Naomh Columba hold on despite second half onslaught from Malin

Naomh Columba came away with the points in Pairc na nGael although Malin threw everything but the kitchen sink at them in the second half 

The home side, with the breeze in the first half, got off to a good start with points from Eric Carr from a forward mark,  Shane Callaghan,  Aaron Doherty (free} and a Padraig Byrne ‘45’ by the 12th minute.

Further points from Declan McGuire (2\0  and a fisted effort from Ryan McNern followed. Brendan McLaughlin got two frees to get Malin up and running against a strong breeze.

Two more points from Shane Callaghan and Philip Doherty to one free from Brendan McLaughlin kept it interesting . Half-time: Naomh Columba 0-9, Malin 0-3.

Shane Callaghan gave the home side a good start to the second half with a point from play. But then the visitors got going through Brendan McLaughlin. Points were exchanged by Aaron Doherty and Josh Conlon before the drama began. Sean O’Neill got a point for Malin and in the resulting kickout Christopher McLaughlin won the ball and lobbed into the unguarded net on the 46 minute.

Naomh Columba responded with a Shane Callaghan point before Malin thought they had levelled the game from a fisted goal from sub Seamus Houghton but it was ruled out for a square ball.

Shane Callaghan put four between the teams with five minutes left but points from Sean O’Neill,  Christopher McLaughlin and a free from Paul McLaughlin left the minimum between the sides as the home side were glad to hear the final whistle.

Aaron Doherty and Shane Callaghan were excellent for the home side while the McLaughlins Brendan and Christopher were best for Malin.

Naomh Columba scorers: Shane Callaghan 0-5; Aaron Doherty (2f), Declan McGuire, 0-2 each; Philip Doherty, Eric Carr (mark), Padraig Byrne (‘45’), Ryan McNern 0-1 each.

Malin scorers: Christopher McLaughlin 1-1; Brendan McLaughlin 0-4,3f; Sean O’Neill 0-2; Josh Conlon, Paul McLaughlin 0-1 each.

Naomh Columba: Shane O’Gara;  Barry Carr,  Philip Doherty, Paul O’Hare;  Pauric Ward,  Eric Carr, Pauric Hegarty;  Declan McGuire, Padraig Byrne; Darragh Cunningham,  Aaron Doherty, Ryan McNern; Shane Callaghan, Christopher Byrne,  Ronan O’Hare.

Subs Lanty Molloy for B Carr,  Michael Callaghan for R O Hare,  Sean Hardy for R McNern 

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey; Taylor Bonner,  Ciaran Doherty, Sean Byrne;  Darragh Douglas,  Damien Harkin,  Stephen McLaughlin;  John Geared McLaughlin,  Daniel Houghton;  Brendan McLaughlin, Josh Conlon, Conor O Neill;  Terence Doherty,  Christopher McLaughlin, Sean O Neill.

Subs: Luke Rudden for D Douglas,  Seamus Houghton for T Doherty,  Paul McLaughlin for J Conlon,  Matthew Byrne for D Harkin,  Shaun Kelly for S Byrne 

Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh).