The good times roll for Malin in Division 1 with eight-point victory at Cloughaneely

Malin took another big scalp with an eight point win over Cloughaneely at Páirc Naomh Fionnán.

Cloughaneely 2-7 Malin 3-12

Conor O’Neill, Josh Conlon and Paul O’Neill scored the goals for the runaway winners to make it four wins and two draws in seven games. Michael Byrne’s side who were promoted from Division Two last season have only lost once this season so far. That was away to Killybegs on the opening day of the season.

And they were good value for the final winning margin in Falcarragh as they played a refreshing brand of fast open football with a good mix of the short and the long game. On the day they won all the key battles Shaun Kelly, Terence Doherty, Paul and Shaun O’Neill, Josh Conlon and Chrstopher McLaughlin their standout players.

They set their stall out from the off and full-forward Terence Doherty set the tone when he side stepped his marker to register the game’s opening point, inside a minute of the opening half. Playing a refreshing fast open football with a good mix of the short and long game and with Doherty and Shaun Kelly buzzing up front, they raced into an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

By the time Shaun McClafferty’s point gave the locals some to shout about when he converted a 45 metre free on 21 minutes. Doherty had clipped over his third point and Malin’s fifth.

To underline Malin’s early dominance McClaffery’s strike was only Cloughaneely’s second shot at the Malin posts in over 20 minutes of football. Sean Curran from another 45 metre free 14 minutes into the game that dropped short was the locals only other strike at the Malin posts. But a couple of stoppages for injuries seem to take the momentum away from Malin.

John Fitzgerald pulled a point back for the locals and when Cillian Gallagher was fouled for a penalty and Fitzgerald converted from the spot, with under five minutes to go in the half, the sides were level - Cloughaneely 1-2 Malin 0-5 - was the score with all Malin’s early flurry undone.

And when Fitzgerald stroked over point number three for the locals they looked set to head to the dressing room in front by a point. But deep in injury Conor O’Neill rounded his marker out on the left wing and then cheekily chipped Shaun McClafferty for a super goal and a 1-5 to 1-3 half-time lead for Malin.

The second half was only three minutes old when Josh Conlon got on the end of a sweeping move for goal number two and the Malin advantage out to five points. Fitzgerald responded with a point and with Cloughaneely struggling with the pace and movement of Malin, their writing was on the wall for the locals by the end of the third quarter.

Malin now led 3-7 to 1-4. Sean O’Neill, after another sweeping Malin move, struck goal number three for the Inishowen men and Michael Byrne’s men extended their lead out to 3-9 to 1-4 before Ciaran Coll scored Cloughaneely’s second point of the half.

With the game long over as a contest Darren McGeever scored a late goal for Cloughaneely and Fitzgerald landed a couple of late points to give the final score a slightly better look to it. Malin are sitting in fourth place, on 10 points in the Division One league table and only behind second placed Naomh Conaill and third placed Gaoth Dobhair, on score difference.

Cloughaneely scorers: John Fizgerald 1-5, 1-0 pen, 2f, Darren McGeever 1-0, Ciaran Coll 0-1, Shaun McClafferty 0-1,1f.
Malin scorers: Sean O’Neill and Ciaran O’Neill 1-2, Josh Conlon 1-1, Terence Doherty 0-3, Christopher McLaughlin 0-2, Shaun Kelly and Finn Ward 0-1 each.

Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty; Dan Ferry, Kieran Scanlon, Cian McFadden; Cormac Coyle, Michael Fitzgerald, Darren McGeever; Conor Coyle, Sean Curran, Cian Coll; Darren Ferry, John Fitzgerald, Padraig Coyle. Subs: Cian Gallagher for S Curran (16); Ethan Friel for C McGeever (39), Paul Friel for K Scanlon (50), Micheal McHugh for P Coyle (57).
Malin: Daniel Mularkey; Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Sean Byrne; Taylor Bonner, Conor Farren, Paul McLaughlin; Daniel Houighton, Sean O’Neill; Josh Conlon, Matthew Byrne, Chris McLaughlin; Conor O’Neill, Terence Doherty, Shaun Kelly. Subs: Darragh Douglas for T Doherty (45), Michael Walsh for P McLaughlin (55), Finn Ward for s Kelly (58), Ryan McGeoghegan for J Conlon (59).
Referee: Robbie 0’Donnell (Naomh Muire).