Wasteful Carn punished as Malin claim narrow derby win in Division 2

A large crowd streamed into O’Doherty Park, Foden, on Saturday evening for the first competitive meeting between neighbours Carndonagh and Malin in more than 20 years.

Since the fixtures were released a month ago, this opening-round tie in Division 2 of the All-County League - pitting last year’s Junior A champions Carndonagh against beaten Intermediate finalists Malin - had been the talk of the town.

Playing with the wind, Carn edged a low-scoring first half and led 0-3 to 0-2 at the break, but a slew of missed chances, running into double figures, proved costly for Michael O’Donnell’s men.

Carn hit a hot streak after the change of ends, doubling their first-half tally of three inside the opening four minutes of the second half. But Malin, relegated from Division 1 last season, maintained their composure and picked off a couple of two-pointers through Sean O’Neill and Josh Conlon to tie up the game.

O’Neill’s 41st-minute goal proved decisive for Paul Gallagher’s side, putting Malin 1-8 to 0-7 ahead and giving them a cushion they maintained to the finish.

Carn battled tremendously hard, with Ryan Kelly, Cian Burke and Senan Grant all pointing to keep them in touch. However, Malin preserved their advantage, with Christy McLaughlin and Darragh Douglas (2) hitting points down the finishing straight.

There were four between the sides deep into injury time when Pádraig Doherty lobbed a ball into the Malin square that Will Quinn fisted to the net, leaving just a point between the teams. It came too late, however, as referee Anthony Finn sounded the full-time whistle at the kickout and the black-and-amber supporters celebrated loudly.

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Pádraig Doherty got Carn off the mark as early as the sixth minute, but their wayward shooting had already seen them rack up four wides by then. Carn attempted too many two-pointers while playing with the breeze, and by half-time they had scored just three points - Olan McLaughlin and Christy McDaid also on target - while missing 14 other attempts at the posts.

Olan McLaughlin also spurned a goal chance late in the half when goalkeeper Zach Conlon spilled a high catch, but the Carn forward failed to connect cleanly and his sliced effort bobbled wide.

At the other end, Josh Conlon tapped over a 20-metre free after Carn breached the three-defenders-back rule, while Christy McLaughlin fired over in the 28th minute to leave it 0-3 to 0-2. Carn closed the half with two wides in succession and, typical of their luck, their final effort struck the upright.

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Five points was a poor return from the opening 30 minutes, but the contest sprang to life after the break with Carn starting superbly.

Excellent work from Pádraig Doherty saw him strip a Malin defender and open the second-half scoring, with Michael Noone adding another soon after. Malin looked rattled, and when they had a breach of their own, Christy McDaid converted a free from close range to make it 0-6 to 0-2.

Malin settled, however, beginning to win their own kickouts, and two two-pointers - the first from Sean O’Neill under advantage and the second a free from the 45-metre line by Josh Conlon - restored parity by the 38th minute.

Malin’s superior conditioning began to tell, with Ciaran Doherty and his fellow defenders turning over Carn attackers who persisted in carrying the ball into contact, while the home defence struggled to contain the powerful running of Darragh Douglas and Christy McLaughlin.

The introduction of Ryan Kelly added presence around midfield for Carn, and he set up Michael Noone for his second point of the half.

But Malin’s key players were beginning to assert control. Josh Conlon pointed from the right after Douglas claimed a kickout, and Sean O’Neill added another before striking for goal.

After a two-point attempt from Conlon came back off the post, O’Neill reacted quickest, collecting the rebound, sidestepping the goalkeeper and finishing to the net from a tight angle.

That pushed Malin 1-8 to 0-7 ahead, and they controlled proceedings thereafter.

Ryan Kelly replied with a point for Carn after a goal attempt from substitute Brendan McLaughlin was blocked.

Christy Fildara then produced a superb 53rd-minute score, cleverly halting on the halfway line to avoid causing a breach, turning his marker and sprinting clear before splitting the posts to restore Malin’s four-point lead.

Cian Burke responded with a fine point off the outside of his boot, and Senan Grant followed up with another to reduce the deficit to two.

With it being the first game of the season, fatigue began to show, but two powerful, incisive runs from Darragh Douglas yielded crucial points to restore Malin’s four-point cushion as the game entered injury time.

Carn pushed hard for a goal, but Malin defended resolutely. The hosts did find the net with the final play when Quinn fisted home a floated Pádraig Doherty free, but it proved too little, too late.

Malin, then, are up and running in Division 2, while Carn are left to rue a host of missed opportunities.

Carn scorers: Will Quinn 1-0; Padraig Doherty 0-2; Christy McDaid 0-2 (1f); Michael Noone 0-2; Ryan Kelly 0-1; Cian Burke 0-1; Senan Grant 0-1; Olan McLaughlin 0-1

Malin scorers:

Sean O’Neill 1-3 (one 2pt); Josh Conlon 0-4 (one 2ptf, 1f); Christy McLaughlin 0-2; Darragh Douglas 0-2

Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; John O’Callaghan, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; Senan Grant, James Monagle, Darragh Browne; Sean O’Carroll, Will Quinn; Cian Burke, Pádraig Doherty, Michael Noone; Olan McLaughlin, Odhran O’Donnell, Christy McDaid. Subs: Ryan Kelly for E Kelly (38 mins); Brendan McLaughlin for C McDaid (45 mins); Josh Diver for D Browne (47 mins); Conor McLaughlin for J Monagle (60+2 mins).

Malin: Zach Conlon; Adam McGonagle, Ciaran Doherty, Daniel Green; Sean Byrne, Taylor Bonner, Mac McLaughlin; Sonny Bonner, Sean O’Neill; Ben Curley, Josh Conlon, Darragh Douglas; Matthew Mullarkey, Christy McLaughlin, Jamie McDevitt.  Subs: Euan McFeely for B Curley (49 mins); Gary Farren for M McLaughlin (51 mins); Ryan McGeoghegan for S O’Neill (54 mins); Ryan Doherty for J Conlon (57 mins)

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille)