C'Blayney 3-12 Scotstown 0-9 Castleblayney are back in the hunt for championship honours following this commanding display against Scotstown in Clontibret on Sunday evening last. It was a performance of pace and power from the former champions and championship title record holders as they put down a marker that they will be at least in contention come county final day. From start to finish they possessed far too much firepower for a Scotstown team that fielded short a couple of regulars on the day and one that is still somewhat in transition and who never threatened to take a grip on the game at any time. The one area where Castleblayney struggled a little was in midfield where Francis Caulfield and David McCague won plenty of possession for Scotstown but they were unable to capitalise on that possession against a very tight marking Castleblayney defence who afforded the Scotstown attack very little space or time. This was a contest too that saw a number of championship debutants on both sides with Paddy Mallon, Patrick Tavey and Dermot Malone making their debuts on the Castleblayney starting 15 while the Scotstown team boasted newcomers in Kieran Hughes and Mark McDevitt. Hughes finished top scorer for the blues with five points, all from frees and but for his accuracy Scotstown were very short of scoring potential and his personal duel with Castleblayney's Paddy Mallon was one of the features of the contest. Castleblayney's newcomers Patrick Tavey and Dermot Malone both acquitted themselves well with Malone's understanding with Ciaran Hanratty and Ciaran Tavey giving the impression that it is something that can build into a fairly potent force. Kieran Hughes at full back was soundness personified and rarely put a foot wrong. Up front Ciaran Hanratty was again central to Castleblayney's scoring potential and it was his two goals in the 17th and 21st minute of the first half that helped lay the foundations for victory. Hanratty's two goal salvo helped Castleblayney to a nine points half-time lead and while Scotstown got the margin down to seven by the end of the third quarter Castleblayney struck for a goal and three points in an eight minutes spell about midway through the second-half to wrap up victory completely. Teams and Scorers: C'Blayney: Padraig McBennett, Paddy Mallon, Kieran Hughes, Stephen McGeough, Patrick Tavey 0-1, Dermot McArdle, Kealan Duffy, Jason Hughes 0-1, Francis Moore 1-1, Niall Duffy 0-1, Kieran Tavey 0-6 (4f), Ray McArdle, Ciaran Hanratty 2-2 (1f), Dermot Malone, Martin McElroy. Subs: Aidan Ward for K Duffy, Patrick Conlon for N Duffy, Brian McGuinness for J Hughes, Darren Daly for P Tavey. Scotstown: Philip Maguire, Mark Duffy, Padraig Keenan, Gerard Corrigan, Eddie Beggan, Ryan Daly, William Carroll, John Kerley, David McCague, Kieran Hughes 0-5 (f), Brian McGinnity 0-1, James Turley, Francis Caulfield, Nicholas Corrigan 0-3, Mark McDevitt. Subs: Daniel McNally for M McDevitt, Mark McKenna for W Carroll, Donal Caulfield for J Turley, Damien F McKenna for J Kerley. Referee: Sean Gilsenan (Donaghmoyne). Tweet

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