SCOTSTOWN and Clontibret will contest the Greenfield Foods Monaghan SFC final after coming through yesterday’s double-header in Clones, each with two points to spare.
Despite the similar winning margins, the teams got through in contrasting styles, as Scotstown played most of their win over Inniskeen on their own terms, while Clontibret had to come from behind to deny Ballybay.
David McCague welcomed both Darren and Kieran Hughes back to the Scotstown starting team, with the latter proving particularly influential in a roving role as the holders built up a 0-7 to 0-3 half-time lead, helped by four points from Jack McCarron.
Scores from Dónal Meegan and Ciarán McNulty got Inniskeen off to a better start in the second half as they attempted to reverse last year’s county final defeat, but Rory Beggan landed a brace of trademark frees as Scotstown regained control, with their defence in miserly form.
Conor McCarthy, Damien McArdle and Mícheál McCarville moved the 2023 Ulster Club finalists four clear just short of the hour mark and while Andrew Woods clipped over a couple of late scores, Inniskeen fell short at the semi-final for the fourth time in five years.
Having won 11 consecutive Monaghan SFC games since losing to Inniskeen in the first round of last year’s group stage, Scotstown will be in the decider for a 12th year in a row.
Clontibret are back in their first county final since their 2019 title after they kicked the last four points of the game to see off Ballybay.
Christopher McGuinness converted a penalty early on for Ryan Mellon’s Ballybay side, who led for long stages, but faded in the end, a week after needing extra-time to see off Latton in their quarter-final derby.
Drew Wylie came on as a sub for 2022 champions Ballybay, who were without the injured Dessie Ward and lost Shane McGuinness early on, while Conor McManus returned after two months on the sidelines to lead nine scorers for Clontibret with 0-6 to his name.
