Kilcoo and Scotstown meet in Ulster club final
Kilcoo and Scotstown meet in the Ulster championship for the third-straight year
- Published
After seven (and a half) games, nine contenders have been whittled down to two in the race for the 2025 Ulster Club Senior Football Championship.
Kilcoo and Scotstown will renew their recent rivalry having met in the previous two seasons with the record standing at one win apiece, but this time they will battle for the province's big prize.
In addition to the Seamus McFerran Cup, the prize for victory on Sunday will be a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals in early January.
Here is all you need to know about the Ulster Club final.
When and where is the Ulster final?
The final takes place on Saturday at 18:15 GMT at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
Who will the winners play?
The winners of Saturday's game will face Connacht champions St Brigid's in the All-Ireland semi-final which is scheduled for the weekend of 3-4 January.
The Roscommon champions beat Galway's Moycullen by two points on 30 November.
What the weather outlook?
An unplayable pitch forced the initial semi-final between Scotstown and Newbridge in Omagh to be abandoned at half-time
A very important factor considering what has happened already in this year's competition. The outlook isn't looking spectacular for Saturday with rain forecast, but it ought to be mild.
Considering we've already had one game abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch in this year's championship, we can only hope that rain is not severe.
How did Kilcoo get here?
Shealan Johnston finds the net in Kilcoo's semi-final win over Erne Gaels
Kilcoo's last provincial title came in 2021 before they went all the way to All-Ireland glory in early 2022. Last year, they were edged out in the final by Tyrone's Errigal Ciaran.
They have been the dominant force in Down for 13 of the past 14 years and, yet again, manoeuvred their way through challenges in the Mourne county.
There was a semi-final scare against Clonduff in the semi-final, but a late two-point free drifted wide as they survived, while they stepped it up a gear in the final against Carryduff to make it seven in a row.
In Ulster, Martin Corey's side got the better of newcomers Loughmacrory at the quarter-final stage, while they put four goals past Erne Gaels in the semi-final as a strong second half showing saw them through to the final.
They have been building steadily throughout the campaign and will seek to produce the goods this week for a third Ulster title.
What about Scotstown?
Scotstown emerged from their semi-final with Newbridge on penalties
The Monaghan champions are without an Ulster title since 1989, but have appeared in three finals since, as they fell just short in 2015, 2018 and 2023, when Glen claimed the honours on their way to the All-Ireland title.
For the third year in a row, they collected their county title with an extra-time win over Inniskeen in Clones before setting their sights on the provincial series.
They were back at St Tiernach's Park for their quarter-final against Donegal's Naomh Conaill as two first-half goals from Darragh Murray proved decisive.
Newbridge lay in wait in the semi-final, but the initial game in Omagh was abandoned at half-time due to an unplayable pitch with Scotstown 1-4 to 0-3 ahead.
They relocated to Armagh seven days later for what turned into a game of the season contender as Scotstown were reeled in at the end of normal time and then again in extra-time with the game going to penalties.
David McCague's men held their nerve, wining 4-2 with Rory Beggan converting and saving, while Darren Hughes tucked away the decisive kick.
Have they met before?
Monaghan legend Rory Beggan is a key player for Scotstown, and scored the decisive point between the sides in 2023
As mentioned above, the recent record between the teams stands at one win apiece.
In the 2023 quarter-final, Scotstown emerged one-point winners as Rory Beggan slotted over a last-gasp free, but the Magpies gained revenge at the semi-final stage a year later as they hit the net five times in an 11-point win.
Who should I look out for?
Kilcoo's Miceal Rooney and Scotstown's Tommy Mallen have been impressive in 2025
Paul Devlin has been a mainstay of Kilcoo's run of success and the veteran forward continues to produce the goods.
He hit 1-1 in the semi-final win over Erne Gaels, but the Down champions have a wealth of talent in their ranks with the Johnstons and Branagans major figures.
Ceilim Doherty carries a goalscoring threat, while Miceal Rooney's raiding breaks from wing-back are a key feature for the Magpies.
For Scotstown, Rory Beggan continues to be a crucial figure. Although he wears the number one jersey, his ability to get forward and kick scores from frees or play is as impressive as his ability to command the goalmouth.
Darren and Kieran Hughes are renowned leaders, but there are a host of emerging stars including Tommy Mallen who has impressed throughout the year.