Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi Final Result – Scotstown 0-17 Trillick 1-13

Our senior team and management have qualified for an Ulster senior football final after a superb win and holding their nerve in extra time against a brilliant Trillick side that kept coming at them at the Box-It Athletic grounds in Armagh on Sunday last in the Ulster Senior Championship Semi Final. However our senior men had to force extra time in a dramatic three minutes of injury time when All Star Conor McCarthy timed his run and angle to perfection to take a brilliant run and pass from Shane Carey and level off his right to make it 0-13 to 1-10.

Scotstown started strongly with Emmett Caulfield scoring the first point of the day with a superb long-range free. Jason Carey split the posts with a fine effort to give Scotstown a two point lead. Scotstown continued to dominate but were unlucky with Darren Hughes hitting the post and Rory Beggan having an effort blocked. Trillick’s first point came on 18 minutes before Scotstown responded with excellent scores from Donal Morgan and Rory Beggan to stretch their lead to three points making the score 0-4 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. With 5 minutes of the first half remaining Scotstown had maintained a 3 point advantage at 0-6 to 0-3 with a well placed free by Shane Carey and a superb effort from play on his right foot by Jack McCarron. However Trillick fought back and went a point ahead at half with a goal and a point making the half time score Scotstown 0-6 Trillick 1-4.

Despite playing against the wind in the second half Scotstown regained the lead after 5 minutes with an excellent point from play by Mattie Maguire and a well placed free by Jack McCarron. The game was end to end and a flurry of points ensued, but for the next 20 minutes Scotstown either maintained a 1 to 2 point lead, or were level, with excellent points by Michael McCarville, Matthew Maguire and Kieran Hughes, all long range efforts from play, making the score 0-11 to 1-7. However going in to the last 5 minutes Trillick took the lead for the first time since the start of the second half, ensuring a nail-biting end of normal time. Ryan O’Toole equalised for the Blues with 2 minutes remaining with a superb point from play. Going into 3 minutes of injury time, extra time seemed certain but Trillick scored a 45 in the final minute of injury time. Scotstown quickly responded and Conor McCarthy’s amazing point secured extra time right at the end of normal time with a score of 0-13 to 1-10.

Scotstown carried their momentum into the first period of extra time, with Kieran Hughes pointing to once again give them a narrow advantage with an outstanding effort from distance. Trillick equalised yet again but Jack McCarron scored a superb well placed free to give the Blues a 1 point advantage after the 1st interval of extra time. Trillick equalised at the start of the second interval, but this would the last time the sides were level. Despite the tension and pressure, further well placed and calmy taken frees, by Jack McCarron and Shane Carey would stretch Scotstown’s lead to two heading into injury time in the second half of extra time. Trillick pressed hard for equalising scores with 4 nervous never-ending minutes of injury. But the lads held their never and again, the never say die attitude saw the senior team into an Ulster Final for the first time since 2018. Congratulations and well done to the team and management who were amazing and played outstanding football under intense pressure. Hard luck and commiserations to Trillick, who were brilliant opposition and never gave up. Scotstown next play Glen in the Ulster Senior Football Championship final in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh on Sunday 10th December at 4:00pm. We wish the team and management the very best in the final.

Scorers for Scotstown: Jak McCarron 0-4 (3f); Shane Carey 0-3 (2f); Mattie Maguire, Kieran Hughes 0-2 each; Michael McCarville, Emmet Caulfield, Donal Morgan, Conor McCarthy, Ryan O’Toole, Rory Beggan (’45) 0-1 each.

Scotstown Team, Subs and Panel: Rory Beggan; Brendan Boylan, Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle; Conor McCarthy, Donal Morgan, Emmet Caulfield; Darren Hughes, Michael McCarville, Jason Carey, Shane Carey, James Hamill, Mattie Maguire, Kieran Hughes, Jack McCarron. Subs: Mark McPhillips for James Hamill (50), Darragh Murray for Jason Carey (53), Ross McKenna for Mattie Maguire (62), Ryan Malley for Donal Morgan (e-t), Jason Carey for Ryan Malley (75), James Hamill for Emmet Caulfield (81), Mattie Maguire for Michael McCarville (83); Cian Mohan, Fergal McPhillips, Killian McKenna, Francis Maguire, Paul Sherlock, Sean Treanor, Orin Heaphy, Caolan Foy, Joey McKenna, Kieran McGuirk

Manager: David McCague. Management Team: Fergus Caulfield, Peter Donnelly, Diarmuid Scullion.

Our Blues Upcoming Competitive Fixtures

On Sunday 10th December our Senior Men play Glen in the Final of the Ulster Senior Championship in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh at 4:00pm.

We wish the team and management all the best.

Ulster Championship Tickets

You can purchase your tickets for the Ulster Championship games including Scotstown v Glen in McMahon’s Centra Scotstown shop. Tickets for the Ulster Final all sale soon.

Scotstown representatives on Minor panel

Congratulations to Darcy Foy, Mark McCaffrey, and Cathal McElwain for making the Monaghan GAA County Minor panel for 2024.

Monaghan LGFA Minors Presentation night

Well done to our Blues on the Monaghan LGFA Minor panel Katie McCaffrey, Ella McKenna, and Eabha Sherry, on their Presentation last weekend in The Old Coach Inn, in recognition of

the achievements of the Minors winning the Ulster Platinum Championship.

MacRory Cup

Well done to the Scotstown players on the panel, James Brady, Donnchadh Connolly, Darcy Foy, Conal Gallagher, Mark McCaffrey Cathal McElwain, Sean óg McElwain, Max Maguire, Tommy Mallen and Óisín Murray (scorers Sean óg McElwain (0-5) and Tommy Mallen (0-3)) in a superb win for St. Macartan’s College over St Patrick’s Armagh in the 1-10 to 2-6 MacRory Cup Group A Round 2 game on the 100th anniversary of the competition.

Scotstown GAA Online Club Lotto – Jackpot €13,200!!

Thanks to everyone involved in our online lotto draw for a €13,000 jackpot on Wednesday 29th November. Please see our Social Media platforms for more details of the results.

In the November 22nd draw there was no Jackpot winner. Numbers drawn on the night were 12, 15,20, 23. There was 1 Match 3 Winner, Siobhan Deirdre Boylan who wins €100. We had 3 Lucky Dip winners, Seamus Reilly, Grainne McKenna and Derek Brady who win €20 each. Congratulations to all our winners! The Scotstown GAA online Lotto Draw takes place every Wednesday at 8:30pm with last entries at 8pm. The draw is conducted on-line and is fully automated using secure facilities. There are 4 numbers to choose from a range of 1 to 31. Match the 4 numbers to win the Jackpot of €13,200. If no jackpot winner €200 is rolled over to the following week. Also if there is no jackpot winner there will be lucky dips. Next draw is Wednesday December 6th at 8:30pm.

Ciste Draw

Congratulations to Aine Mullen, Killattin our €1,000 November Ciste Winner! Also congratulations to our 5 x €100 winners; Josie Hamill, Noelle Keenan, Dermot Kelly, Mark Kelly, and Frank Sherry. Sellers prize Cyril McCrudden and Sean McKenna. You can purchase your Ciste tickets in our local shops. There are tickets, envelopes and collection boxes in each of these shops; McMahon Centra, Scotstown; McAloons Knockatallon; XL Ballinode & Killylough. You can also purchase your Ciste tickets using the Scotstown Clubspot website and clicking on ‘buy event tickets’ link. First prize €1,000 and 5 prizes of €100 must be won. In total €18,000 in prize money is won every year!

Paint the Parish Blue!

Many thanks to all those involved in putting the flags and bunting up around in the villages of the parish. Well done on a great job making the villages looking fantastic. Our Senior men continue their campaign on Sunday December 10th with the Ulster Final. So please if you already haven’t already, get all you’re An Bhoth flags and paraphernalia out and Paint the Parish Blue!

Cairde na Botha – 3rd Year Registration due

We recently had a registration, information and donation night in the Scotstown GAA Social Club in the Complex. Many thanks to all those involved. For those who subscribed last year and are on the 4 year subscription plan, the 3rd year subscription is now due. New members are more than welcome to sign up to Cairde. Thanks!

Scotstown Cairde Na Botha wish to thank all those who have supported this historical fundraising project so far. We thank you for your continued support. Anyone wishing to join in

this initiative and be part of it, please contact any of our Cairde na Botha committee members; Shane Stirrat; Austin Corrigan; Aine McKenna; Michael Owen McMahon; Aidan McCarra; Stephen McKenna; Cyril Mc Crudden.

The aim of Cairde Na Botha is to improve and develop our Kilmore training facilities to help achieve our vision of continuously improving our success on-field for our teams and off-field for our community. Cairde Na Botha is one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by our club. Be part of it! Scotstown GAA’s success has always been built on the considerable support we receive from home and abroad. We fondly remember fundraising projects in the past, such as the Scotstown Carnival in the 1960s to the purchase of our main field at Urbleshanny,The Lord Mayor Campaign in the 1980s to fund the building of Sportlann Mhuire (the complex) and development of St. Marys Park and indeed, the ambitious purchase Of Kilmore in 1995 which has contributed to the outstanding success we achieve today.

Cairde na Botha is your opportunity to help your club continue this successful development for this generation and the next into the future. Fully paid up Members of Cairde Na Botha will have the benefit of their name engraved on the supporters’ wall at the Kilmore training grounds.

Please read our brochure via the link attached where you can support the initiative online. https://member.clubforce.com/memberships_cart_m.asp?LL_ID=2259&intMF_ID=8808#Anchor

We welcome all Scotstown GAA supporters at home and abroad to join in this progressive and exciting initiative!!

Be part of it! Thank you!

The Kilmore building will be open shortly and we are currently hiring a Personal Trainer / Facility Manager and also Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Music, Drama Teachers.

Scotstown GAA Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of Scotstown GAA took place on Friday last, November 24th in the new Kilmore Building. The minutes of last year’s minutes was read before our Cultural Officer, Paddy Sherlock, reflected over another busy and successful year for the club in Cultural activities. The Scór na nog competitions were held in March and our dancers won the figure dancing county final with several of other participants finishing a close second in their respective acts. In June, Scotstown had excellent participation in the County finals of Scór na bPaisti (spraoi scor), with the Recitation and the dancers both claiming gold with several others a close 2nd and 3rd in their respective acts. Scotstown had further success in September with the Scór County Finals with the quiz team winning the Monaghan final. Paddy congratulated everyone involved. Paddy also thanked Pauline Rooney for her weekly Irish classes in the complex. Paddy also thanked other club officials and everyone else in the club for their assistance including the communications.

Our Secretary, Gary McQuaid, detailed an extensive outline of the football review so far of 2023, mainly the adult teams. This has been so far a successful and busy year for the adult teams. The Senior men won the Monaghan Senior Championship for the 22nd time after qualifying for 11 finals in a row, winning 8 of those. Our senior county players had a long successful season with the County reaching the All Ireland Semi Final. This meant the senior team had no county players for the Senior League where the team just missed out on qualifying for the quarter final. The senior team have gone on in Ulster and beaten Kilcoo in the quarter final and face Trillick in the semi final on the following Sunday. Gary wished the team and management all the best, and congratulated them and their physio team, stats people and everyone else involved with the team for their success so far this year. The Senior reserves won the O’Duffy cup championship and the Junior men made further progress this year qualifying for the Championship quarter finals and losing to the County winners and Ulster finalists Blackhill. This was the first year of having 2 junior reserve teams which worked well giving everyone competitive football. The A team won the Division 3A Shield Cup. Gary thanked all the management team members and the players for a successful year. The Senior Ladies advanced with their progression. They started the year with a challenge game in Manchester. The started their competitive season with success winning the Division 2 Reserve League Cup. In the Division 1 League and Senior Championship they achieved Semi Final places and were narrowly beaten by the Ulster Champions Donaghmoyne, away in the

Championship semi final. Gary congratulated the team and management on their continuous improvement and success during the year.

Gary next focused on the facilities and the maintenance of our grounds. He thanked all the coaches and managers and the groundkeeping of Frank McKenna and the field committee for all working well together in the smooth running of 135 competitive games during the year. Gary thanked the Communications team and the live streaming team for keeping everyone informed of the games and general club and community related items. He thanked Colin Casey on the recent risk assessment and praised all the County teams both adult and juvenile, with the Senior men reaching the All Ireland Semi Final, the minor team reaching the All Ireland Final and the LGFA minor team winning the Ulster Platinum championship. Gary also referred to various initiatives and fundraisers during the year such as the Golf Classic and the upcoming Shoe Box charity appeal for Christmas by the ladies. Gary thanked all the volunteers, stewards, shop and all those activities that are smoothly run all year, and our referees. Gary thanked and wished the outgoing Chairman Shane Stirrat all the best.

Next was the Health and Wellbeing report by Bernie Sherry. This was another busy year of community engagement and Healthy Club initiatives. This included the RTE Transformation walks which coincided with an invaluable Blood Pressure monitoring health check available for participants. Make a Ceili was recently launched and Card playing has commenced in the Scotstown Complex. GAA for all initiative commenced recently as well. Earlier in the year nutritional talks took place and mental health and wellbeing talks are also scheduled to take place. GAA 4 Mothers and Others is going strong and the club achieved the Silver Healthy Club status during the year. Bernie thanked everyone involved in these initiatives and to the Communications team for its promotion.

Our Treasurer, Aine McKenna discussed the Financial Statements and a review of the 2022 / 2023 financial year. This year was another busy year for the club as the Kilmore development continued and nears completion, with a considerable level of funding required for the entire project. The day to day running of the club has been continually supported by the Ciste, Lotto, match receipts and our sponsors, while the capital investment for the year and future is supported by the Cairde na Botha and grant income. Aine praised all those involved in raising the funds for the club as this is crucial in continuing the success of the club for future generations.

Next was our Chairman Shane Stirrat’s address. Shane praised all our club members, players and volunteers for their hard work during the past year and congratulated them all on their successes so far. Shane thanked all the 2023 committees, and the stewards, ground staff, Ciste and lotto groups, Cairde and the fundraising committees, the bar and social club staff, hospitality and food providers, the club shop and tuck shop, the cleaners, those who put up the bunting, the coaches, team managers, referees, and everyone else behind the scenes that make the club work so well and efficiently. He thanked those who have stepped back from the committee in the past year for all their work and efforts.

He praised those involved in the development of the club, creating a roadmap for the Kilmore development and all those involved in putting us in a strong financial position with successful events including the recent Cairde initiative. He welcomed in the new executive committee and thanked our sponsors, including our main sponsor McMahons Centra Scotstown. He praised and thanked the PRO and communications team for all the tweeting and streaming of games. Shane is stepping down as chairperson after his 3 successful tenure and he thanked the previous chair Cormac Sherry and wished the next chair all the best. Shane said it was a pleasure to chair this AGM in Kilmore and looks forward to the new gym opening shortly and all the other activities that will take place in 2024. He wished the senior team and management all the best on Sunday in the Ulster Semi Final and congratulated them all their success so far. Shane thanked the secretary Gary McQuaid for all his hard work and the previous secretary Sean McGovern and Vice Secretary Pauline Keenan and treasurer Aine McKenna. Shane presented Groundsman Frank McKenna with a gift for his exemplary lifetime commitment to the club.

Next was the election of officers. The officers of Scotstown GAA for the coming year are: Chairperson: Cyril McCrudden; Vice-Chairperson: Pauline Keenan; Assistant Secretary; Brenda McCarey; Treasurer: Aine McKenna; Assistant Treasurer: Martin Connolly; Public Relations Officer: Padraig Columb; Youth Officer: TBA; Coaching Officer: Marc Mullen; Cultural Officer: Paddy Sherlock; Development Officer: Stephen McKenna; Registrar: Damian Mohan; County Board Delegate: Sean Murphy; Health & Wellbeing Officer: Bernie Sherry; Children’s officer: Emma McKenna; Players’ Representatives: To be chosen by the players; Groundsman: Frank McKenna.

Our new Chairperson Cyril McCrudden thanked the club, members and volunteers for everything and for being nominated as Chairperson of Scotstown GAA. Cyril looks forward to his time as chair and working with the sub-committees and everyone else. He wished the senior team and management all the best on Sunday and thanked and praised the previous chair Shane Stirrat for all his hard work and then outgoing committee. We wish Cyril all the best as Chairperson and thank him for all his hard work over the years, including as Vice Chairman over the past 2 years.

Outgoing Youth Officer Cian Mohan will give the next committee meeting his report for the year. We thank Cian for all his hard work and outstanding successes achieved with the juveniles during his time as Youth Officer which has seen a remarkable number of trophies, engagement by juveniles in football and overall increasing numbers. Pariac Duffy is stepping down as Coaching officer and we thank Paraic for everything and his dedication to the club covering an extensive number of teams which has seen further progression in all levels with lots of success.

Our thanks to Shane Stirrat

After his 3 years tenure as Chairman of our club, Shane Stirrat is stepping down. During that time the club has progressed impressively with both on-field successes, in adult and juvenile, and off-field with initiatives such as the new Kilmore development. The club has grown in numbers further during this time and has advanced within our community that we serve. We thank Shane for all his hard work and commitment to the club and wish him all the best.

Club Shop

The Club Shop is next open this Friday December 1st from 7pm to 8pm and will be open every Friday in December.

Social Club opening hours and rota

The Social Club is open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9pm. Bara Rota: Trevor McKenna and Damian Mohan.

Scotstown GAA Social Club Christmas Season Function Hire

Please note that the Social Club facility is available to hire for private parties. Contact us for more information; Pauline on 085 119 7063 or Aine 089 200 6820; or Private message / Whatsapp our Facebook pages; Scotstown GAA or Scotstown GAA Social Club.

Interested in Volunteering?

Anyone interested in helping out in one of our many new committees, we are looking for volunteers. Please contact Cyril at 087 9628521.

Card Playing night – This Friday night 1st December

Following up on the successful inaugural card night 2 weeks ago, we are inviting everyone to come along and play Cards in the Scotstown complex this Friday 1st December at 8:00pm especially young people who want to learn the game of 45, there will be card players there on the night to guide and help, fun night ahead don’t let our traditional card games become a thing of the past. This is part of our Silver Healthy Club.

Daffodil planting in Kilmore

Last Saturday morning in Kilmore, our Minor girls with assistance of our volunteers planted daffodil seeds for their bloom time to mark 2024 Daffodil Day on March 22nd and to raise awareness for the Irish Cancer Society. Senior Ladies Footballer Abbie McCarey explained how this initiative was suggested to the Scotstown ladies to help out raising awareness for Daffodil day by having a section of the Kilmore track surrounded by beautiful daffodils in time for Daffodil day 2024. Abbie thanked everyone involved, including the Minor girls, and all the other helpers and volunteers. This initiative is part of our Silver Healthy Club. Well done everyone and we look forward to seeing the host of golden daffodils in early Spring along the Kilmore track.

Health and Wellbeing – GAA For All Training

Scotstown GAA Health and Wellbeing are working in collaboration with Truagh Gaels & Emyvale GAA Club to form a GAA for All juvenile team. This is football training specifically aimed at children with Additional Needs. GAA for All kicked off for a 4 week block on Saturday 4th November at St. Mellan’s GAA Park in Truagh Well done to everyone involved. Please contact Geraldine on 087 4269650 for further information or to register your child. Or if you are aware of a family that may be interested from the north Monaghan area please pass this information on. This is part of our Healthy Club initiative. Many thanks to Truagh Gaels for the post below and for hosting the training sessions.

Scotstown GAA continues this year with its Healthy Club project which aims to help GAA clubs explore how they support the holistic health of their members and the communities they serve.

As we enter the winter months we are renewing the Make a Ceili initiative which was launched last week.

Michael Own McMahon Movember Challenge

Well done to Michael Owen McMahon for his Movember challenge and raising funds for Crocus Cancer Support Centre Monaghan. Please visit the following website on how to support. https://gofund.me/a61bc8c6

Kilmore Cladding

A big thank you to Pete Foy, Gerard McKenna, Marc Mullen, Stephen McKenna and Sean McGovern who volunteered their time and expertise last Saturday to install the internal wall cladding of our new gym and make it ready for the graphics and paintwork.

Vote of Sympathy

The following votes of sympathy were passed at the AGM.

Cunningham Family on the death of Luke

Watterson Family on the death of Anne

We would like to offer our condolences to all the family and friends who lost loved ones during this time.

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others

Gaelic For Mothers & others outdoor training has ended for the year and training will be indoors from now on. All welcome to come along. As there is no competition for the group there is no pressure to attend every week. You can join in at any stage and come when it suits you. You need to be over 25 and living in the parish. Why not come all and give it a go!!

Scór agus Cultúr

Tá an Ciorcal Gaeilge sa Spórtlann gach Oíche Mháirt ó 8 go 9pm! Fáilte roimh gach duine.