'We know there’s still more in us' - Karl Lacey delighted with Kilcoo performance

The Down men seized control to qualify for a fourth provincial decider in six years, totally dominant after the floodgates opened, forcing the Monaghan champions to abandon the game plan and desperately chase what proved to be a lost cause.

Two Miceal Rooney strikes and goals from Christopher Rooney and Ceilum Doherty, along with Shane Carey’s own goal, presented Karl Lacey’s side with the perfect opportunity to play this game on their own terms, and the system did the rest.

Manager Lacey felt Scotstown’s positive approach provided his side with opportunities to find openings through which to craft penetrating attacks.

“We probably exploited the space fairly well. Scotstown were brave, went man to man, and it was open, so we found the gaps at the right time and got the right men in the right positions and took those opportunities,” he said.

“Kilcoo have plenty of pace in the team. On days you get to use that, other days you don’t.

“We got to play the type of football that Kilcoo like to play when they’re at their best.

“We’re delighted that we got a bit of a performance, but we know there’s still more in us.” 

It was Scotstown who came out on top by a single point when the sides met at the same stage last season, but Lacey insisted that revenge was not a factor.

“It’s not that there was motivation in terms of Scotstown having one over us from last year, the motivation was from the performance, in terms of how we let the thing slip last year.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice last year and didn’t reach the potential that we could.

“This year our focus has always been on ourselves in trying to get those things right.

“We’re working hard on them, it’s not always perfect, but there’s a real honesty of effort there within the group, everybody is together in it and we’re all going in the one direction, which is the key.” 

With a mix of pace, power, vision and immaculate decision-making, they stretched a Scotstown side that had no answer to the men from the Mournes, who attacked from all angles and depths.

They were able to dictate the pace of the game on their own terms with the comfort provided by the goal rush that took the wind out of their opponents’ sails.

Operating with pace and style, defending with discipline nd transitioning fast and efficiently, they comfortably contained the Monaghan champions, who were forced to abandon the game plan long before the finish and chase the game with desperation.

Kilcoo absorbed a strong early press with minimal damage, countering to ease into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead through Anthony Morgan, Ryan Johnston and goalkeeper Niall Kane.

But a rash of wides allowed the Farney men to come back level through Conor McCarthy, and at 0-5 apiece approaching half-time, there was no sign of the explosive goal burst that was to follow.

Goalkeeper Rory Beggan forced into brilliant saves, the second of which went in off Shane Carey for an own goal.

A minute later, Christopher Rooney grabbed a second after Aaron Morgan’s shot for a point had come back off a post, handing the Mourne title-holders a 2-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

Scotstown had the wind in their backs after the break, but it was Kilcoo who struck again, Miceal Rooney and Ceilum Doherty both smashing home goals as they opened out a 13 points gap.

Now they were free to settle comfortably in to a tried and tested system, keeping the Farney champions very much at arms length, adding scores through Christopher Rooney and Aaron Morgan.

With goalkeeper Beggan pressing forward in a full 15-man press, desperation had set in for Scotstown long before the finish.

They did claim a string of points through Beggan, Jack McCarron, Mark McPhillips and Ross McKenna, but left themselves open at the back for Miceal Rooney to plunder his second goal on 58 minutes.

Scorers for Kilcoo: M Rooney 2-0, C Rooney 1-1, C Doherty 1-0, S Carey 1-0 (o.g.), J Johnston 0-3 (1f), R Johnston 0-2, S Johnston, Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan, N Kane (’45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Scotstown: J McCarron (1f), R Beggan (2f), J Hamill, D Murray 0-2 each, S Carey (f), M McCarville, C McCarthy, M McPhillips, R McKenna, E Caulfield 0-1 each.

KILCOO: N Kane; N Branagan, R McEvoy, C Rogers; M Rooney, D Branagan, E Branagan; Aaron Morgan, R Johnston; C Rooney, Anthony Morgan, S Johnston, C Doherty, J Johnston, J Devlin.

Subs: C Laverty for Rooney (41), N Rodgers for Devlin (54), M Hynes for R Johnston (62) 

SCOTSTOWN: R Beggan; D Murray, D McArdle, J McKevitt; J Hamill, R O’Toole, C McCarthy; M McCarville, G McPhillips; J Carey, S Carey, K Hughes; F Maguire, D Hughes, J McCarron.

Subs: M Maguire for F Maguire (33), N Sherlock for J Casey (35), R McKenna for Hamill (42), M McPhillips for G McPhillips (45), E Caulfield for McDevitt (54) 

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).