GAA: Glory for Glen as back-to-back Ulster titles are secured

Glen Watty Grahams retained their Ulster Senior Club Football title in a pulsating encounter at Armagh's Athletic Grounds this afternoon.

The Derry champions saw off Monaghan's Scotstown by two points in the end, having themselves been two points down at the break.

Malachy O'Rourke's side used the experience gained from last year's win on the same pitch to ease their way home in the second period as they smothered any opportunities their opponents tried to create.

It was a tough encounter in front of a crowd of over 6,000 who braved the heavy rain than lingered for the bulk of this tie. But Glen deserved their win and will now face Dublin's Kilmacud Crokes in the All-Ireland Semi-final - a repeat of last season's controversial All-Ireland Final, that Glen lost.

It was Scotstown who struck first as Shane Carey registered a free from the left-hand side inside two minutes, and five minutes later they doubled their advantage with James Hamill firing over after a raking long ball from goalkeeper Rory Beggan

Glen opened their account courtesy of a Conor Glass free and then a close-range Danny Tallon free.

Scotstown regained their lead through All-Star Conor McCarthy with a fine score from the left before the tie went into something of an attritional phase as the rain continued to belt down in Armagh.

But, after wides at both ends, it was the Monaghan side who got the scoring underway again through Darren Hughes and that was followed up by another from Jack Hamill.

Tallon second score of the match came as it edged towards half-time before Conleth McGuckian got his name on the scoresheet for Glen.

Shane Carey then nudged Scotstown another point clear from a close-range free, only for McGuckian to grab another at the opposite end to bring Glen back to within a point.

But it was Scotstown who had the final say of the first half an hour as Kieran Hughes struck a wonderful score to put the Monaghan men 0-7 to 0-5 to the good at the short whistle.

The second period began in rip-roaring fashion as Scotstown went three clear within 20 seconds of the restart through Jack McCarron’s first of the game.

But that was quickly wiped out Tallon responded at the other end, before further scores from Eunan Mulholland and Ryan Dougan from distance drew the sides level at eight points apiece.

Glen went in front for the first time in the match just shy of the midway point of the second period when Ethan Doherty knocked over, but he’ll felt he should have done better minutes later when his second effort dropped into Beggan’s hands.

After Shane Carey converted a 13-metre free for Scotstown to make it nine points each, Glen went back in front five minutes from the end of normal time.

Conor Glass, who had been quiet by his own high standards, swept the ball over from the right and as the All-Star pointed towards the fans in celebration, it felt ominous for Scotstown.

And that proved to be the case as Ciaran McFaul strode through the middle of the field to put the Maghera men two to the good, before Jody McDermott fisted over in stoppage time to seal the win,

Glen keeper Connlan Bradley then had to be alert with practically the last kick of the game to palm a Jack McCarron effort for goal over the bar.

And with that, Referee Paul Faloon blew the final whistle as Glen celebrations began in earnest.

MATCH STATS

Glen: Connlan Bradley; Michael Warnock, Ryan Dougan (0-1), Connor Carville (C); Eunan Mulholland (0-1), Ciaran McFaul, Cathal Mulholland; Conor Glass (0-1, free), Emmett Bradley; Ethan Doherty (0-1), Jack Doherty, Joey McDermott; Tiernan Flanagan (0-1), Danny Tallon (0-3, 2f), Conleth McGuckian (0-2)

Subs: Alex Doherty for Jack Doherty (55mins), Stevie O’Hare for Jody McDermott (60mins)

Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-1); Brendan Boylan, Ryan O’Toole, Damien McArdle (C); Conor McCarthy (0-1), Donal Morgan, Emmett Caulfield; Darren Hughes (0-1), Michael McCarville; Jason Carey, Shane Carey (0-3, 2f), James Hamill (0-2); Mattie Maguire, Kieran Hughes (0-1), Jack McCarron (0-2)

Subs: Darragh Murray for Maguire (43mins), Mark McPhillips for Hamill (63mins), Ryan Malley for Boylan (58mins), Francis Maguire for Jason Carey (60mins),

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

Attendance: 6,047