Scotstown’s long road back to the summit of Ulster football finally ended in triumph on Saturday evening, and Rory Beggan’s post-match interview captured exactly what the moment meant to a club that has lived with near-misses for almost four decades.
The Monaghan champions edged Kilcoo 0-19 to 0-16 after extra time at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, with Beggan producing a man-of-the-match performance that included 11 points from frees and 45s in very windy conditions. It secured Scotstown’s first Ulster title since 1989 and their fifth provincial crown overall, finally banishing the pain of final defeats in 2015, 2018 and 2023.
But it was Beggan’s revelation after the game that truly underlined the commitment behind the victory.
Speaking afterwards, the Scotstown netminder revealed that Shane and Jason Carey had missed their sister’s wedding to line out for the club, with Shane starting at centre-forward and producing a colossal display.
Shane and Jason have a sister getting married today, and them boys are missing out on a big celebration for their family.
But you’ve just seen what it means to them boys.
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It was a moment that perfectly summed up a Scotstown group that has endured heartbreak after heartbreak before finally getting their reward.
The game itself was a rollercoaster. Trailing by three deep into injury time, the Down champions forced extra time, only for Scotstown to find another gear when it mattered most.
Rory Beggan admitted the group had been tested to breaking point after last year’s disappointment.
It was a harsh winter after the Kilcoo game. Questions were asked of each other, questions were asked of management. But we all rowed in, and this is the reward.
The victory also carried huge personal significance for Rory Beggan, whose father Ben was part of the Scotstown side that last lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup in 1989.
Unbelievable. That’s the only word.
We can step into the bracket of those boys now.
After 36 years of waiting, sacrifice, resilience and belief finally delivered Scotstown back to the top of Ulster football, and Beggan’s words ensured nobody would forget what it took to get there.
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