Five star Malin earn five point win over Carn to finish fifth in Intermediate championship group phase

Malin advanced to the Intermediate quarter finals and earned the bragging rights over neighbours Carndonagh in an intriguing battle that the bumper crowd in Connolly Park couldn't take their eyes off.

Carn are through to the knockout rounds as well where they will undoubtedly get a lift from the return of county star Conor O’Donnell and former county minor Anthony Doherty, both of whom made their first appearance of the championship on Saturday evening.

An impeccable minute silence was held beforehand in memory of Gerard Callaghan as all Inishowen Gaels recognised one of the true great men that has tirelessly promoted the game in the peninsula, Donegal and far beyond.

It was then game on and no quarter was given in this first championship derby between the clubs in a generation.

Malin dominated possession at the start and went ahead through Josh Conlan, but Carn responded with a Cian Doherty point after a breach before Conlan edged Malin a point up again.

Brendan McLaughlin for the home side traded points, first with Cian Burke and then Cian Doherty as Malin led 0-4 to 0-3 approaching the 15 minute mark.

Malin then tried to pull away with Darragh Douglas opening his account and Josh Conlan tagging another shortly after. Carn kept in touch with Padraig Doherty raising an orange flag with a two pointer up the right. Malin put then put the shoe down in the second quarter and outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 0-2 to put some daylight between the side by halftime.

Josh Conlan scored a beauty of a point, that was as much about Christopher McLaughlin's angled ball in, as his cool finish cutting in from the far left. Malin then hit the net when Darragh Douglas two point effort dropped short and was flicked into the net by the towering Seamus Houghton. Carn responded with a tap over free from Senan O'Carroll that came after an advantage that saw Olan McLaughlin blast wide when well placed.

Conor O'Neill marked his return from Australia to the black and amber with a score after a low ball in from Christopher McLaughlin. Darragh Douglas clipped in from the left and Brendan McLaughlin made it three in a row when he curled in from the left.

Carndonagh rounded out the scoring with a Kalvin McLaughlin free after Cian Doherty went down, leaving the score at the short whistle Malin 1-10, Carndonagh 0-7.

Brendan McLaughlin raced in from the right and was happy to blast over for a point to open the second half scoring. Padraig Doherty replied with a free for the Carn men and when Olan McLaughlin scored a fine two pointer, it left only four in it approaching 40 minutes.

Christopher McLaughlin hit an inspirational two pointer beating pressure from a defender and driving over to get the home side going again and he added a free shortly after when Conor O'Neill was fouled running through. Josh Conlan then finished off a patient Malin score when after a spell of possession they injected a bit more pace to the attack with Conlan applying the finish after a great team move down the left in front of the packed stand.

The Carn men got a lifeline on 49 minutes when a long ball in was broken out to the 13 metre line and Cian Burke dispatched a volleyed effort into the net for a cracking finish to put five points between the sides and set up an exciting finale.

Cian Doherty hit a free after a foul on James Monagle shortly after, but Ciaran O'Kane replied with a point for Malin. A schemozzle broke out in front of the stand resulting in long discussions between referee Anthony Finn and his two linesmen Martin McKinley and Aidan McAleer. Finn, in his usual calm way showed he is one of the top referees in the county, using common sense to settle the two minute dispute with two yellows and two black cards and, more importantly no reds being brandished which was probably fair with no real blows landed.

Sean Byrne worked well up the right and hand passed over to extend Malin’s lead out to six. Cian Burke tapped over a free after Anthony Doherty was fouled but Malin, who were never behind in the contest, ran out deserving winners on a scoreline of Malin 1-17 Carndonagh 1-10.

The quarter finals will see Malin face Fanad Gaels and Carndonagh take on Buncrana.

Malin scorers: Josh Conlan (0-5), Brendan McLaughlin (0-4), Christopher McLaughlin (0-3, one 2pt, 1f), Seamus Houghton (1-0), Darragh Douglas (0-2), Ciaran O'Kane (0-1), Conor O'Neill (0-1) and Sean Byrne (0-1).

Carndonagh scorers: Cian Burke (1-1), Cian Doherty (0-4, 3f), Padraig Doherty (0-3, one 2pt, 1f) Olan McLaughlin (0-2, one 2pt), Sean O'Carroll (0-1, 1f), Kalvin McLaughlin (0-1, 1f).

Malin: Zach Conlan; Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Daniel Green; Sean Byrne, Taylor Bonner, Mac McLaughlin; Daniel Houghton, Sean O'Neill; Christopher McLaughlin, Josh Conlan, Darragh Douglas; Brendan McLaughlin, Seamus Houghton, Conor O'Neill. Subs used: Ciaran O'Kane for Seamus Houghton (49 mins), Finn Ward and Stephen McLaughlin for Sean O'Neill and Darragh Douglas (54 mins), Adam McGonagle for Taylor Bonner (60 mins)

Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; Conor McLaughlin, Danny Monagle, Darragh Browne; Senan Grant, James Monagle, Will Quinn; Sean O'Carroll, Kalvin McLaughlin; Padraig Doherty, Cian Burke, Oran McLaughlin; Cian Doherty, Odhran O'Donnell Feargal Doherty. Subs Conor O'Donnell and Michael Noone for Feargal Doherty and Conor McLaughlin (half time), Anthony Doherty for Odhran O'Donnell (50 mins)

Referee: Anthony Finn (N. Colmcille)