Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin move top of Division Two after big win in Malin

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin moved to the top of Division 2 on Saturday night on the back of this eight point win over Malin.
Trailing by 0-6 to 1-0 at half time, Peter Murphy's team found their groove in the second half, with Andy McCarron hitting the net on either side of the break, and substitute Shaun Curran also raising a green flag.
That's three wins on the bounce for Muff, who have emerged from their mini-Inishowen league within Division 2 with victories over Burt, Buncrana and Malin. There's a lot of football to be played in Division 2, but the Naomh Pádraig men can already start looking up towards the promotion places rather than worrying about the relegation trap door.

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Defences were on top in a low-scoring first half at Connolly Park.
Sean O'Neill opened the scoring for Malin after a quick one-two free with Christopher McLaughlin. Josh Conlan followed that up soon after, with quick hands from Darragh Douglas setting him on his way. Conlan scored a two point free for a breach soon after.
There was a ten minute wait for the next score but Josh Conlan again was the man, taking a quick tap and go and slotting over from the right. Good defending from Malin seen them force a number of overcarries and they profited from one up the left, Darragh Douglas putting them into a six point lead.
Naomh Pádraig had struggled, but got a lifeline late in the half when, after a long advantage, Andrew McCarron's shot for a point held up in the breeze and looped over keeper Zach Conlon and into the net.
A couple of goal chances at either end, for Jonathan Toye and Christopher McLaughlin, were spurned late on and Malin led by 0-6 to 1-0 at the break.

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Christopher McLaughlin tapped over a free after Sean O'Neill was brought down to start the second half well for Malin but things very quickly changed.
Toye replied with a two pointer from outside the 45 and Cillian Doyle then beat his man up the left and slotted over.
Andy McCarron got his second goal soon after, and there was nothing fortuitous this time he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net and suddenly Naomh Padraig led by two. Malin replied with Taylor Bonner but Muff had all the momentum and hit their third goal on 45 minutes when substitute Shaun Curran got the ball across from Toye and he coolly dispatched into the top left corner giving the keeper no chance. Toye added a free to stretch it out to five right after.
Christopher McLaughlin showed great determination to reply with a fine point, but Doyle punished a poor kick out with another point to restore their five point advantage.
Ciaran Doherty kept Malin in fight with a two pointer, but Muff's Darragh McIntyre tagged on another point after being picked out by Jamie McCauley.
McCauley all but finished the game as a contest with a two pointer, coming right after a Malin punt into the square saw the ball land in the net only to be ruled out for square ball.
Brendan McLaughlin replied with a point, but two McCauley points and a Toye free rounded out an impressive win for the visitors.

Malin scorers: Josh Conlan (0-4, one 2ptf), Christopher McLaughlin (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Doherty (0-2, one 2pt), Sean O'Neill (0-1), Darragh Douglas (0-1), Taylor Bonner (0-1), Brendan McLaughlin (0-1)

Naomh Padraig scorers: Andrew McCarron (2-0), Jonathan Toye (0-4, one 2pt, 2f), , Jamie McCauley (0-4, one 2pt), Shaun Curran (1-0), Cillian Doyle (0-2), Darragh McIntyre (0-1)

Malin: Zach Conlan; Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Daniel Green; Mac McLaughlin, Taylor Bonner, Adam McGonagle; Sonny Bonner, Sean O'Neill; Euan McFeely, Josh Conlan, Darragh Douglas; Matthew Mullarkey, Christopher McLaughlin. Seamus Houghton. Subs used: Ben Curley for Euan McFeely (42 mins), Brendan McLaughlin for Seamus Houghton (49 mins)

Naomh Padraig: Diarmuid McKane; Daniel McMenamin, Cormac Kelly, Caolan Harkin; Peter McLaughlin, Michael McCarron, Darragh McIntyre; Oisin Burke, Dermot Keaveney; Jonathan Toye, Conor McGuire, Oisin McIntyre; Andrew McCarron, Jamie McCauley, Cillian Doyle. Subs used: Shaun Curran for Conor McGuire (half time); Evan McColgan for Oisin Burke (47 mins)

Referee: Martin McCormick (Glenfin)