Survival is out of our hands, but we’ll keep pushing - Malin boss Gallagher

Malin gave themselves a glimmer of hope in avoiding relegation from Division 1 with two late goals against Glenfin on Sunday and boss Paul Gallagher has been pleased with what he’s seen from his side in recent weeks.

Sitting on five points with one game to go, they are level with Buncrana who have two games in hand, while Kilcar are on seven points and boast the head-to-head advantage over the Connolly Park men.

The scenario of all three times finishing on seven points and Malin having the best points difference would see them finish in the play-off spot, although it is a highly unlikely scenario.

But regardless of that, speaking after the win over Glenfin, Gallagher feels it will be a boost for the side.

“It was a much-needed win and it’ll do wonders for the boys. We had two scores out of eleven attempts in the first half and the half-time team talk was to just keep doing what we were doing because we were getting away our shots but we just weren’t settling on the ball.

“It’s a relief, whatever happens, happens because we have one game left and it’s out of our own hands at this stage but just to get that win and know what we’re doing is working.”

It’s a first season in charge for Gallagher as he replaced Michael Byrne in the off-season and he has had challenges to deal with.

Conor O’Neill, Daniel Houghton and Conor McGeoghegan are in Australia; John Gerard McLaughlin, Terence Doherty, Matthew Byrne and Stephen Fildara have retired.

The influential Benny McLaughlin is out for the year with an ACL injury, while they were missing Gary Farren, Damien Harkin, Darragh Douglas and Mac McLaughlin at the weekend.

And while it may be too much of a stretch now to avoid the drop with their final game against St Michael’s this weekend, Gallagher has been happy with the Division 1 experience his side has got.

“We had four starters away so we had a few boys step up from reserves and I can’t fault them.

“We played Buncrana last week and it was a draw but I think we have turned a corner. We had a lot of boys missing with injuries during the year, but I’m hoping we have turned a corner.

“From the championship team from last year to what we’ll have this year, about a third of the boys have emigrated or left.

“But then we’re lucky that the likes of Damien Harkin and Paul Fildara came back this year and everyone is contributing to the win.

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“It has been a challenge, I’ve been with the minors and under-21s the last six or seven years, and it is a big step up, but I knew most of the fellas so it wasn’t that difficult to step in, but it is a huge commitment of time.

“They’re being exposed to Division 1 football and week in, week out, and that is massive for them, testing themselves against some of the best in the county, and it can only be a positive.

“No matter what happens, if we get relegated, at least we know they’re pushing forward and getting better and keep building on it.

“It (survival) might be gone from us, but all we can keep doing is going out and putting in a performance.”