Scotstown dominance continues as Gowna thump Kingscourt
Ryan O'Toole was among the scorers for the reigning Ulster champions
- Published
Scotstown retained their Monaghan Senior Football Championship title with a 1-18 to 0-10 victory over Truagh, while Gowna ended Kingscourt Stars' reign as Cavan champions with a commanding 4-17 to 0-14 win.
Scotstown, the reigning Ulster champions, claimed their 25th Monaghan title after a dominant display, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan scoring eight second-half points.
Ryan O'Toole's first-half goal helped Scotstown establish a 1-9 to 0-7 half-time lead, with four two-pointers from play in the first half also highlighting their attacking threat.
Conor McCarthy, Kieran Hughes and Max Maguire, who struck twice from outside the arc, all contributed to the tally with Maguire finishing with an impressive 0-5 and playing a starring role in the forward line.
Truagh briefly threatened a comeback when Luke McKenna landed a two-pointer in the 39th minute to reduce the deficit to four points at 1-11 to 0-10.
However, they failed to score again, finishing with nine wides as Scotstown took full control.
Arc specialist Beggan scored four frees from range, with O'Toole and Shane Carey contributing singles.
Mark McCaffrey received a black card in the 49th minute, but Scotstown remained untroubled to clinch another county title in their 14th consecutive final appearance.
In Cavan, Gowna produced a first-half goal blitz to dismantle Kingscourt Stars and avenge last year's final defeat.
Oisin Pierson and Seanie Hartin scored majors within 60 seconds of each other in the 20th minute, before Conor Casey added a third in first-half stoppage time.
Gowna led 3-9 to 0-7 at the interval, with Pierson landing an early two-pointer after the restart to further strengthen their position.
Cian Shekleton and Jordan Morris tried to inspire a Kingscourt revival, but Gowna continued to find scores, with 13 different players contributing to their tally.
Full-back Cillian Brady added a fourth goal in the 56th minute to complete a comprehensive victory and claim a third Oliver Plunkett Cup in five years.
