Christy McLaughlin the hero as Malin edge Gaeil Fhánada in dramatic finish

Team captains Shaun Kerr and Christopher McLaughlin along with referee Anthony McCallig and his officials | Iconic

placeholder image — Team captains Shaun Kerr and Christopher McLaughlin along with referee Anthony McCallig and his officials | Iconic

Last-gasp two-pointer seals Intermediate semi-final place after Fanad looked to have snatched victory in injury time

Gaeil Fhánada 0-15

Malin booked their place in the Intermediate semi-final thanks to a last-gasp two-pointer from Christy McLaughlin, moments after Michael Sweeney had looked to have won it for Fanad when he pointed from near the far sideline.

But after Seamie Friel was judged to have taken too long over a sideline, a Fanad player touched the ball on the ground just outside the arc. And Christy Fildara, like so many times before, saved Malin’s skin and broke Fanad hearts.

Seamie Friel and James Kerr got Fanad off the mark, but this was cancelled out twice by Sean O’Neill scores in the opening exchanges. Both of O’Neill’s points came from driving runs through the centre. Seamie Friel had a chance of a goal, but good work from Ciaran Doherty shepherded him away from goal and he had to settle for a free.

Fanad then rallied. Shaun Carr fisted over after a Darren McElwaine shot dropped into the square. James Kerr continued his good start with a point under advantage, while Benny McLaughlin settled the Malin nerves after a driving run from Christy, leaving the score 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of Fanad.

Malin then hit four unanswered scores, two from Darragh Douglas, along with Sean O’Neill from midfield and a Conor O’Neill two-pointer, putting Malin in control coming towards the interval.

Two late scores from Mark McAteer and Darren McElwaine brought Fanad back into it and they trailed by 0-7 to 0-8 at the break.

Paddy Carr strolled through the Malin rearguard and pointed from the far side before Malin goalkeeper Zach Conlon was adjudged to have taken too long with a kick-out, allowing Seamie Friel to score. Conor O’Neill and a Josh Conlon free cancelled out the early Fanad work before an excellent two-point free off the ground was converted by Darren McElwaine.

Benny McLaughlin and Paddy Carr exchanged scores before Malin landed the knockout punch. Christy McLaughlin broke through the defensive line and found space in front of him, unleashing a rocket of a strike into the bottom corner for a 1-11 to 0-12 lead.

From there, it was all Fanad. Malin, as they have had a tendency to do, let the game get away from them. Oisin Shiels pointed under pressure before Michael Sweeney hit the equaliser from a placed ball. Ciaran O’Kane had the chance to put the game beyond doubt, but after Christy McLaughlin hit the upright, O’Kane could only hit the keeper from six yards out.

As the clock ticked red, Michael Sweeney thought he had won it with a classy score from the right for Fanad.

Then Seamie Friel was punished for delaying too long over a sideline kick, and Conor Heraghty was punished for touching the ball on the ground.

Christy McLaughlin stepped up to drill the ball over the bar for the two-pointer to win it.

Fanad had a late attempt, but Shaun Kerr’s attempt at a leveller dropped short and Malin can look forward to seeing what Sunday’s semi-final draw brings.

As far as a man of the match is concerned, Eoin Logue, although on the losing team, kept Malin danger man Josh Conlon scoreless from play. For Malin, Daniel Houghton, in some way, dragged his team over the line when others weren’t having it their own way.

Malin will know they need to up it a gear if they have any chance of reaching another county final, but one supposes they’d rather win playing badly than lose playing well.

Gaeil Fhánada: Eoin McGonigle; Ciaran Sweeney, Odhran Shiels, Conor Heraghty; Jimmy Coyle, Eoin Logue, Oisin Shiels (0-1); Shaun Carr (0-1), Paddy Carr (0-2); Shaun Kerr, Darren McElwaine (0-2, 1tpf), Brandon McClafferty; James Kerr (0-3), Mark McAteer (0-1), Seamie Friel (0-4, 3fs). Subs: Bernard McGettigan and Michael Sweeney (0-1) for McClafferty and Coyle (46 mins), Liam McGrenaghan for McAteer (51 mins).

Malin: Zach Conlon; Ciaran Doherty, Gary Farren, Danny Green; Sean Byrne, Taylor Bonner, Mac McLaughlin; Sean O’Neill (0-3), Daniel Houghton; Christy McLaughlin (1-2, 1tpf), Josh Conlon (0-1, 1m), Oran Doherty; Benny McLaughlin (0-2), Darragh Douglas (0-2), Conor O’Neill (0-3, 1tp). Subs: Ciaran O’Kane for Bonner (45 mins), Finn Ward for Doherty (48 mins), Stephen McLaughlin for Douglas (59 mins).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)