Scotstown's senior teams have been conspicuous by their absence from Mick Duffy Cup presentations in recent times but, according to Brendan Lillis, one of the outgoing team-management along with Damien Stirrat and former county full back Eugene Sherry, the good times may be just around the corner. Even allowing for the fact that the dogs in the street across the length and breadth of Monaghan will be barking home a 'Blayney win in the senior championship in 2002, the chasing pack aren't without hope. Just ask Scotstown supremo Brendan Lillis. A man who clearly knows the field and is willing to bet on his beloved Blues lifting the title within the next couple of years, our man Lillis is not one for talking up the opposition although his honest appraisal of the other runners and riders is both fair and precise. Charged with bringing the good times back to Scotstown parish, the Ballinode native knows only too well what is needed for a team to make it to the top of the pile in Monaghan. For he has been there, done that in every sense. Part of the great Scotstown senior teams of the seventies and eighties - he collected three Ulster club championship medals during that halcyon period - the former senior county star is reckoned by his admirers to be one of the best in the business at getting players physically fit. However, that's an area he tends to shy away from discussing. There are other aspects of a Gaelic footballer's lot which he feels needs to be underlined instead: "There needs to be more emphasis on improving skill levels - that's at club and at county levels. Too often you find that the player has the pace, the determination and the ambition but, unfortunately, not the skills. "My personal view is that players should be taught the basic skills of Gaelic football as early as possible but not in conjunction with playing in matches. "Competitive matches for juveniles shouldn't come into play until the children are at least twelve years old. Skills training for young players shouldn't be sacrificed on the altar of the pursuit of various cups," the Largy college teacher opines. Curiously, the former club and county stalwart believes that the skill levels of players nowadays aren't necessarily weaker than those of his peers back in the sixties and seventies. "You have a situation now where the demands on players' fitness is unbelievable, both at club and county levels and they are being asked to perform the skills of the game at speeds which are way in excess of what players back twenty and thirty years ago had to contend with. "Players have to perform at a much faster level and I don't honestly think the Scotstown teams of the seventies and eighties would be able to live with the current footballers because of the way the pace of the game has increased so much. "The difference between the modern-day player and the player who was playing with a successful club years ago is in the way the player from yesteryear tended to mind himself a lot more when he wasn't training or playing matches. "I feel that for football in Monaghan to rise to the level that it's played in Derry and other successful counties, players in the county need to show a greater degree of commitment in terms of the type of lifestyle they lead and how it impacts on their football. "Players who want to be successful have to realise that such are the levels of fitness required to play at the highest level that football is much more than just about training. Still, Brendan is at pains to remind all and sundry that his comments on players' fitness requirements etc shouldn't be taken as implied criticism of players. Instead, he is merely commenting on the facts as they present themselves right now. And in this regard, it should be noted that Brendan has nothing but the highest praise for the current Scotstown senior pannelists. While he describes the senior team's championship campaign in 2001 as "a bit disappointing" he says that the attitude, commitment, ambition and determination demonstrated by the players was a credit to themselves and to the Scotstown club. "Our aim at the start of the year was to get into the top four of the league. During the year we did run into some injury problems with Damien F. (McKenna) and Colm McElwaine having to cry off during our championship campaign. "Overall though, I was happy that the team showed the right attitude and showed that they want to win. The players have good skill, pace and obviously youth on their side and all they're really lacking at this point in time is a bit of experience and some physical strength which, we hope, will come in time." Without the services in 2001 of the hugely experienced Ray McCarron and Gerard McGuirk, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the young Blues to upstage the likes of more seasoned campaigners like 'Blayney, Truagh, Clontibret and Magheracloone although the sense of disappointment at having lost out to Clontibret and Inniskeen in their two championship matches was very much real and alive in the parish last summer. "Back down the years, the people from the parish were used to Scotstown winning senior leagues and championship titles but over the years the team grew old and perhaps some of the older players remained on the team for longer than was good for the club. "Perhaps the young blood wasn't coming through but for whatever reason, the transition period for the club has become a very long drawn out affair. "Supporters will have to be patient for another while until the current team gathers the sort of experience and maturity that a team needs if it is going to win championship titles." Remember where you heard it first folks! Ladies Football Scotstown ladies began the year with their Annual Club Dinner Dance which was held on March 31st in the Sliabh Tourism Centre, in Knockatallon. Guests of honour at the function to mark the club's achievements during 2000 were ladies county board chairperson, Owen McNally and Uachtaran Cumann Lutchleas Gael, Sean McCague. The night itself marked the culmination of a remarkable year for the club in which they captured the inaugural Monaghan Intermediate Championship, by defeating Carrickmacross in a replayed final on a scoreline of 2-9 to 2-3, before progressing through the Ulster Club Championship with impressive home wins over Crossmaglen (Armagh), in the quarter final by 6-12 to 3-9 and a particularly magnificent semi-final victory over Glen (Derry), which saw the girls over-turn a half time deficit of 1-6 to 0-2 to emerge victorious on a final scoreline of 2-5 to 1-7 to reach the 2000 Ulster Club final. In the Ulster final, played in St Tiernach's Park, Clones on Sunday 15th October, the girls came up against the Tyrone champions, Dromore, in what proved to be a disappointing day for the club as Dromore took the Ulster title on a final scoreline of 3-10 to 2-7. Although bitterly disappointed at having lost the match, having not played to their true potential, this bunch of dedicated and very talented young ladies can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved, not alone for their club, but also for their families and their parish of Tydavnet. To round off a successfully year the club added the senior shield to their trophy cabinet and list of honours for the club. In addition to the girls receiving their county medals presentations were also made on the night to Patricia Moyna (U14 Player of the Year), Paula Moyna (U16 Player of the Year) and to Una Foy (Senior Player of the Year). As a result of this success hopes were high in the club of adding to their honours list in 2001 and so began the season with renewed vigour and hope. However, as so often is the case, determination and potential alone does not always produce success, and as a result the club found themselves frustrated by failing to fulfil their true potential and asserting themselves as a force in Monaghan football. Pride of place must go this year to the U12 team who, under the guidance of Eileen and David McCague, proved to be the club's sole representatives in a county final. Following a great semi-final win over Doohalmet the team reached the 13-a-side county final where they met Truagh in a tense and exciting game. However, after giving it everything they had they eventually lost to the Truagh girls on a final scoreline of Truagh 4-7; Scotstown 2-1. For the record the team which represented their club with such distinction was as follows: Edel McCague, Eleanor Garvey, Siobhain McCarra, Caoimhe Carragher, Jane Garvey, Colleen McCarron, Cathy McCrarren 0-1, Niamh Foley, Pamela Carey, Colleen McCrudden, Leona Treanor 2-0, Evan McCrudden, Leanne Caulfield, Michelle Cassidy, Aisling McCarey. The club's U14 team, coached by John Paul Moyna and Alan Gunn, reached the 13-a-side county semi-final following defeats to Tyholland and St. Bridget's and victories over Clones, Magheracloone and the Harps. However, in the semi-final, played at Tyholland, the girls came up against a well prepared home side who finished deserving winners to progress to the county final. The U16 team, also under the guidance of John Paul Moyna and Alan Gunn, also made it to the semi-final stage of the 15-a-side league, thanks to to a great 6-17 to 4-7 playoff victory over Clones. However, in the semi-final, played at Donaghmoyne, they lost out to a physically stronger home side by 3-7 to 2-5 following a tough and exciting encounter. The minor team, managed and coached by John Paul Moyna and Sean Mulligan, are in the 13-a-side competition which at the time of writing is still in progress. Currently the team are in a strong position to claim a place in the concluding stage of the league following wins over Aghabog and Rockcorry and a single point defeat to Clones. The club's senior team, under the management of Owen and Patrick McKenna, had a difficult year, experiencing mixed performances, sometimes brilliant, sometimes unconvincing. In the senior league the girls twice pushed All-Ireland club champions, Monaghan Harps to within a single score of victory, only to narrowly lose out on each occasion. The team also looked like upsetting both Aghabog and Magheracloone at the half way mark only to suffer heavy defeats at the final whistle. In a frustrating year the seniors only managed to record a single victory in the league, a home win against Inniskeen, to finish bottom of the league and thus loosing their senior status as a result. The senior championship failed to provide the spark needed to ignite the team's season as the girls suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of their near neighbours Monaghan Harps. The only consolation for the team in an otherwise disappointing year was a great performance at a sevens tournament in Dublin, which saw the girls produce some of their best football to win two of their three games and only losing out on reaching the knockout stages on point difference. The club has also been honoured over the past year through players from the club representing their school and county with such distinction. Patricia Moyna, Amanda Treanor and Laura McCague were part of the county U16 team which lost Tyrone in the Ulster final on Tuesday 22nd May by 3-10 to 2-9. Paula Moyna, Edel McCarville and Sinead McCarra were members of the county minor team which went down narrowly to Tyrone in the Ulster championship semi final, whilst Amanda Beggan and Lisa Morgan were on the county junior team which also bowed out of the championship at the semi-final stage to near neighbours Armagh. Martina Gray and Catherine McCarville were both on the county senior team this year which controversially lost to Tyrone in the Ulster final played at Clones. In second level school's football the club also experienced success with a number of players picking up provincial medals. Patricia Moyna, Lianne and Geraldine Connolly, Monica Foy, Bernadette Corrigan, Aisling McQuillan were all part of the Beech Hill College team which won the Ulster Junior Championship, defeating Thorn Hill (Derry) in the Ulster final on Wednesday 2nd May. Patricia Moyna, Lianne and Geraldine Connolly, Sinead Connolly, Aisling McQuillan, Bernadette Corrigan, Monica Foy and Grainne Sheridan were also part of the Beech Hill College team took the Ulster Senior Championship, overcoming Cavan in the final on Thursday 24th May by 5-20 to 4-4. Paula Moyna, Claire Morgan, Lorraine Mullarkey, Edel McCarville, Veronica Keenan, Aileen Flynn, Amanda Treanor, Elaine Beggan and Laura McCague were on the St Louis Convent team which won the Ulster senior schools' championship, defeating St Malachy's High School, Castlewellan in the Ulster final in Carrickmore by 6-11 to 1-5, with Paula Moyna notching up 1-2 of the total and Claire Morgan finishing with 0-2. Veronica Keenan, Aileen Flynn, Amanda Treanor, Elaine Beggan and Laura McCague were also on the St Louis Convent Junior team which lost out in the Ulster final to St Ciaran's of Ballygawley. In third level education competition Catherine McCarville and Emma McCague were both on the UCD senior team which captured the O'Connor cup overcoming Jordanstown and Sligo on the way to defeating Tralee in the final. Overall the club can justifiably look back on the year with satisfaction and pride in the achievements of its players, both for the club itself and also for other teams which they had the honour and distinction of representing. It is hoped that the club can continue to improve and advance in the coming years to firmly establish them as a force in Monaghan football. In order for the club to realise this ambition a great deal of work and effort will be required by a number of individuals. This work is already ongoing within the club with a number of individuals working tirelessly with the underage and senior players in the club to try and emulate the proud history of the Scotstown men's club. The club are deeply indebted to a number of individuals and organisations, without whom the club could not exist. Firstly, the club sponsors, McMahon's Spar, Peadar Mullen, and all the other community organisations and businesses which have given their support to the club. Also, the ladies club committee for the dedication and enthusiasm which they show in their work. All those responsible for providing transport to the games, namely, John Hand, Ann McArdle and Brian Rice. The club are also very grateful to the parents of the players for their ongoing support and co-operation and also our loyal supporters who have shared in all our successes and failures and provide the incentive to keep on going when things are tough. The club are especially indebted to Scotstown GFC for use of their magnificent facilities and for their unwavering support and generosity. But most importantly of all we are all extremely grateful and indebted to the players themselves for the wholehearted dedication and commitment with which they approach representing their club and for providing us with such endless entertainment and joy. The pride which they display when representing their club and the unity they show as a team is an example to all athletes. Indeed, if ever there was an advertisement to emphasise the importance of team spirit and unity, it is displayed here in the players of Scotstown. - Scotstown Ladies GFC A busy year as ever Once again it was a very busy year for the club and overall a very satisfactory one. Our young senior team still struggle to make a real impact in championship and league. After three consecutive victories in the early stages of the league there was a disconcerting slump in form as a result of an early exit from the championship. First round and back door championship defeats at the hands of Clontibret and Inniskeen respectively were followed by indifferent midleague displays so that by September relegation from senior status was a distinct possibly. An excellent victory over county finalists Truagh was followed by an equally impressive win over Emyvale under the team management of Brendan Lillis, Gene Sherry and Damian Stirrat. The Reserve Senior team or Junior B's as they are called were beaten by Magheracloone in their first round championship match. However, they have had an excellent run in the league playing 13 games and losing just one - to Clontibret. They have qualified to play Clontibret in the final on Sunday 28th. The second reserve squad - Junior C - have qualified for the championship and league finals against Blackhill and Truagh. So, all in all, there has been much to ponder and a lot to enjoy in the senior sector of the club. U21 McMahon Cup Scotstown had a reasonably good run in this league but a vital match which they lost to Clontibret 3-5 - 0-11 proved their undoing. Had they won this match team managers Fergus Caulfield, Seamus McCarville and Niall McKenna would have been preparing their charges for the final. It was not to be. The U21 panel was: Brian McCarville (Capt), Declan McCarville, Shane McCarville, Brian McGinnity, Conor Casey, Philip Maguire, Damian McKenna, Anton McKenna, Rory McKenna, Mark McKenna, Damien F McKenna, Daniel McKenna, Macartan McKenna, Pauric McCrudden, Dessie Mallon, Eddie Beggan, Ryan Daly, Francis Caulfield, Aidan Caulfield, Christopher McAleer, Pauric Keenan, John Francis Corrigan, Ciaran Milne, David McCague, Martin Bogue. Minors For the minors it could fairly be said that it was a very good year. The team management of Niall McKenna, Sean McCrudden, Ronnie McDermott and Dermot Maguire were disappointed when their hardworking squad succumbed to late Clontirbet scores in the replayed county semi final. However, they were more than chuffed with the league (Maguire Cup) campaign culminating in a one point win over Inniskeen in the final. Highlights of this match were a successful James O'Hara penalty and two injury goal line saves from Gary McKenna, son of club secretary Eugene. Spare a thought for Mark Duffy, team member and a county minor panelist who, through, a cruciate ligament injury, missed out on practically the whole season but attended every match and showed himself to be a very competent umpire. Scotstown U16s The management of this squad was in the capable hands of Sean McKenna, Gerard Caulfield, John Pat McMahon and Jim Sherry. They had a modicum of success but not enough to satisfy a management team with senior county title and medals to their names. The U16 squad was as follows; Mark Beggan, Sean Duffy, Darren McKenna, Adrian Keenan, Ciaran McKenna, Michael Corrigan, Diarmuid McCague, Donal Morgan, Matthew McCague, Jason Kerley, Conor McCague, Shane Bogue, Mark Corrigan, Patrick J McKenna, Ronan Stirrat, Dermot McCrudden, Darren Hughes, Emmett McCrudden, Donal Caulfield, Pauric Lennon, Gerard McCrudden, Damian McKenna, Paul Cassidy. U15's The Clancy Cup team had a very good campaign before eventually yielding to Blayney Faughs by two points in the semi final. The panel was Darren McKenna, Dara Stirrat, Ciaran McKenna, Emmett Caulfield, Adrian Keenan, Diarmuid McCague, Michael Corrigan, Mark Corrigan, Shane Bogue, Ciaran Garvey, Paul Cassidy, Alan Heaphey, Gerard McCrudden, Emmett McCrudden, Darren Hughes, Mark Beggan, Niall McBarra, James McCarron, Conor McCague, Paul Grant. Team management - Niall McKenna, Fergus Caulfield, Eugene McKenna put in a great effort with this team. U14s Mason Cup This very promising young team were beaten in a very exciting final by Carrickmacross. There was a serious deficit at half time but a brilliant fourth quarter almost landed the laurels, so near and yet so far. Hats off to Owen McKenna, Michael McKenna, Patrick McKenna and Seamus McElwain. U13's Kilpatrick Cup These all conquering heroes won their competition beating Blayney Faughs in a memorable match with a score of 2-9 to 0-10. Outstanding in a gallery of stars were full back Emmett Caulfield and midfielder Mark McDevitt. Team; Dara Toal, Ferghal McPhillips, Emmett Caulfield, Barry McMeel, Daniel McNally, John McAree, Declan Treanor, James Turley, Mark McDevitt, Orin Heaphey, William Carroll, Patrick McMahon, Ciaran Hughes, Paul Grant, Patrick Treanor. Subs: John Hamill, Niall Sherry, James Connolly Hughes, Niall Cunningham, Pauric McKenna, Shane Maguire Manager - Sean Carroll Mentors - Michael Boylan, Brian McGinnity U13's McArdle Cup team This young squad were pipped for a place in the semi-final when they were narrowly beaten by Drumhowan in a playoff. The panel was: - Conor Caulfield, David McCrudden, Padraig O'Neill, Caoláin Daly, Mark Daly, Richard McNally, Conor Hamill, Donal McMahon, Gerard McKenna, Ciaran Henry, James McCarville, Niall Treanor, Niall Sherry, Matthew McCrudden, Gavan Turley, Fintan Treanor, Denis Kavanagh, Ciaran McKenna, Donal McCague, Dermot Kelly, Michael John Rooney, Niall Murphy. Conlon Cup U12 This young team had a very good run in their seven games involvement. Had they not lost to Eire Og they would have reached a play off to determine one of the semi final spots. Mentors Cormac Morgan, Bennie Maguire and Philly Brady can feel well pleased with their charges. The panel was as follows - F Treanor, P Murray, N Murphy, M Connolly, D Treanor, F Smith, N Sherry, C McKenna, D McMahon, D Rooney, P Sheehan, D McCrudden, M Rooney, C Murray, J Hamill, D Lambe, C Caulfield, P McPhillips, M McPhillips, C McKenna, G McKenna, J McCarville, P O'Neill, I Wheatley, C Mohan, S Caulfield, S Gilheaney, M McCrudden, D Sweeney, S Meeahan. The County jersey By Scotstown standards it was a lean year for the club in terms of representative honours. At minor level Mark Duffy's injury blighted what would have been a very exciting season as his team mates Paraic Keenan and Paraic McCrudden were with the team which reached the Ulster final where they were beaten by eventual All Ireland winners Tyrone. Minors Niall McCarville (son of Jack the county senior team manager) and Gary McKenna (son of club secretary) were members of the great county vocational school team which won the All-Ireland. Declan McCarville, Brian McGinnity and David McCague played with the county U21s. Scór Scór is one of the clubs success stories with unbroken participation over 30 years. Gary McQuaid, Seamus Treacey and Martin Mullan were our senior quiz team who won the county and provincial titles last year and missed out by one question in the sudden death session at the All Ireland finals in Killarney. The sports complex and main playing field Because of our facilities the Scotstown grounds are much in demand. Among the high profile events hosted his year were; The Sigerson Cup final; The MBNA sponsored Bray Emmetts organised Ulster final of the Kick Fada Competition where incidentally our own clubman Gerry McCarville qualified for the All Ireland finals which were held at Bray; The Monaghan Senior Football County Final. Administration In keeping with a long tradition Scotstown club continues to serve the association as best it can. Present administrators include clubmen Sean McCague Uachtarán CLG; Paraic Duffy, Chairman GAC at Croke Park; John Heaphey, Central Council representative; John Mullan, Chairman County GAC; Sean Murphy, GAC and Secretary Fixtures Committee; Seamus McElwain, Chairman Communications Committee; Liam Stirrat, Assistant Treasurer Co Board. Referees; John Mullan, Declan Stirrat, Martin McCarville, John Paul Moyna, Alan Gunne, Seanie Mullan. - Scotstown GFC Scotstown give Truagh the Blues It was goals that counted at St. Mary's Park, Scotstown in late November as the home side bagged three majors to emerge victors over near-neighbours Gaeil Triucha in the Paddy Kierans Cup Reserve League Division Four final. The final scoreline of 3-6 to 1-9 fairly reflected the closeness of the exchanges over what was an exciting hour's football. The winners-elect laid the foundations for their win in the first half when they played by far their best football on the day. In particular, a six minute purple spell midway through the opening half did most damage to Truagh's cause. In that period, Scotstown fired in a 2-2 tally without reply to help them on their way past the winning post. In truth, apart from the Paul McCarey-inspired Scotstown attack in which Mickey McMeel was top scorer with two goals, this win was a tribute to Scotstown's competitiveness and team-work all around the field as they successfully rebuffed Truagh's best efforts in the second half. McMeel's opening major in the fifth minute - from a Barry Sherry assist - had Scotstown up and running and even though Gaeil Triucha replied with a similar score just two minutes later and later drew level with a point, the Blues regained the initiative and went ahead again with a point by Shane Mullen in the 12th minute. Then came the Scotstown mini-blitz with a Ciaran Corrigan penalty in the 17th minute and a McMeel belter a minute later catapulting Scotstown in pole position. Ahead by 3-3 to 1-3 on the restart, Scotstown set about consolidating their advantage as the second half got underway but a Mickey McMeel piledriver ricocheted off the crossbar to safety. Continuing to force the pace, Scotstown added two further points courtesy of Paul Carey's freetaking expertise. Gaeil Triucha showed great determination and ambition to fight back though and within four minutes had reduced their deficit to just two points with some five minutes left to play. Like true champions though Scotstown raised their game again and launched a series of attacks, one of which ended in Ciaran Corrigan firing over what turned out to be the insurance point for the Blues. The following is the successful Scotstown team, subs and scorers: Macartan McKenna; John Meehan, Chris McAleer, Kevin Connolly; Paul Rooney, Noel Sheridan, Daniel McKenna; Maurice Boylan, Peadar Sherry; Barry Sherry, Shane Mullen (0-1), Ciaran Corrigan (1-1); Eddie Beggan, Mickey McMeel (2-1), Paul Carey (0-3). Subs used; Hughie McElwaine, Brendan Connolly. Tweet

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