Malin one step from Intermediate championship glory after gripping semi-final win

Malin are back in their second Intermediate Championship final in three seasons after a breath-taking three-point win over Naomh Muire on Saturday evening.

Paul Gallagher’s side struck three goals – two from Paul McLaughlin and one from Seamus Houghton – and they needed every one of them to see off a determined Naomh Muire comeback. Inspired by Eoin Martin and veteran Harry Harden, the Gaeltacht men came from seven points down at half-time to within a single point late on.

But Malin had the answer. Subs Stephen McLaughlin and Finn Ward combined brilliantly to set up Paul Fildara, who showed composure to pick his spot and blast past Lee Boyle and half the Naomh Muire defence on the goal line. Darragh Douglas added a point to push Malin’s lead out to five in the first minute of injury time.

Still Naomh Muire refused to yield. Eoin Martin landed a two-pointer to cut the gap to three and they had a penalty appeal in injury time when Paddy McCafferty went down in the square. Referee Anthony Finn waved play on, and Malin held firm to book their final spot.

Naomh Muire will rue a couple of near misses – points from Joey Gillespie and Martin that sailed inches over when goals seemed on – and while they racked up five two-pointers, goals are still Gaelic football’s richest currency and Malin’s knack of turning opportunities into three-pointers saw them seal their passage to the final.

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With the breeze at their backs, Malin raced into an early four-point lead. Oisín McGonagle opened with a two-pointer before Sean Byrne and Ciaran Doherty added singles inside the opening minutes.

Naomh Muire captain Eoin Martin responded from a free, but his side were struggling to secure kickouts and Douglas soon restored Malin’s cushion with a fine point from the left.

Gradually, Naomh Muire began to settle. Three scores in succession from Martin, Cathal Fee and Jack O’Donnell left just one between the teams by the quarter-hour.

Then Malin hit a purple patch. Douglas notched a two-pointer before McLaughlin’s speculative effort from distance dropped in over keeper Declan Ward for the first goal. Moments later, McLaughlin added a close range point to stretch the lead to seven.

Naomh Muire replied with two Joey Gillespie points, and came close to a goal when Fee’s effort skimmed over the bar. Gillespie himself had another chance moments later but hesitated and allowed keeper Daniel Mullarkey to tip the ball out for a 45.

Martin kept his side in touch with a free, but Naomh Muire’s hopes of reaching half-time within touching distance were dashed when Malin struck again. A turnover in defence was punished when Paul McLaughlin sent a pass for Sean O’Neill to run onto in the right corner pocket. Seamus Houghton wasn’t picked up as he broke towards goal and, rather than take on his man, O’Neill cleverly squared a pass to the full forward who thumped the ball low to the net at the back post.

O’Neill added a point before the break to leave Malin in command, 2-9 to 0-8.

Naomh Muire's Paddy McClafferty gets away from Seamus Houghton

Paul McLaughlin stretched Malin’s lead with the first score of the second half, but Danny Devlin replied for Naomh Muire. Harry Harden was sprung from the bench and made an instant impact with a two-point free from the sideline, followed by another from play, narrowing the gap to three.

Substitute Finn Ward showed his pace to sprint away from Fintan Doherty and clip over for Malin from the endline, before Martin was sent through one-on-one with Mullarkey. His shot was cleanly stuck and seemed set for the top corner only to whistle over the bar when Naomh Muire badly needed a goal.

As the final quarter approached, Malin captain Christopher McLaughlin came to the fore with high catches, driving runs and a point of his own. But Naomh Muire, with the wind at their backs, kept coming - Fintan Doherty pointed and Martin added a two-point free.

O’Neill steadied Malin with two points, yet Martin’s 58th-minute two-pointer left just a single point in it.

As they’ve done throughout their unbeaten campaign, Malin produced the big play when it mattered most.

Stephen McLaughlin, making his first championship appearance of the season, won possession at top of the right, slipped away from a couple of defender and fisted a pass to Finn Ward who spotted Paul McLaughlin was unmarked and quickly passed across the square to him.

McLaughlin had work to do, but kept his head, shuffled his feet and, with the keeper and four players between him and goal, somehow picked his spot and finished to the net as the clock reached 60 minutes.

Douglas added a point, but Martin’s late two-pointer gave Naomh Muire hope, and McCafferty’s penalty appeal in injury time sparked fury on the line.

The full time whistle followed moments later leaving Naomh Muire with the bitter taste of consecutive semi-finals defeats this year and last.

But there was nothing but joy for Malin at their return to final and the opportunity to become the first squad from the club to win the Cathal McLaughlin Cup.

Stephen McLaughlin made a telling contribution on his first championship appearance of the season.

Malin scorers: Paul McLaughlin 2-2; Darragh Douglas 0-4 (one 2pt); Seamus Houghton 1-0; Sean O’Neill 0-3; Oisín McGonagle 0-2 (2pt); Sean Byrne, Ciaran Doherty, Finn Ward, Christopher McLaughlin 0-1 each.

Naomh Muire scorers: Eoin Martin 0-10 (two 2pt, one 2pt free, 1f); Harry Harden 0-4 (one 2pt, one 2pt free); Joey Gillespie 0-2; Cathal Fee 0-2; Jack O’Donnell 0-1; Danny Devlin 0-1; Fintan Doherty 0-1.

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey; Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Daniel Green; Sean Byrne, Oisín McGonagle, Mac McLaughlin; Taylor Bonner, Ciaran O'Kane; Sean O'Neill, Josh Conlon, Darragh Douglas; Paul McLaughlin, Seamus Houghton, Christopher McLaughlin. Subs: John Gerard McLaughlin for S Byrne (19); Finn Ward for D Green (42); Stephen McLaughlin for S Houghton (51).

Naomh Muire: Declan Ward; Conor Cannon, Ferdia Doherty, Patrick Rodgers; Jack O'Donnell, Paddy McCafferty, Tuathal Lunny; Patrick Gillespie, Adam O'Brien; Fintan Doherty, Shaun Burns, Daniel Devlin; Joey Gillespie, Cathal Fee, Eoin Martin. Subs: Lee Boyle for D Ward (HT); Harry Harden for P Rodgers (36); Paul Boyle for S Burns (41); Darragh White for J Gillespie (54).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).