Murray goals power Scotstown to Naomh Conaill win

Scotstown's Darragh Murray is challenged by Finnbarr Roarty

Two first half goals from Darragh Murray proved decisive as Scotstown moved into the semi-finals of the Ulster Club SFC with a 2-16 to 0-16 win over Naomh Conaill at a sun-kissed Clones.

Murray's strikes came when the Monaghan men enjoyed a major purple patch in this quarter-final as although they lost Ryan O'Toole to a red card late in the game, they saw out the win despite a spirited fightback from the Donegal champions.

The gap was 12 on a few occasions with one of those entering the final quarter as Max Maguire top-scored with seven points, with Scotstown's platform for victory well established despite the best efforts of Shea Malone.

Although Max Campbell kicked the Glenties men into an early lead, the Monaghan champions soon roared into the game as after a couple of wides, they were on the board in emphatic fashion 10 minutes in as Darragh Murray would hit the first of his two first-half goals.

Eoghan McGettigan responded with a Naomh Conaill point, but it would the Donegal side's last score for 12 minutes, by which time Scotstown had built a commanding lead.

After points from Tommy Mallen and Jack McCarron, Murray was in for his second major as Kieran Hughes followed with a two-pointer and further scores through Francis Maguire and Shane Carey had the Farney outfit 2-6 to 0-2 ahead by the 21st minute.

John O'Malley ended Naomh Conaill's barren spell with a two-pointer, but Max Maguire responded in kind with another pair of scores from McCarron pushing the gap out to 12.

Naomh Conaill did get a little closer by the break with points from Brendan McDyer and Odhran Doherty, but Scotstown held a healthy 2-10 to 0-6 lead.

Tommy Mallen gets away from Kevin McGettigan

Doherty pulled another back shortly after the restart, but Scotstown's enjoyed an excellent patch with five points including a two-pointer - his burst coming either side of a two-pointer from Naomh Conaill's Shea Malone.

With the gap at 12 once again, it was a long way back for Glenties but they made a decent go of it with Keelan McCall and Odhran Doherty landing with a score from Scotstown's Nicholas Sherlock with 12 to play proving his side's last of the game with O'Toole dismissed.

Malone would hit two-pointers either side of Eoghan McGettigan's second point of the day to get their side back to within six, but time was against them as Scotstown advanced into a meeting with either Madden or Newbridge.

Scotstown: R Beggan; R O'Toole, F Maguire (0-1), D Murray (1-0); D Connolly, D McArdle, K Hughes (0-2, 1x2p); M McCarville, G McPhillips; Max Maguire (0-7, 2x2p), S Carey (0-1), Mattie Maguire; T Mallen (0-1), D Hughes, J McCarron (0-3).

Subs: N Sherlock for F Maguire (36), J Hamill for Max Maguire (52), S Treanor for T Mallen (52), J Carey for Mattie Maguire (59).

Naomh Conaill: S McGrath; U Doherty, AJ Gallagher, K McGettigan; E O'Donnell, E McGettigan (0-2), F Roarty; K Gallagher, M Campbell (0-1); B McDyer (0-1), O Doherty (0-3), J O'Malley (0-2, 1x2p); S Malone (0-6, 3x2p), C McGuinness, L McLoone.

Subs: A Thompson for AJ Gallagher (HT), J MacCeallbhui for B McDyer (39), K McCall (0-1) for L McLoone (39), D Molloy for J O'Malley (51).

Referee: P Faloon (Down)