Malin turn on the style to sweep past Carn and reach U21B semi-final

Malin 2-10

Carndonagh GAA 1-8

Despite trailing at the break, Malin pulled out all the stops to ease past Carndonagh and into the U21B semi-final with a five-point win at Connolly Park on Saturday.

A goal from Ryan McGeoghegan gave Malin an early platform, but it was the visitors who controlled the opening period, with Odhran O'Donnell and Kalvin McLaughlin featuring prominently as they led by 0-8 to 1-2 at half-time.

But a mixture of a Carn collapse and Malin's big players coming to the party saw the home side kick 1-8 without reply to take a firm grip on the tie and seal their passage to the semi-final.

Michael Noone's late goal was the only candle in a dark room for the Foden men, as Darragh Douglas and particularly Taylor Bonner helped Malin get over the line.

Malin got off to the perfect start. Brothers Thomas and Ryan McGeoghegan combined, with the former finding the latter with a precise ball inside. Ryan beat his man and rifled the ball into the roof of Daire Tully's goal.

Kalvin McLaughlin and John O'Callaghan replied from identical positions before Daire Tully was adjudged to have touched the ball on the ground, leaving Ryan McGeoghegan with the simple task of tapping the resulting free over the bar.

Kalvin then found Odhran O'Donnell in space and the latter burst through to take his point and bring Carn right back into it. The Foden side went on to dominate the remainder of the first half.

Malin goalkeeper Zach Conlon did well to deal with an Odhran O'Donnell two-point attempt, with the ominous Sean O'Carroll coming in on top of him. Senan Grant picked up the scraps and tapped over.

Kalvin McLaughlin again led Carn's charge, pointing from acres of space as Malin struggled to keep tabs on him.

Conlon made two smart stops to deny Odhran O'Donnell and Callum Kelly, but Sean O'Carroll picked up Kelly's rebound and pointed.

John O'Callaghan struck his second point from wing-back before county U20 star Kalvin McLaughlin broke a tackle and slipped the ball over for a four-point lead.

Just before the break, Malin's Ciaran O'Kane won an advanced mark after gathering a long ball into the square. He converted from the 13-metre line, leaving the score Malin 1-2, Carndonagh 0-8 at half-time.

Darragh Douglas got the Malin charge going after the restart, pointing from the stand side, and added his second of the half soon after following good work from Billy Hume.

That left just a point between the teams and plenty of black and amber noise from the packed stand at Connolly Park.

Malin's second goal followed a mistake in midfield by Carn. Taylor Bonner took advantage, picking out a pass to Calvin White, who in turn found Hume. Hume showed experience beyond his years to step around Daire Tully and raise a green flag.

The wheels began to fall off the Carn cart as Mac McLaughlin's two-point effort was beaten away by Tully, only for substitute Jamie McDevitt to tidy up with a point off the rebound.

Further scores from Darragh Douglas, Thomas McGeoghegan and Ciaran O'Kane put Malin in control before Ryan McGeoghegan kicked the only two-pointer of the game to put the result beyond doubt.

Carn's Michael Noone raised a late green flag, their only score of the half, deep in injury time, while Kalvin McLaughlin let one fly for two points but his effort dropped short.

The celebrations began as Malin's U21s did what their senior counterparts couldn't and knocked Carn out of the championship.

As far as the man-of-the-match award is concerned, Taylor Bonner and Darragh Douglas were outstanding, but Zach Conlon's kick-outs were exceptional and he made two vital stops, arguably having one of his best games in black and amber at any level.

Carn will be disappointed with their exit, but Malin's U21 side are a formidable force.

The vast majority of the side have already made their senior debuts, and with the knowhow manager Michael Byrne backed up by Garry Farren and Danny Green, could this age group of players, who lost both minor and U18 finals when last together a few years ago, bring silverware back to Connolly Park?

Malin scorers: Ryan McGeoghegan (1-3, one 2pt, 1f), Billy Hume (1-0), Darragh Douglas (0-3), Ciaran O'Kane (0-2), Thomas McGeoghegan (0-1) and Jamie McDevitt (0-1).

Carndonagh scorers: Michael Noone (1-1), Kalvin McLaughlin (0-3), John O'Callaghan (0-2), Senan Grant (0-1), Oran O'Donnell (0-1).

Malin: Zach Conlan, Conor McCallion, Mac McLaughlin, Patrick McLaughlin, Cillian McKinley, Taylor Bonner, Conor McColgan, Darragh Douglas, Ciaran O'Kane, Thomas McGeoghegan, Ryan McLaughlin, Michael Borden, Billy Hume, Calvin White and Ryan McGeoghegan. Subs: Jamie McDevitt for Michael Borden (half-time), Sonny Bonner for Calvin White (48 mins), Lorcan Doherty for Taylor Bonner (62 mins).

Carndonagh: Daire Tully, Ronan McLaughlin, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tiarnan Diver, John O'Callaghan, Senan Grant, Cormac McLaughlin, Sean O'Carroll, Pierce McConnelogue, Jamie Doherty, Kalvin McLaughlin, Oran O'Donnell, Callum Kelly, Michael Noone and Michael McCarron. Subs: Oran Lafferty for Michael McCarron (44 mins), Hugh McGinn for Jamie Doherty (51 mins).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).