Scotstown came closer than ever to sealing their 15th county SFC in 2011, but they were narrowly beaten in the final by Latton, 1-6 to 0-8 at Inniskeen on Sunday, October 9th. The Blues were biding to bridge an 18-year gap to their last Mick Duffy Cup success in 1993, but they came up marginally short despite a gallant campaign that included excellent championship wins over Castleblayney, Magheracloone and Ballybay.

Former lords of all they surveyed, Scotstown hadn't even appeared in a county final since 2003, but they delivered a determined effort in 2011 to power through to a novel meeting with Latton. The game was hard-fought at a wet and windy Pairc Grattan - and An Bhoth looked likely winners as we went into the last quarter - but their opponents netted from the penalty spot twelve minutes from time to turn the match on its head before striking a winning point in the second added minute.
The Blues seemed to have salvaged a replay when ace marksman Kieran Hughes landed a levelling point in the first added minute but there would be a late, late twist in the dramatic last seconds of the 2011 Monaghan SFC. Scotstown and their co-managers Dermot Maguire and Gerard Caulfield had been so, so close. But there are no prizes for second place. On a positive front, they have developed a strong-looking squad and it seems to be only a matter of time before they return to the top of the pile - provided, of course, they continue to apply themselves.
County (and international) star Darren Hughes produced a Man of the Match display on county final day, while midfield pairing James Turley and captain Francis Caulfield were also influential against Latton's much-vaunted pairing. As ever, Kieran Hughes - who added three points to his haul of 4-8 from Scotstown's previous three outings in the SFC - was a real threat on the edge of the square but the match was a slog played in dreadful conditions and the supply of ball to the inside forward line was limited. Full back Donal Morgan and wing forward Shane Carey also caught the eye in a low-scoring encounter.
Paul Grant supplied Scotstown's first point after Latton had taken an early lead and Brian McGinnity and Carey ensured that the Blues led by 0-3 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. The sides managed just a point each in the second quarter, with Kieran Hughes' 30-yard free ensuring a narrow interval advantage. Goalkeeper Rory Beggan made a fine save at the start of the second half and Carey and Kieran Hughes (free) were on hand to make it 0-6 to 0-4. After Hugh McElroy slotted a Latton penalty, Darren Hughes equalised from a '45'. Latton retook the lead but Kieran Hughes replied in injury time. As the large attendance at the soggy south Monaghan venue began to wonder where the replay would be played, Latton nicked it with a last-gasp point and Scotstown were left feeling mightily frustrated.
This was the first-ever meeting of Scotstown and Latton in a county SFC final. Indeed, they had only met on five previous occasions in the knockout, including four times in the last seven years - a semi-final in 2004 (won by Scotstown), a 2007 play-off (won by Latton), a 2009 semi-final (also won by Latton) and a first-round encounter in 2010, with the Blues prevailing in that one. The 2011 meeting was the biggest of all, however, and it was the O'Rahillys who shaded it…
Scotstown - 2011 Monaghan SFC finalists: R Beggan; E Beggan, D Morgan, M Duffy; F McPhillips, D Hughes (0-1), D McArdle; F Caulfield (captain), J Turley; P Grant (0-1), D McCague, S Carey (0-2); C Caulfield, K Hughes (0-3), B McGinnity (0-1). Subs: N Corrigan for C Caulfield (40); S Sherry for Grant (43); W Carroll for Duffy (54).
It would be fair to say the 2011 SFC was a protracted affair for Scotstown, who played just four games but were on duty in July, August, September and October! After opening with an excellent old firm win over Castleblayney, Scotstown followed up with a stunning dismantling of Ballybay before scoring a gutsy victory over Magheracloone with 14 men to progress to their 19th SFC final. Of the previous 18, they had lost only four…
At sunny Clontibret on Sunday, July 24th, we had a real throwback to that great rivalry of the 'seventies, 'eighties and early 'nineties as Scotstown defeated Castleblayney by 2-11 to 1-11 in the first round. The Faughs got the first two points but Kieran Hughes struck a brace and then lashed home a goal at the midway point in the first half to make it 1-2 to 0-2. Paul Grant and captain Francis Caulfield were also on target as the gap increased to five but the losers knocked over the last four points of an entertaining first half. Scotstown delivered a dominant third quarter with points from Grant, Shane Carey and David McCague as well as a second Kieran Hughes goal. Emmet Caulfield cancelled out 'Blayney's reply and Carey and Grant ensured that the winners had a six-point cushion with ten minutes left. Nicholas Corrigan - who had returned to action after taking a break from the game - came off the bench to add another point for the rampant north county men.
Clontibret was the venue again on Sunday, August 21st as Scotstown continued their march through the front door with a magnificent 1-16 to 1-7 hammering of in-form Ballybay, who had been mightily impressive in their two previous outings. League leaders Ballybay had lost only two of their previous 16 matches but were no match for a strong and purposeful Scotstown, who dominated over the hour and didn't concede a point from play until the 46th minute. The winners hit a staggering 1-12 from open play, including a haul of 1-4 from Kieran Hughes. Nicholas Corrigan raised the first flag after just 15 seconds and the Hughes, Darren and Kieran, made it 0-3 to no score after only four minutes. James Turley and Kieran Hughes pointed before a Ballybay goal offered the losers a lifeline. Ballybay led at the end of the first quarter but the victors registered four unanswered points in the second quarter to take a grip on the game that they wouldn't subsequently relinquish - Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey (2) and Darren Hughes with his second '45' - making it 0-10 to 1-4 at the break.
Under lights at Inniskeen on Friday, September 23rd, goals from the excellent Darren Hughes (penalty) and Kieran Hughes either side of the break ensured Scotstown of a thrilling 2-7 to 0-12 semi-final victory over Magheracloone. This game was a repeat of the 2010 'semi', which Magheracloone won. The winners had David McCague dismissed before the short whistle and Scotstown were hanging in there at the break, 1-2 to 0-5. But they would play into the wind upon the restart… A Darren Hughes '45' opened their second-half account but the Mitchells struck three-in-a-row before Corrigan halved the gap. After Magheracloone talisman Tommy Freeman pointed a goal chance, Carey (free) replied before Kieran Hughes' goal put the Blues two in front. After their opponents once more drew level, substitute Stephen Sherry won the day with two unforgettable late points. The win left Scotstown an hour away from glory but, in the end, it wasn't to be.
The senior league campaign also came up marginally short as Scotstown finished fifth, missing out on a semi-final place. Tweet

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