McCarron has 'come home' to Scotstown

It was a transfer that was not universally popular within Monaghan, but Jack McCarron's move to Scotstown has worked out well for both parties.

Leaving Junior club Currin to join the club where his father is a legend drew a lot of attention and criticism, and put the forward under the microscope.

A six-point haul in his first senior county final, Scotstown's eighth win in 11 years, was vindication enough.

Helping them to a first Ulster title since 1989 would end the argument.

The lure of lining out for the club of his grandfather and his father Ray, who was part of a legendary Scotstown team in the 1970s and 80s, proved irresistible for the current Monaghan forward.

While Currin objected, their objection went nowhere as the move was permissible under the county's by-laws, and, if they beat defending Derry and Ulster champions Glen on Sunday, McCarron will join a select group.

"Jack has been fantastic," said Scotstown assistant manager Diarmuid Scullion.

"You walk into the Scotstown club, you see the walls with photographs of his father and the player that he was in the blue and white for Scotstown, and the medals he won.

"So it's natural everyone in the club is delighted he has joined us. He has come home, in a way.

"He has been putting in consistent performances game after game, he's steady on his frees and a great player for stepping up in the big moments and demanding the ball - and we will need all of that come Sunday.

"There is a huge tradition in the Ulster Championship, there are four Ulster Championships in the roll of honour.

"We came through two really big tussles against Kilcoo and Trillick - we hope that stands to us but as good as that has been it's the reigning champions standing in our way."

While McCarron is a 'newbie', many of his new club-mates are survivors of their 2015 and 2018 Ulster final defeats.

The 2015 defeat by Crossmaglen was one thing, but the loss three years later to Gweedore - when they were three points up with five minutes to play - still rankles.

"The boys are carrying a bit of hurt from losing finals before but I'm not too sure that will have a bearing come Sunday," said Bellaghy native Scullion.

"It (fear of losing) is not something we've talked about.

"The overriding ambition is to win one, and we are now faced with the best team that we have to knock out, a team who are very unlucky not to be All-Ireland champions.

"So what way to go into a final knowing you have to perform.

"There's a real appetite and hunger to win an Ulster club. We feel it would be a reward for the efforts they have put in not just this year but over many years as senior club footballers."

Scullion is married to a Scotstown woman and been living in the community for the last seven years.

He calls former Derry player and manager Damien Cassidy "a neighbour, club mate, friend and mentor" and says he will be a useful sounding board again ahead of their tussle with the three-in-a-row Derry champions.

But Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke's knowledge of the Scotstown players, many of whom he managed during a successful seven-year spell in charge of Monaghan, is another interesting sub-plot to what should be a cracking game in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

"We do know Malachy and Ryan (Porter) had a fantastic successful time with Monaghan, but in the last number of years gaelic football has evolved, and our players have evolved," added Scullion.

"We're not the same team and not the same players so whilst he does have that historical knowledge and background, we hope the work our players have done will get us over the line, so long as we get the performance we need."