Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1A

Scotstown 1-14 Truagh 0-12                                                17/5/14

Scotstown made a winning start to their SFC title defence against neighbours Truagh in Clontibret on Saturday. Scotstown held a narrow lead for much of the match and they could afford to kick 15 wides and still advance, with a late goal by substitute Paul Grant ending any doubt. Truagh led once in the match, early in the second half, and even the introduction of Paudie McKenna couldn’t inspire them. McKenna was joined on the sidelines by his team-mate Daniel McKenna and Scotstown’s Kieran Hughes, due to injury. Darren Hughes starred for Scotstown in a roving full-forward role, while Conor McCarthy also impressed up front and David McCague and Francis Caulfield were well on top at midfield, with Christopher McKenna and Aidan Coyle leading Truagh’s challenge.

Darren Hughes opened the scoring after taking a pass from David McCague and he then linked up with Shane Carey to add a good point, before Christopher McKenna opened Truagh’s account from a 45-metre free, following a foul on Brendan Treanor. Truagh had the game’s first goal chance in the 12^th minute when a point-attempt by Adam Treanor hit an upright and fell for Mark Counihan, whose shot was saved by Rory Beggan. An Aidan Coyle point, after a strong run by Neil McRory, brought Truagh level, before Conor McCarthy sent a goal-attempt inches wide at the end of a move involving Hughes and Brian McGinnity. Hughes was the provider for a Carey point and he added another fine score after a high catch by McCague, before Carey won and scored a 25-metre free. McKenna hit a good point for Truagh, only for McCarthy to respond with a similar effort after he had been picked out by a James Turley free. Adam Treanor kept Truagh in touch when he won and scored a 25-metre free and Counihan landed a fine left-footed score after a clever pass by McKenna, before Adam Treanor and McRory combined to set up Christopher McAnenly to level it up. Truagh keeper Ian Treanor denied Hughes at the end of a powerful run by the county man, turning the ball around the post for a ’45 which Beggan converted to edge Scotstown 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

Truagh substitute Niall McMeel made a quick impact when setting up McAnenly to equalise and McKenna converted a 45-metre free for a foul on Pauric Treanor, but the Gaels’ lead lasted less than a minute until McCarthy replied. McCarthy fisted over a minute later and Beggan was equal to a McKenna shot at the other end, before a fourth Hughes point doubled Scotstown’s advantage. Beggan pointed a 45-metre free after a foul on Paul Grant, before Adam Treanor and Carey swapped points from 20-metre frees, following fouls on Seán McKenna and Carey himself. Grant added a point and McCarthy linked up with Brian McGinnity to curl over a great score, although Adam Treanor responded from a brace of close-range frees after fouls on Pauric Treanor and McMeel, before cutting Truagh’s deficit to two with a fine finish to an attack led by Pauric Treanor and Seán McKenna. Any hopes of a big finish for Truagh were killed off, however, when Grant pulled on a loose ball from close range to score the only goal and make the result safe for Scotstown.

Scotstown: R Beggan (0-2, 1f, 1 ’45); P Keenan, P O’Hara, M Duffy; D McArdle, J Turley (Capt.), B McMeel; D McCague, F Caulfield; E Beggan, D McCrudden, B McGinnity; S Carey (0-3, 2f), D Hughes (0-4), C McCarthy (0-4).

Subs: P Grant (1-1) for McCrudden (29 mins), M Treanor for McMeel (54).

Truagh: I Treanor; J McCarron (Capt.), N McQuillan, A Coyle (0-1); E Kelly, R Treanor, D Todd; P Treanor, B Cuddy; C McKenna (0-3, 2f), N McRory, B Treanor; A Treanor (0-5, 4f), C McAnenly (0-2), M Counihan (0-1).

Subs: N McMeel for B Treanor (H-T), S McKenna for Counihan (38), P McKenna for McAnenly (44), N Rooney for Kelly (61).

Referee: M McNally (Corduff).