PLATINUM TANKS RESERVE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: O’DUFFY CUP FINAL.

Scotstown 0-17, Truagh 1-9.

A more economical and a more clinical Scotstown denied Truagh completing back to back O’Duffy Cup titles when they proved too strong for the St Mellon’s men in this entertaining if never spectacular reserve championship final that was played in blustery conditions in St Oliver Plunkett Park, Emyvale, on Sunday afternoon the 25th of June. The sides were level 3 times in the opening quarter before Scotstown stepped up the pressure in the 2^nd quarter to open a 3 points lead by the break and it was their ability to get different players on the score sheet that was ultimately the difference between the sides. All 6 of Scotstown’s starting forwards scored while only 2 of Truagh’s 6 starting forwards were on target, and that aspect of Scotstown’s play was underpinned with excellent displays by David McCague, Ryan Caulfield, Orin Heaphey, the evergreen Brian McGinnity, Francis Maguire and Michael McCarville who lofted over a number of excellent points at vital times. In the second half Truagh made a real battle of it and when they hit Scotstown with an unanswered 1-2 between the 5^th and 9^th minutes of the second-half to draw level, it looked as if they might turn it around. However that was as good as it was to get for the St Mellon’s men as Scotstown reasserted their superiority with 4 unanswered points between the 13^th and 22^nd minutes to open a 4 points gap and while Truagh got it back to 3 Scotstown finished with a brace in the final minutes to clinch a deserved victory.

Teams and Scorers: Scotstown: Cian Mohan, Kevin McMeel, Barry McMeel, Matthew McCague, Caolan McElwain, William Carroll 0-1, Padraig Keenan, David McCague, Ryan Caulfield 0-1, Sean Mohan 0-1, Orin Heaphey 0-2, Francis Maguire 0-4 (2f), Brian McGinnity 0-2, Micheal McCarville 0-4 (1f), Jamie McCarey 0-2 (1f). Subs: Leonard McDermott for B McMeel, Gerard McCrudden for F Maguire, Daniel McNally for J McCarey, Mark Fox for S Mohan (temp).

Truagh: Martin Treanor, James McKenna, Aidan Coyle, Darren Sherlock, Darren Todd, James Deery, Mark McQuaid 0-1, Barry Cuddy, Aaron Treanor, John Treanor, Gary Todd, Gary McKenna, Sean McKenna, Colm McRory 1-3 (0-1f), Daniel Finnegan 0-4 (4f). Subs: Gary McCaffrey 0-1 for G Todd, Ryan Mohan for G McKenna, Aaron Mohan for S McKenna. Referee: Jason McAndrew (Ballybay)