Pace and teamwork can put Newbridge into final

Newbridge v Scotstown (Monaghan) at Healy Park, Omagh, 3.30pm Sunday

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

IN terms of the Ulster club championship this young Newbridge team are novices compared to Scotstown who have contested seven finals, winning three in 1978,1979 and 1980.
Newbridge, who celebrated their centenary last Saturday, have contested just one final, back in 1970, when they lost to Bryansford of Down in a low scoring decider at Casement Park by 0-6 to 0-3.
Scotstown have won the Monaghan title ten times since 2013 but have failed to get out of Ulster, having been beaten in three finals, once by Derry champions Glen.
Past exploits count for nothing on the day, however, when youth will take on experience in what looks to be an intriguing contest.
The ‘Bridge have had the extra game being drawn in the preliminary quarter final against Dunloy where they had a tougher than expected outing before a late surge took them to a 1-14 to 0-11 victory.
Game number two was against first time Armagh champions Madden and again Newbridge finished with a flourish to win by 0-18 to 0-12.
Scotstown got off to a great start in their game against Naomh Conaill of Donegal and by half time had an 11 point lead.
The Donegal champions were much better in the second half but still lost by 2-16 to 0-16.
This Scotstown team has a host of present and past Monaghan county players.
They also have one of the greatest goalkeepers in the game - Rory Beggan - who has a fantastic kick out and also is deadly from long range frees.
Kieran and Darren Hughes both in the upper thirties, Shane Carey, Jack McCarron, Ryan O’Toole, Gavin McPhillips are others who have played for the Farney county.
Contrast that with the tight knit Newbridge who have just two senior county players in Paudie McGrogan and Conor Doherty.
But they had six players in the Derry under 20 squad earlier this year plus three All Ireland minor medal winners.
The tight Omagh pitch will probably suit the Monaghan team more.
They tend to let the ball do the work and they caught out Naomh Conaill by kicking the ball long at every opportunity.
In contrast, the Derry champions play a neat brand of inter-passing football.
They also have a wide range of scorers in every game.
They had eight who found the target against Madden!
Newbridge have a good management team in Gary Hetherington and Kevin Brady.
They have a very calm approach to games and will have their plans well laid.
For a group of players who had little underage success this is remarkable progression for the Sean O’Leary’s club.
If they can keep the game tight until the final quarter they can finish the stronger team as they have in most games this year.
To say they are a tight knit unit would be a bit of an understatement.
Only goalkeeper Nathan Rocks and forward corner forward Patrick McMullan do not have a brother on the team.
There are six McGrogan brothers and cousins, three Doherty brothers, two McAteer brothers and two Young brothers - plus Nathan Rocks and Patrick McMullan.
They can bring good players off the bench like All Ireland minor winner Cathair McBride plus the experienced Dessie McColgan, Killian Burke and Odhran McGlone.
Winning brings confidence and the confidence is high in Newbridge at present.