Scotstown and Clontibret produced the game of the championship so far.
A repeat of last year’s final saw both sides share the spoils in a high scoring and entertaining encounter in Paric Mhuire.
Fresh from their opening day win over Corduff, the O’Neills side were looking to carry momentum into this encounter. The defending champions had their first outing following a bye in round one.
It was the home side who started better, racing into a 1-5 to no score lead inside the opening seven minutes.
Mark Mc Phillips opening the scoring before back-to-back two- pointers from Jack Mc Carron and Rory Beggan made it five points to no score.
Indeed, Clontibret were down to 14 players in the early stages, Kieran Greenan shown a black card for a hand trip.
When Sean Og McElwain found the back of the net to make it 1-5 to no score it looked like a long evening ahead for the visitors.
However, as Dessie Mone mentioned after the final whistle, Clontibret knew they hand to chip away at the scoreboard.
Conor McManus who finished with 1-10 began the revival, picking off back-to-back frees.
McCarron with a free and a massive two-pointer from Michael McCarville saw the hosts push it back out to 1-8 to two-points.
McManus, Ryan McGuigan and Aaron Carey all fired over in response, while McCarron at the other end who finished with six points raised a white flag but McGuigan, who caused the Scotstown rear guard all sorts of difficulty cancelled that out.
McGuigan was then dragged down for a penalty which was put away by McManus making it a three-point game, 1-6 to 1-9.
The sides traded points before back-to-back scores from Sean Og McElwaine and Tommy Mallen looked like giving Scotstown a five-point half-time lead.
McManus fires Clontibret back
However, McManus was once again to the fore, knocking over a two-point free to leave three between the sides at half-time. Scotstown 1-13 Clontibret 1-10.
Prior to the break, Scotstown were also forced into a change at midfield as Gavin McPhillips came off with a shoulder injury after an accidental collision with a teammate. Kieran Hughes was introduced.
McManus began the second-half with another two-pointer, making it a one point game. McElwaine putting two between them once more before Francis Hughes knocked one over to make it the minimum.
Both sides were now throwing everything at it with big hits and massive turn overs the order of the day.
Kieran Hughes rolled back the years with an outrageous 2-pointer from the outside of the left boot! and when James Hamill added a further point to put four between the sides it looked like Scotstown had weathered the storm.
However, a Francis Hughes two-pointer along with McGuigan and the ageless McManus all registering scores the scales had tipped again. Clontibret now were one-point ahead.
McCarron and Max Maguire swung it back in Scotstown favour 1-19 to 1-18. However, Mansey duly replied at the other end with a two-pointer to make it 1-20 to 1-19.
Rory Beggan, Mattie Maguire who came in as a sub and Mark McPhillps looked like they had claimed the winning points for the hosts as deep into six minutes of additional time Scotstown were up by two-points leading 1-22 to 1-20.
Both Dessie and Charlie Mone had been introduced as second-half substitutes and it was apt that they would play their part in the final drama.
With time fast running out Clontibret went in search of the two-pointer they needed.
Clontibret go in search of an equaliser
With Scotstown cutting off the supply to McManus, the Uncle and nephew played around the fringes of the 40 metre arc looking to work the opening, before Dessie shrugged back the shoulders and fired over the two-pointer to level the game.
Cue the final whistle from referee Matin McNally, and a controlled celebration from Clontibret who are unbeaten in their two games with a win and a draw. Whereas, Scotstown will know they let two-points slip but are off the mark with one.
Based on the quality of the game and the performance of both sides, you wouldn’t bet on these two going toe to toe once again deep in the championship.
Elsewhere, Corduff scored a big win over Trugah.
