Ulster Club SFC semi-final: Scotstown 0-17 Trillick 1-13 (aet)
THE tiny difference between ‘nothing’ and ‘not much’ separated these sides, as Scotstown squeaked through after extra time against Trillick following a tremendous tussle.
The winning manager, David McCague, graciously said that the Tyrone champs could easily have prevailed – and they almost did at the end of normal time, but for a splendid leveller from new Allstar Conor McCarthy.
- Scotstown and Trillick display football's alternative beauty
- Ryan Gray: Tough Tyrone Championship means Trillick fear no-one
Frees from Jack McCarron and Shane Carey then gave the Monaghan men some breathing space late in extra time and they held on to win what developed into a thriller by the narrowest of margins.
“Let’s be honest here – there was absolutely nothing between the two teams” insisted McCague. “I mean Trillick could be standing here right now in an Ulster Final as well as we could.
“I’ve a lot of sympathy and empathy for them. They poured themselves into the game, as we did, and it just happened to break our way into the end. That’s probably the little bit of luck you need to get through semi-finals.
“We’re grateful for it, but Trillick played their part in an absolutely phenomenal game. They’re a great club with great values and great people – I’m disappointed actually for them but delighted for us.”
Trillick boss Jody Gormley succinctly summarised what we’d witnessed, saying: “There’s not much between the two teams. Today Scotstown came out on top and that’s just about it.”
Understandably, he might have preferred to comment little more, but although he accepted defeat with dignity, he did have more to say, arguing with some decisions which went against his side.
With Scotstown on 16 points, the Reds on 1-12, Trillick chased a kick-pass into the far corner and seemed to keep it in – but the linesman called it out.
“The ball wasn’t out. From where I was standing on the line, the ball wasn’t out. But that’s sport…everybody makes mistakes…Some days you come out on the right side of those decisions and some days you don’t.
“So, fair play to Scotstown, they were marginally the better team and we wish them all the best in the final.
“When it comes down to this stage in the Ulster Championship it comes down to moments in the game and I felt a few moments just didn’t go for us. They got a 14-yard free kick on one of our free kicks, which was a big call at that stage, there was a line ball…small margins.
“Not to take away, Scotstown are a very good team, and we wish them all the best in the final.”
The victors must now attempt to dethrone the holders, Derry kingpins Glen, of whom McCague said: “Glen, we’d call them serial winners. They have left the template for other clubs to try and match that winning habit. We’ve a lot of work, planning and preparation to do.”
However, he’s confident that his side won’t fail through any lack of effort, hailing them for hauling themselves back on several occasions, including when Sean O’Donnell netted the game’s only goal to put Trillick ahead for the first time in first half added time.
Scotstown responded to everything Trillick threw at them and McCague concluded: “There can be no doubt about our team’s character. It’s just another piece in the evidence bank that they’re mighty men, and their commitment to our club, and the success of our club, is beyond question.
“Some of the words we used at half-time were ‘faith’ and ‘trust’. We’ve an awful lot of faith and trust in our players that they could make good decisions, execute the skills well enough, execute the game-plan well enough to get us over the line. That did happen – but just about.”
