Magheracloone make historic breakthrough

Sunday 19th Sept 2004 - ACC Bank Senior Football Championship Final

Magheracloone 1-10 v Scotstown 0-5

Magheracloone made the historic breakthrough for their first ever senior football championship title when they defeated Scotstown in Clones on Sunday 19th September.

In doing so Magheracloone became the 15th club in the county to win the senior championship, only 13 of which are still in existence and ironically they are the first team to make the breakthrough for a first title since Scotstown achieved a similar success back in 1960.

The parish of Magheracloone has a strong and proud tradition in the GAA in Monaghan but the ultimate honour has always eluded them. They were defeated in a replay of the final just two years ago and lost out narrowly in the semi-final last year making for bitter disappointment for everyone concerned but all of that disappointment was washed away in a wave of euphoric celebration as the black and white colours engulfed St. Tiarnach’s Park at the end of a match that Magheracloone really should have had wrapped up completely much earlier.

Scotstown can have few complaints as they did not dominate the game at any stage although had they capitalised on a few late chances that came their way it could have been a closer finish. Magheracloone have broken the duck in the Monaghan senior championship that has been dominated by the big four, Ballybay, Castleblayney, Clontibret and Scotstown who have shared all the titles between them, the bulk going to Castleblayney and Scotstown, since Inniskeen last won the championship back in 1948.

Magheracloone have not only made history for themselves but they have opened up a whole new chapter in the senior championship in Monaghan and have given an example to other clubs that hard work, application and dedication allied to discipline can read rewards.

This was not a contest for the faint hearted, Magheracloone determined not to have to endure that gut wrenching disappointment that they experienced two years ago and Scotstown equally determined that this team was going to restore the old order and put Scotstown back at the top of the footballing map in Monaghan. On the day though they had few answers to a Magheracloone side that was well drilled and well coached and who controlled play for most of the match.

The early stages gave the indication that this could be a close enough contest with the sides exchanging points twice in the opening ten minutes but that was as close as it was to be for Scotstown for the remainder of the match. Magheracloone were never headed in this encounter with the crucial score coming 17 minutes into the first half when Paudie Finnegan waltzed past Scotstown keeper Philip Maguire for the only goal of the match after he had been well placed for the crucial score by the imperious Damien Freeman.

Finnegan's goal was effectively the turning point and while Scotstown pulled back a point shortly afterwards Magheracloone struck for a brace from Fintan Kindlon and Tom Freeman to help them to a five points half time lead, Magheracloone 1-6, Scotstown 0-4. In the second half Magheracloone turned to playing with the advantage of the strong wind and picking up where they had left off at the break they extended their lead to seven points eight minutes into the second-half with points by Paudie Finnegan and Damien Freeman.

Scotstown’s chances were not helped by a number of wides at this stage, one in particular when Brian McGinnity looked to have a good chance of a goal but blasted wide before Magheracloone picked up the pace again for a brace from Tom Freeman, the second definitely the score of the match to give them a nine points lead at that stage.

Scotstown did eventually get on the score sheet in the second-half when substitute Damian F. McKenna was on target with Magheracloone riding their luck a little that in the closing eight minutes of normal time as Scotstown saw another chance of a goal go amiss as the ball dribbled wide of Shane Duffy's right-hand post.

The final minutes were played out in something of a surreal atmosphere with Magheracloone players, mentors and supporters poised in near silence to invade St. Tiarnach’s Park and applaud the players who have now found a very special placed for themselves in the folklore of the parish.

For one man it was also a special occasion as Francie Jones became the first Magheracloone player ever to raise aloft the trophy for the senior football championship and in doing so he also completed a unique collection of medals as he is now the holder of championship medals at Junior, intermediate and senior level.

Magheracloone now await the outcome of the Cavan senior football championship to see who they will be playing in the Ulster club championship in November but for the moment it was just the thoughts of celebrating their historic breakthrough and those celebrations look set to go on for a little time yet. Paudie Finnegan picked up the man of the match award but it could easily have gone to any one of five or six Magheracloone players.

TEAMS AND SCORERS:
MAGHERACLOONE: Shane Duffy, Donal Kindlon, Padraig Kelly, Michael Jones, John McMahon, James Ward, Bernard Freeman, Francis Doogan, Francie Jones, Keith Gilsenan (0-1), Paul Jones, Thomas Freeman (0-5), Paudie Finnegan (1-2), Damien Freeman (0-1), Fintan Kindlon (0-1). Subs: Gerard Finnegan for F Jones, Gerard McCaul for J McMahon, Kieran McCaul for K Gilsenan, Mark Gilsenan for P Kelly. Temp. Sub: Gerard Finnegan for P Finnegan.

SCOTSTOWN: Philip Maguire, Padraig Keenan, Seamus Mullan, Gerard Corrigan, Donal Morgan, Damien McKenna, Ryan Daly, David McCague, Keith McGonnell (0-1), Colm McElwain (0-2), Brian McGinnity, Nicholas Corrigan, Shane McCarville (0-1), Declan McCarville, Mark Duffy. Subs: Damien F McKenna for D McKenna, John Kerley for S McCarville. Temp Sub: Paraic McCrudden for G Corrigan.

REFEREE: Brendan Walsh (Ballybay).