MALIN 2-12 V 0-07 GWEEDORE. Malin centre-half forward Adam Duffy was the match winner as the Inishowen lads defeated Gweedore in this highly entertaining Under 14 League Final played on an excellent pitch in Killygordan as Charlie Collins reports. In fairness to the losers the eleven point gap between the teams wasn’t a real reflection on this contest but the difference was that when the goal chances game it was Malin and particularly Duffy who twice found the net and goals win games. Malin lead by five points at half-time mainly because they were more clinical in their finishing. After just two minutes Adam Duffy gave a taste of what was to come from him on the night when he finished Malin first real attack with a fine finish to the corner of the net. Gweedore hit back with points from Fionnan Coyle and a Ryan Doherty free to briefly lead for what would be the only time in the game. Malin hit back impressively with five points in a row, Duffy hit three, two from play and Daniel Mc Laughlin and Niall Gallagher both scored from play also, while Ryan Doherty completed the first-half scoring with a fine point to leave it 1-05 to 0-03 to Malin at the break. Any hopes of a Gweedore comeback were ended early in the second-half when Malin added 1-02 without reply to move ten points in front. As he had in the opening half Adam Duffy got the second period underway scoring wise when his dipping effort deceived keeper Daniel Roarty and ended up in the net. Duffy then added a point from a free, Daniel Mc Laughlin added his second point of the game and in the 35th minute it was a ten point game at 2-07 to 0-03. To their credit the young Gweedore lads didn’t let their heads drop and in fact they enjoyed a period of dominance for the next fifteen minutes but could only show four points by the impressive Ryan Doherty was their efforts. Malin rallied again and got there scoring act together with five unanswered points, Duffy added two to make his personal tally for the evening 2-06, with David Doherty, Fergal Doherty and Keelan Hegarty adding the others for a final score of 2-12 to 0-07 in Malin’s favour and a first Under 14 title since their only previous one in 2003. MALIN: Ben Miller, Sean Mc Grenaghan, Darragh Mc Geoghegan, Oliver Mc Caffrey, Conor Murray, John Mc Laughlin (F), Finn Ward, Conor O Neill, Niall Gallagher ( 0-1), Daniel Mc Laughlin (0-2 ), Adam Duffy ( 2-6 4f ), Fergal Doherty ( 0-1 ), Keelan Hegarty ( 0-1 ), Jamie Mc Laughlin, Sean O Kane. SUB; David Doherty ( 0-1 ) for D. Mc Laughlin ( 50mins ). GWEEDORE: Daniel Roarty, Aran Mc Gee, Eamonn Mc Bride, Ronan Heffernan, Darragh Ferry, Cian Mc Entee, Peader O Baoill, Sean Noel Mc Fadden, Fionnan Coyle ( 0-1 ), Stephen Mc Fadden, Ryan Doherty ( 0-6 4f ), Aodhan Smith, Neil Doran, Cathal Burke, Johnny O Donnell, SUB: Adam Mc Geever for O’Donnell ( 50mins ). REFEREE: James Conners ( St.Eunan’s )
Chris McNulty
Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.