MAC'S KEPT THE FAITH H C

Damien: Football is like a religion here and while we've suffered our share of heartaches we remain committed to the cause

- PADDY TIERNEY

"FOOTBALL around Scotstown is like a religion." The words of Damien McArdle sums up just what is at stake ahead of tonight's Ulster Club SFC final against Kilcoo in Armagh.

This is more than a game of football. The rural villages of Scotstown and Kilcoo will converge on Ireland's ecclesiastical capital for the last provincial clash of 2025.

"It's all anybody's going to be thinking or talking about," said Scotstown skipper McArdle.

An Bhoth were Ulster winners back in 1989, while they completed a hattrick of titles from 1978 to 1980.

It is those icons that Scotstown's class of 2025 seek to emulate.

"Those boys judge us on how many Ulster clubs we have hopefully after Saturday we're fit to have something to talk back about," said McArdle.