LIVE Kilcoo vs Scotstown score updates from 2025 Ulster Club SFC final
Ulster Club Senior Football Championship final: Scotstown 0-19 Kilcoo 0-16 AET Scotstown are Ulster Club champions for the first time in 36 years after edging out Kilcoo following extra-time at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday night. The Monaghan champions needed penalties to see off Newbridge in the provincial semi-final and they were forced to dig deep once again in Armagh with Rory Beggan scoring 0-11 from placed balls in an exhibition of kicking in windy conditions. Their hopes of a fifth Ulster title and a first since 1989 suffered a major blow before throw-in when Tommy Mallen was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the Newbridge game. Additionally, Conor McCarthy wasn’t deemed fit enough to start while, in contrast, Kilcoo were able to start Aaron Branagan after the defender missed the win over Erne Gaels. The pendulum appeared to swing back in the favour of the Monaghan men when they won the toss and opted to play with the advantage of a very strong breeze as they attacked the Niall's Crescent end of the Box-It Athletic Grounds. Things seemed to be going to plan as they raced into an early four-point lead with Kilcoo struggling to get a shot away. Mattie Maguire opened the scoring after Eugene Branagan was turned over before a foul on Maguire led to Beggan’s first two-pointer. Maguire took full advantage of a slip from Aaron Branagan to kick his second point as the Monaghan men led 0-4 to no-score after 12 minutes. Kilcoo were turned over seven times in the first 17 minutes and Eugene Branagan finally got them off the mark after 26 minutes with Niall Kane also making a smart save to deny Francis Maguire. As the half drew to a close, the Magpies would have been pleased enough with a three-point deficit. However, Niall Branagan’s foul on Kieran Hughes gave Beggan another chance to add to his tally from all of 60 metres. With the breeze at his back, the kick would have been good for another 10 and Kane was unable to emulate his feat at the other end, dropping a late two-point effort short of the posts. Still, five points didn’t seem nearly enough of a lead for An Bhoth at the change of ends with Beggan also missing a late free in stoppage-time. While Kilcoo were reluctant to shoot into the teeth of the wind, Scotstown were prepared to roll the dice and were awarded as Ryan O’Toole and Kieran Hughes kicked fine scores with Beggan also converting a 45. The Monaghan ’keeper also made a great stop from Jerome Johnston with Paul Devlin missing a scorable free as everything seemed to be going against Martin Corey’s men. Scotstown surrendered a 10-point lead in the semi-final against Newbridge, eventually winning on penalties. Having led by eight, they were gradually reeled in once again by Kilcoo with Devlin kicking 0-6 from placed balls, including a brace of two-pointers. Jack Devlin’s excellent block on Max Maguire proved vital in the closing stages with Callum Rogers holding his nerve deep in injury-time after Niall Kane’s two-point free. Scotstown kicked clear again in the first period of extra-time with Beggan scoring another two-pointer and his second 45 with Conor McCarthy scoring 0-3. A brace of Devlin frees left four between the sides at half-time in extra-time and, again, the lead didn’t feel sufficient given the strength of the elements, but Scotstown weren’t to be denied. Despite a classy two-pointer from Sean Og McCusker, Kilcoo’s challenge faded in the second half of extra-time as they kicked four wides and Beggan’s eleventh point ensured the Seamus McFerran Cup was headed back to north Monaghan. Scotstown scorers: R Beggan 0-11 (4 tpfs, 2 45s, 0-1f), C McCarty 0-3 (1tp), Mattie Maguire 0-2, K Hughes 0-2, R O’Toole 0-1. Kilcoo scorers: P Devlin 0-8 (2 tpfs, 0-3fs), S Óg McCusker 0-3 (1tp), N Kane 0-2 (1tpf), C Rogers 0-1, Aaron Morgan 0-1, E Branagan 0-1.
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