Glen 0-13 Scotstown 0-11: Champions hold nerve to retain Ulster Club SFC title

Glen used the elements in the second half to retain the Ulster Club Football title as they edged out Scotstown 0-13 to 0-11 in Armagh.

After playing with the breeze, Scotstown led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break but it looked a far from big advantage.

And so it proved as Ethan Doherty's point put Glen 0-9 to 0-8 ahead by the 43rd minute.

Scotstown hit back as a Rory Beggan score restored their lead but Glen's four straight points proved decisive.

There was late drama in the final seconds of added time as Scotstown's Kieran Hughes fired for goal only to see his shot tipped over the bar by Glen keeper Connlan Bradley.

Referee Paul Faloon blew the final whistle immediately after the Bradley's kickout as Glen clinched a victory which sets up a rematch of last season's controversial All-Ireland decider against Kilmacud Crokes on the first weekend in January.

Glen went into the decider as marginal favourites but Scotstown were never going to prove easy opposition after a provincial campaign which had included their victory over former All-Ireland champions Kilcoo.

Scotstown start well in Armagh

The Monaghan side looked fired up early on after a Shane Carey free was followed by Ethan Doherty being dispossessed in quick succession by Conor McCarthy and Damien McArdle, as late inclusion James Hamill doubled the Scotstown advantage.

However as Glen got to the pace of the game which started in driving rain, a Conor Glass free opened their account in the eighth minute before the midfielder won another free, which Danny Tallon slotted to draw the sides level.

A point from All-Star McCarthy began Scotstown's best spell of the match as their high press forced Bradley to go long with his kickouts.

Scotstown did have an escape as Beggan brilliantly grasped a goalbound palmed effort from Conleth McGuckian before superb efforts from play from Darren Hughes and Hamill left them three ahead after 24 minutes.

However, McCarthy then gifted Glen a reply within 60 seconds by kicking away possession, with the resultant move finished off by Tallon.

Further Glen points from McGuckian and Eunan Mulholland - either side of a Shane Carey free - reduced Scotstown's lead to 0-6 to 0-5 before the Monaghan champions finished the first half on a high as Kieran Hughes swung over a beautiful score from the right sideline.

Scotstown may look back on Jack McCarron settling for a point immediately after half-time when there appeared to be a sniff of a goal chance

Scotstown may wistfully look back on the seconds following the restart as McCarron settled for a point following a barnstorming McCarthy run when a goal seemed on.

That extended their advantage to three but it soon become obvious that the swirling wind was going to leave scoring opportunities at a premium for the Monaghan men in the second period.

Within four minutes, Glen were on terms after a Tallon free was followed by wind-assisted long-range efforts from Eunan Mulholland and full-back Ryan Dougan.

Doherty's 43rd-minute point put Glen ahead for the first time only for Scotstown to respond as Darren Hughes' goal effort from a tight angle was blocked by Bradley before Shane Carey's levelling free was followed by keeper Beggan joining his side's attack in typical fashion to fire the Monaghan champions one up again with 10 minutes of normal time left.

However, Glen didn't panic as Tiarnan Flanagan got them on terms within a minute before Glass edged the champions back in front with five minutes remaining.

A McCarthy wide for Scotstown was then followed by a brilliant block by Michael Warnock to deny substitute Darragh Murray after Beggan had again joined his team's attack.

Ciaran McFall, who missed out on Glen's campaign last season, used the elements successfully once more to double the champions' advantage in the opening seconds of added time before Jody McDermott increased their lead with a fisted effort, as Beggan frantically scampered back to his own goals after having ventured upfield once more.

Scotstown had no option but to attempt to work a goal in the closing seconds but Hughes' piledriver was diverted over by Bradley as the Monaghan champions' hopes of adding to their four previous provincial titles were once again dashed following their extra-time defeats by Crossmaglen and Gaoth Dobhair in 2015 and 2018.