All-Ireland glory is sweet music to scotstown ears
December 08, 2006
All of Scotstown was in celebratory mode on Saturday February 18 2006 when the club scooped a coveted All-Ireland Scor na nOg title for an outstanding display in the Instrumental Group section. This is the north county club's first-ever Scor success at junior level and their first at any grade since the senior Instrumental Group victory of 1996. As the only Ulster representatives to glean gold at the '06 national finals in Athlone, Scotstown's five gallant musicians deserve nothing but the highest praise.
In the immortal words of Francis Albert Sinatra, Scotstown's all-conquering Scor na nOg Instrumental Group quintet did it their way. Persisting with the strategy of opening their set with a slow air was a brave move. This seemed to many to be an ill-advised move but it worked a treat all year, so the vision and astuteness of tutor Michael Rooney as well as the performers and the club's entire Scor organisational committee must be acknowledged.
Without further ado, let us pay tribute to the five individuals who performed so excellently as a combination to bring glory to their club, parish, county and province. Representing Scotstown, the 2006 winners of the Scor na nOg Instrumental Group section were: Edel McCague (flute), Niamh McMahon (harp), Donal McCague (fiddle), Damhnait McKenna (fiddle) and Claire Daly (piano-accordion).
As Ulster champions, Damhnait, Claire, Niamh, Edel and Donal went into the national finals brimming with confidence yet respectful of the opposition. They had conviction in their own ability but knew it would be folly to under-estimate the groups from Meath, Mayo and traditional music stronghold Clare. Naturally, the Banner County was tipped for glory - but Scotstown gave such a scintillating performance on the big stage that the outcome was inevitable long before the results were announced. This was no cliff-hanger: Innovative, revolutionary Scotstown won comfortably. And, as Scor is a GAA-organised event, this is hailed by the county's gaels as a landmark breakthrough.
The 'campaign' began in earnest with victory in the county finals in late 2005 and Scotstown went on to win the Ulster crown before taking their place in the last four at Athlone Institute of Technology on the third Saturday of February 2006. Up against the best in the land, the Monaghan instrumentalists had to give a stellar display to have any chance - and they certainly didn't disappoint.
Some 3,000 Irish culture enthusiasts (thirty of them from Scotstown, including club chairman Michael Owen McMahon) packed the John Count McCormack Concert Hall to capacity for a spectacular night of entertainment. All four clubs did themselves proud. Breaking with the expected traditional norm at such events, Scotstown's five young musicians boldly launched their set with a slow air. This is an unorthodox move but a stunning rendition of 'Whistle in the Wind' left the assembled mass mesmerised and the rapturous response to Scotstown's exhibition of musical prowess ensured that the gold medals were virtually in the bag.
The clubs up against Scotstown in the final were Clann na Gael (Meath), Na Mistealai from Castlebar (Mayo) and Ruan (Clare) - no doubting the pedigree of that lot! Regular All-Ireland music winners, the Ruan club from Clare, with the input of the gifted Shannon family, was regarded as the group to beat, but Scotstown would have to fight off strong competition for all three corners.
The Meath and Leinster champions took to the stage first and delivered a performance worthy of any occasion. Next up were Scotstown. Rather than letting it intimidate them, the Ulster champions seemed to draw inspiration from the brilliance of their opponents. Scotstown also had a trick up their sleeves: deviating from the norm of almost 40 years, they eschewed the tried-and-trusted jig-reel formula and dished up a slow air followed by a reel instead.
It was a gamble that paid off handsomely, however. The slow air was never going to move the audience or judges literally (i.e. as it lacked obvious boisterousness); but 'Whistle in the Wind' worked on another level entirely as it whipped the assembled crown into a spiritual rapture. Spell-binding stuff. Instrumental Scor had been redefined and one could feel a sense of history in the hall. Scotstown had come up with an alternative approach to the Instrumental Group discipline and it clearly worked a treat.
Hammering home their advantage, the four girls and one boy followed up with an exceptionally-executed rendition of a Liz Carroll Reel and left the stage to cries of 'Encore'. Those lucky enough to attend had been brought on a roller-coaster ride of high emotion by a magical musical delivery and Scotstown's outstanding contribution simply had to court reward in the shape of All-Ireland acclaim.
The groups from the western seaboard gave of their all but their formulaic approach had already been blown out of the water. Just as they had done in the Ulster final, courageous Scotstown had prevailed with their inventive, high-risk strategy - not to mention a note-perfect performance that bristled with confidence, timing, restraint, control and an immaculate sense of timing.
The win was equally well-timed, bringing Scotstown's All-Ireland Scor haul to an impressive four and providing the club with a massive boost ahead of the 2006 football season.
Victory represents a magnificent achievement not just for the five members of the instrumental group but also their families and friends who supported them as well as meticulous tutor Michael Rooney and Edel Connolly, Michael's parents Mackey and Pauline Rooney (who, as co-ordinators, have been inspirational driving forces behind Scor in the club for 25 years) and the entire social committee in the club - Evelyn Boylan, Matt McCrudden, Austin Corrigan, Michael Caulfield, and Niall McKenna - who contributed greatly by organising a rapturous reception and party for the team's homecoming.
Hardly surprising, the newly-crowned All-Ireland champions were accorded a hero's welcome when they returned home gloriously to the clubhouse. And, exactly a week after winning the All-Ireland, the group made an emotional appearance as part of the line-up at mentor Michael Rooney's latest CD release in St Mary's Hall.
Building a prosperous future
Not so long ago, Scotstown had to play second fiddle at underage level on a consistent basis. Not anymore though. Kevin Carney reports.
Scotstown's sleeves-rolled-up policy at underage level would do justice to the best of Irish labour spawned by the you know who tiger.
In a bid to cement a prosperous future at senior level, Scotstown's finest have long since agreed their plans, got their angles and budgets right.
Important groundwork has been pile-driven and stability will be the way of things in the parish of Tydavnet for many moons to come, one suspects.
In 2006 the blues' entrepreneurship at under 16 and minor levels saw a handsome profit being reaped.
"I had worked with these lads before, along with Sean McCague, and I knew the kind of football that was in them.
"They're a bunch of fellas that have improved as footballers every year. I could see at least a half-a-dozen of them making the county minor squad in a couple of years."
In tandem with Cormac Morgan, Austin Corrigan, Macartan and Eugene McKenna, our man McPhillips has to take a lot of the credit for engineering such a winning formula during the past year.
He delights in singing their praises.
As tough as whalebone up the middle, as keen as mustard up front and glue-like at the back. Oh, and when you hit one, you hit them all.
Bagging the top prize is seldom easy though and Scotstown did have to get their finger(s) out on several occasions en route to the pantheon of champions.
The semi-final, for instance, left the whiff of sulphur still wafting its way around Slieve Beagh for days after Scotstown and Donaghmoyne had exhausted their ammunition at the behest of the sherrif in black.
In a duel that would have graced Dodge City, the Fontenoys came out with all guns blazing in the first half and by half-time the undertaker was heading for his measuring tape as Scotstown trailed by 0-5 to 1-6.
"We had beaten them by a couple of points at home earlier on in the year but we knew that they'd be gunning for revenge," Declan says.
"There was no way we were going to take them for granted and it was just as well that we put in a great second half. Having Aaron McCarey available for the second half was a great boost and when we got a goal with about 15 minutes to go to put us two up, I had a feeling we'd take it on from there.
"Our second goal got rid of any doubt there might have been about who was going to make it into the final."
Scotstown duly took their place in the decider.
To no one's surprise, the gunslingers from Monaghan Harps pulled into town also. Scotstown were a confident bunch though.
A lot of effort and energy had been expended from the start of February when training kicked-off 'till the advent of the final in September.
As each week passed, the mantra of 'long and fast' was hammered home by the management team in Scotstown.
"We wanted to move the ball on fast," Declan explains.
"It was all about quick hands, quick feet and using your head.
"The commitment was 100% and the lads did everything that was asked of them," Declan adds.
Accordingly the team's two-man full-forward line of Orin Heaphey and Aaron McCarey were invariably spoilt rotten by their team-mates.
But the pair repaid the compliment ten fold. Amazingly, Heaphey, McCarey and Co. didn't enjoy ideal preparations for the arduous '06 campaigns.
The lack of competition in '05 meant that the team management had to improvise.
The five wise men of McPhillips, Corrigan, Morgan, McKenna and McKenna took their charges to Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Louth throughout '05 for challenge matches.
The policy fairly worked the oracle.
Not that the squad hadn't garnered quite a pedigree. In 2004 they had given more than a glimpse of their potential when representing Monaghan at the All-Ireland Feile competition in Tyrone.
Did not seven of the Class of 2006 sport All-Ireland medals from the Community Games at under 15 level?
One wonders though, what the local turf accountants were saying in the run-up to the under 16 final?
"The Harps would have been favourites," Declan avers.
"They would have been bigger than our lads, physically stronger. They were more experienced - six of our team were under 14 and, don't forget, we had lost by a fair bit in the championship semi-final."
But character is a great thing in a team. It can transform a David into a Goliath, catapulting the underdog flying past the finishing post in pole position.
Scotstown's under 16 brigade had it in spades in 2006. Approaching the final against the county town side, Declan reveals that Scotstown's think-tank worked on the blues' self-belief and instilled into them that they were every bit as good as the Harps, despite the setback in the championship.
"The championship wasn't their fault," Declan says succinctly.
No doubt there was an inquest or two in the Harps' camp after the mid-September final as to who's fault it was that Paul Sherlock bagged a brace of goals inside the opening ten minutes.
To the eternal credit of the losers-elect, they came roaring back, scoring five points in the final quarter and leaving only three points in it at the death.
The writing was on the wall though for the Harps when they trailed by 0-3 to 2-3 at the interval.
"Our goals gave us a hell of a cushion," Declan enthuses, "but it was just as well Ciaran Hughes saved a ball for us on the line at the very end or we could have been in trouble.
"In fairness though we were full value for our three points winning margin.
At the same time, I was glad there wasn't any more injury time to play!"
(Hard) hats off then to the following players who reaped the ultimate dividend on September 24th last in the Under 16 league final;
Sean Gilheaney; Mark Corrigan, Gerard McKenna, Ciaran Beggan; Damien McArdle, Conor Caulfield, Darren McKenna; Gavin Turley, Conor Murray; Paul Sherlock (2-1), Peter O'Hara, Aaron McCarey (0-3); Michael McPhillips (0-2), Ciaran Hughes (0-1), Orin Heaphey. Subs; Donal McCague, Paddy McPhillips, Gareth Treanor, Mark Treanor, Shane Meehan, Pauric Clerkin, Paudie Sheehan, Cian Mohan, Shane Murphy, Shane Carey, Adrian Carbin.
Things got even better for Scotstown's underage troupe later on in the year when the club's minor side triumphed in the league.
There were teething problems initially, minor team-manager Dermot Maguire admits.
Defeats to Monaghan Harps and Castleblayney prompted a re-think by Dermot and his selectors Michael Caulfield and Gerard Caulfield.
"We changed things around a bit," Dermot says," and got a couple of good results after that and confidence among the lads improved."
By the end of August, the blues had cemented their place in the league semi-final.
A clash with 'Blayney ensued. At the end of an enthralling meeting which saw the lead being swapped on four separate occasions, the sides finished all-square.
Scotstown trailed by 0-4 to 0-5 at half-time and when they conceded a goal just after the restart, the would-be champions looked to be threading deep water.
However Scotstown dug in and showed a lot of guts and no little ability to whittle their deficit down to a single point with less than 20 minutes left to play.
Entering the final quarter, the Fermanagh-border side eased their way into a two point lead, thanks, in part, to a goal from William Carroll.
The fat was back in the fire though just a few minutes later when 'Blayney goaled.
True to form though, Scotstown played 'till the final whistle in determined fashion and a Mark McDevitt converted a free to earn his side a replay on the back of a 1-9 to 2-6.
"We were relieved to get the draw against 'Blayney in the first game but we deserved another chance," Dermot opines.
"We went into that game with a couple of injuries but we had those lads back and won the replay in Scotstown. I think the fact that we knocked them out of the quarter finals of the championship by 13 points just before the replay give us a psychological edge because that left us still on for the double."
Scotstown led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval in the replay but goals from Mark McDevitt and Daniel McNally set the blues up for an eight points win, 2-14 to 0-12.
Adding to the burgeoning feel-good factor in the club thereafter was 0-13 to 1-5 win over Cremartin in the championship semi-final.
Nothing more than the squad deserved, Dermot avers.
"The lads were fully committed all year and there was never any hassle with them.
"We never had to go looking for them and they were always willing to learn and they all got on well together."
Dermot says the Scotstown backroom team always reckoned that 'Blayney and the Harps would be the teams to beat if they were to win the league.
And sure enough, having beaten 'Blayney in the semi-final, the county town side stood between them and the league title.
Played at the end of October in Aghabog, the minor final saw Scotstown romp to a convincing 1-12 to 0-11 win.
In a tentative opening, it took Scotstown 11 minutes to open their account through a free by Mark McDevitt.
The winners-elect got a real leg-up in the 29th minute though when a long delivery from Emmet Caulfield ended up in the Harps net, just three minutes after the Harps had a player dismissed.
Young McDevitt's major helped Scotstown lead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the interval and points from William Carroll and Daniel McNally extended their lead soon after the restart.
The Harps (who had already pipped Scotstown in the minor championship decider at Clones) later fought back to gain parity but Scotstown finished with a flourish with three unanswered points from William Carroll, Niall McKenna and Carroll again to seal the issue.
The following Scotstown players did duty in the minor league final; Mark Daly; Fergal McPhillips, Emmet Caulfield, Ciaran Hughes; Niall Sherry, James Turley, Fintan Treanor; Shane Maguire, Gavin Turley; Barry McMeel, James Connolly-Hughes, William Carroll; Daniel McNally, Mark McDevitt, Paul Grant. Sub used; Niall McKenna.
So what lies ahead for these lads?
"Nine of the side have already played for the club's senior reserves and I can see them stepping up to the first time in the next couple of years," team boss McPhillips declares.
"But we're hopeful of doing well again next year because there's only four of them overage for 2007.
"They're big and strong enough to add a lot to the seniors and having proved they can compete against the best in the county, they shouldn't have any fears about making an impact at senior level."
Watch this space!
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