Malin overcome Cloughaneely to make winning start in Intermediate Championship

Malin 1-18

Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-13

Malin, last season's beaten Intermediate Championship finalists, made a winning start to this year's campaign with a five-point victory over Cloughaneely in Connolly Park on Sunday afternoon.

The runners-up in two of the last three Intermediate finals, Malin built a commanding lead by half-time and, even with a strong breeze behind them, were full value for their 13-point advantage at the break. They put the game to bed early in the second half with four of the first five points, three from Josh Conlon, and despite a spirited Cloughaneely fightback, it ended up a comfortable five-point win for the home side.

Malin had raced into an early three-point lead with Seamus Houghton slotting over an advanced mark after failing to gain an advantage, and they added a two-pointer from outside the 45 through Sean O'Neill. Brendan McLaughlin hooked over with his right before Sean O'Neill slotted over from the left. Brendan McLaughlin then stepped up with his better left foot, firstly a two-pointer on the edge of the arc and then an equally impressive one-point effort from way out on the left.

It was all Malin at this stage and they hit the game's opening goal when neat interplay between Stephen and Brendan McLaughlin set up Oran Doherty, who blasted into the net, giving Oran Craig no chance in the Cloughaneely goal.

The Fildara cousins again combined to send Brendan away and he slotted over as Malin were 1-8 to no score ahead on 20 minutes, with only two wides offered by the visitors in response.

Christopher McLaughlin boomed over a 45 with plenty to spare and the same player added another soon.

Malin could hardly believe their luck as they were 1-13 to no score up, with three more McLaughlin points, including a two-pointer, before the Falcarragh men got their first score of the half on 25 minutes from Patrick Doogan from the right flank.

Brendan McLaughlin replied though, again linking well with Stephen McLaughlin, with Josh Conlon heavily involved.

Cloughaneely gave themselves a flicker of hope with a well-worked goal in first-half injury time. Knowing an advantage was coming, good interplay through the hands saw Seamus Doogan tee up Ronan McGee to palm into the corner to give the half-time score a better look.

A two point effort was just about prevented by a full-stretch Euan McFeely block on the short whistle as the score at the break read Malin 1-14, Cloich Cheann Fhaola 1-1.

Josh Conlon opened his account and Malin's second-half scoring before Patrick Doogan advanced up the left and slotted over for Cloughaneely.

From the resulting kickout, Christopher McLaughlin expertly fielded the ball falling backwards and still had the presence of mind to send Owen Doherty through, who in turn fed Josh Conlon to finish off a good direct point.

Conlan, in his groove now, slotted over a routine free shortly after, won by Brendan McLaughlin. Daniel Houghton marked his return from Australia scoring from an angle with the advantage being played.

Malin won't be happy with their last quarter as they were hit for 11 points without reply, and manager Paul Gallagher will have a rod to beat them with this week in training, albeit he will be happy overall as getting the win was the name of the game.

Jack Gallagher, who had earlier just hit a two-pointer narrowly wide, hit over a one-pointer in response and the Gaeltacht side got another shortly after through Jamie McGeever from a tight angle.

The visitors then hit two quickfire two-pointers, the first from Shaun Curran, booming one off the post from out left, and then Donnachadh O'Baoill hitting from a central position. Patrick Doogan then had his goalbound shot deflected over for a point, and the value of the two-pointers for the momentum swing was plain to be seen as the visitors suddenly sprung into life.

They hit two frees soon after from O 'Baoill, but they had left themselves too much to do, and even Blake McGarvey's deep stoppage-time two-pointer wasn't enough as Malin got their championship campaign up and running with a five point win.

Malin make the short trip to Muff next Saturday for round two, for a third championship meeting between the sides in 12 months.

Cloughaneely, meanwhile, will host Carndonagh at 7pm on Saturday evening.

Malin scorers: Brendan McLaughlin (0-9, two 2pt), Oran Doherty (1-0), Sean O'Neill (0-3, one 2pt), Josh Conlon (0-3, 1f), Christopher McLaughlin (0-2, 1 45'), Daniel Houghton (0-1).

Cloich Cheann Fhaola scorers: Donnachadh O Baoill (0-4, 2f, 2 2pt), Ronan McGee (1-0), Patrick Doogan (0-3), Shaun Curran (0-2, 2pt), Blake McGarvey (0-02, 2pt), Jamie McGeever (0-1), Jack Gallagher (0-1).

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey, Mac McLaughlin, Gary Farren, Adam McGonagle, Finn Ward, Taylor Bonner, Euan McFeely, Oran Doherty, Sean O'Neill, Stephen McLaughlin, Josh Conlan, Christopher McLaughlin, Ryan McGeoghegan, Seamus Houghton and Brendan McLaughlin. Subs: Euan McFeely for Ryan Doherty (5 mins), Daniel Houghton for Sean O'Neill (11 mins), Sean O'Neill for Seamus Houghton (48 mins), Conor McGeoghegan for Oran Doherty (54 mins).

Cloich Cheann Fhaola: Oran Craig, Thomas O'Reilly, Remy Moran, Cormac Coyle, Tarlach Coll, Shaun Curran, Jack Gallagher, Conor Coyle, Seamus Doogan, Patrick Doogan, Donnachadh O'Baoill, Ronan McGee, Blake McGarvey, John Fitzgerald and Ethan Friel. Subs used: Jamie McGeever for Thomas O'Reilly (25 mins), Niall McGee for Ethan Friel (57 mins).

Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs).