Malin produce a late scoring burst to win in Downings 

Malin struck late as they came from behind to see off Downings by two points in this Division 1 clash at a windswept Pairc Na Dunaibh on Saturday evening.  

Christopher McLaughlin landed two closing overs and Darragh Douglas posted one as the Inishowen men jumped from 0-4 to 0-5 five down in the closing five minutes to claim the precious league points.

It was Michael Byrne’s second win following last weekend’s opening round victory over Bundoran in Connolly Park.

McLaughlin, who led the Malin charge from the first whistle, scored four points over the hour with wing forward Douglas and full-back Ciaran Doherty raised the other white flag, 

In what was the proverbial game of two half due to the remnants of Storm Kathleen that blew in off the Atlantic.

The locals played with the elements in their backs and led 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time with Johnny McGroddy scoring four of the points and Shane Boyce the other. 

Douglas posted the Malin score on one of the few occasions they got forward in the opening half.

But the boot was on the other foot after half-time  and it was Downings who struggled to get their kickouts away.

Conor O’Neill did ten minutes in the sin bin either side of half-time for a black card offence late in the first half. Downings' Fiachra McClafferty also picked up a black card in the second half.

McLaughlin opened the second half with two pointed frees in the opening 12 minutes but the eventual winners were slow to make any further inroads into the Downings lead. 

But with Oisin Boyce, Ben McNutt, Paidín McGinty and Shane Coll rising to the challenge the locals, who did not raise a flag in the second period, still led by point as the clock ticked towards the hour mark.

McLaughlin tied up the game on 59 minutes and kicked the lead point seconds later before Douglas capped a good personal performance to seal a two-point winning margin for his team.  

Downings scorers: Johnny McGroddy 0-4,3f; Ciaran Boyce 0-1.

Malin scorers: Christopher McLaughlin 0-4,3f; Darragh Douglas and Ciaran Doherty 0-1 each. 

Downings; Aodh McBride; Paidín Shiels, Ben McNutt, Padraig McGinty; Shane Coll,Oisin Boyce, Fallon McBride Buckley; Ronan Pasoma,Shane Boyce; Fiachra McClafferty, Johnny McGroddy, Kyle McFadden; Keelan McGroddy, Ethan Cullen, Conor Boyce.

Subs; Cian McBride for E Cullen (45), Dylan McGlone for F McClafferty (53).

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey; Matt McLaughlin, Ciaran Doherty, Michael Walsh; Sean Byrne, Adam McGonagle, Paul McLaughlin; Christopher McLaughlin, Sean O’Neill; Darragh Douglas, Conor O’Neill, Cian O’Kane; Terence McLaughlin, Josh Conlon, Charlie Byrne.

Sub: Conor Farren for C  O’Kane (63)

Referee; Enda McFeeley (St Mary’s, Convoy).