Big first half paves way for Naomh Conaill win away to Malin

In a high-scoring game, the visitors with two goals and five two pointers, in a wind assisted first half built the foundations for a comfortable away to Malin.

They made a fast start, winning the throw in and three quick passes later Eoghan McGettigan hit over off the post with mere seconds on the clock.

Paul McLaughlin equalised from the centre after Daniel Green broke up a Naomh Conaill attack and Sean O'Neill drove up the field. Josh Conlan then hit a beauty straight over the black spot from just inside the arc. Brendan McDyer then hit a two pointer from out on the left.

Josh Conlan opted for the one point free against the wind after a three up infraction to level the scores.

However it was short lived as Naomh Conaill hit back right away with Max Campbell getting their opening goal, finishing under the onrushing Zach Conlan.

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Josh Conlan responded with a point for the home side but the visitors extended the lead out to four by the midway point of the half with an Eoghan McGettigan two pointer.

Kevin McGettigan repeated the trick from out on the left soon after. Josh Conlan kept plugging away and squeezed in from a tight angle before adding another free for another three up foul.

John O'Malley palmed in the second goal for the visitors from Seamus Corcoran's ball across the square. O'Malley turned and pointed to put Naomh Conaill seven up.

Dermot Molloy hit a two point free after another three-up infraction, this time against Malin and they got their fifth two pointer of the half from big midfielder Kieran Gallagher before Molloy finished off the half scoring to leave it Malin 0-06 Naomh Conaill 2-13 at the break.

Any thoughts of a second half comeback from Malin were put to bed early as four scores stretched the lead out even further with Mark McDevitt fisting over after cutting in from the endline followed by Seamus Corcoran scoring out the left and then McGettigan and Keiran Gallagher rode big challenges before hitting back-to-back scores.

Malin did make a fist of it with the next seven scores starting with a point and a two pointer from Josh Conlan before then Ciaran Doherty drove through to add another for the home side.

The returning Christopher McLaughlin hit a two pointer down the right and brother Paul tagged on another point soon after up the left.

Kevin McGettigan interrupted Malin's run, but Christopher McLaughlin hit another two pointer.

The Glenties men kept tagging on scores as John O'Malley spun to hit back with a point. Mark McDevitt hit a third goal for Martin Regan's men when he jinked and after a good advantage was allowed he rifled into the net.

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Josh Conlan tapped over a close in free before brother Zach came up from nets to hit a two point free moved in to the edge of the arc.

Max Campbell scored after a cross-field ball found him free on the left to curl over and the energetic Kevin McGettigan withstood a heavy tackle but still managed to score shortly after.

Christopher McLaughlin hit a free at the other end after no advantage and he then hit his third two pointer of the half but Tiarnan Ward had the final say when he punched over, when it looked like a goal was on, but they had done enough to run out 11 point victors.

Naomh Conaill move up to fourth in the Division 1, with Malin remaining second from bottom.

Malin scorers: Josh Conlan (0-9, 3f, one 2pt), Christopher McLaughlin (0-7, 1f, three 2pt), Paul McLaughlin (0-2), Zach Conlan (0-2, one 2pft), Ciaran Doherty (0-1)

Naomh Conaill scorers: John O'Malley (1-2), Eoghan McGettigan (0-5, one 2pt), Mark McDevitt (1-1), Kieran Gallagher (0-3, one 2pt), Max Campbell (1-1), Kevin McGettigan (0-4, one 2pt), Brendan McDyer (0-2, one 2pt), Dermot Molloy (0-3, one 2pt), Seamus Corcoran (0-1) and Tiarnan Ward (0-1)

Malin: Zach Conlan; Daniel Green, Ciaran Doherty, Gary Farren; Mac McLaughlin, Taylor Bonner, Sean Byrne; Ciaran O'Kane, Sean O'Neill; Christopher Doherty, Darragh Douglas, Ben Curley; Paul McLaughlin, Seamus Houghton, Josh Conlan. Subs: Christopher McLaughlin and Nathan McDaid for Christopher Doherty and Ben Curley (half time), Oisin McGonagle for Seamus Houghton (48 mins)

Naomh Conaill: Stephen Molloy; Logan Quinn, Kealan McGill, Jack McGlynn; Max Campbell, Kevin McGettigan, Seamus Corcoran; Kieran Gallagher, Neil Francis Boyle; Brendan McDyer, John O'Malley, Daniel Gildea; Eoghan McGettigan, Dermot Molloy, Mark McDevitt. Subs: Tiarnan Ward For Molloy (45 mins), Shane McDevitt for Brendan McDyer (60 mins)

Referee: Martin McCormick (Glenfin)