the past and you probably thought you would never get a chance to make it up.”
As polished as he is in these situations, the misses still haunt, in particular one against Crossmaglen in the middle part of the last decade. But he finished as Scotstown’s top scorer here and is a remarkable if unassuming character in the sport.
At half-time, with the teams tied 0-4 apiece, one popular bookmaker priced up Kilcoo as 13/5 favourites.
Big characters love those odds.
Kilcoo appeared in control for the first half with Niall Kane’s kickouts finding a black jersey every single time, right up to two minutes from the break when a big Scotstown press, featuring Beggan taking up a wide position, forced Kane to go long and Darren Hughes caught, leading to McCarthy’s point.
The next two kickouts were also won by the Monaghan side, giving promise of a platform they could build on after the break.
Those plans took a blow nine minutes into the second half when Ryan Johnston sent Ceilum Doherty heading towards goal. He turned inside and into Darren Hughes and Mooney awarded a dubious penalty than Paul Devlin banged in.
Further points from Shealan Johnston and Anthony Morgan had them cruising and they went into the controlled methods and modes than have served them so well.
After Jack McCarron’s point that left a goal in it came on 48 minutes, ten minutes passed and neither team troubled the scoreboard. But in the meantime, Kilcoo boss Karl Lacey took off Conor Laverty with two minutes to go.
And the thing is, Conor Laverty is exactly the player you need on for the last stages of any game. He gets on the ball and makes all the right decisions. Most of the time, he collects, jinks about and avoids a tackle, and recycles the ball to the right player.
In the second half he made 12 plays. One was a ball to Darryl Branagan that deserved better than the wide it resulted in, while he linked the play as part of Morgan’s point. From the 52nd to the 57th minute he made five plays, all retaining possession, all running down the clock.
His absence was critical. In taking that option away from Kilcoo they did themselves fatal harm.
Scotstown took full advantage, but they could only do so by oozing heart and some of the most traditional qualities associated with the club. Their semi-final against Trillick will be something to savour.
Scorers for Scotstown: Rory Beggan 0-3 (2f), Jack McCarron 0-2 (1f), Shane Carey 0-2 (1m), Jason Carey 0-2 (1m), Conor McCarthy, Donal Morgan 0-1 each, Kieran Hughes 0-1 (1m).
Scorers for Kilcoo: Paul Devlin 1-1 (1-0 pen, 1f), Niall Kane 0-1f, Miceál Rooney, Darryl Branagan, Eugene Branagan, Aaron Morgan, Shealan Johnston, Anthony Morgan 0-1 each.
Scotstown: Rory Beggan; Brendan Boylan, Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle; Conor McCarthy, Donal Morgan, Emmett Caulfield; Darren Hughes, Michael McCarville; Jason Carey, Shane Carey, James Hamill; Mattie Maguire, Kieran Hughes, Jack McCarron
Subs:
Darragh Murray for Emmett Caulfield (46), Mark McPhillips for James Hamill (52), Ross McKenna for Mattie Maguire (58), Orin Heaphey for Jason Carey (64)
Kilcoo: Niall Kane; Niall Branagan, Ryan McEvoy, Aaron Branagan; Miceál Rooney, Darryl Branagan, Eugene Branagan; Aaron Morgan, Ryan Johnston; Shealan Johnston, Jack Devlin, Anthony Morgan; Paul Devlin, Conor Laverty, Ceilum Doherty
Subs:
Sean Óg McCusker for Jack Devlin (43), Christopher Rooney for Conor Laverty (58)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)