Malin got their third victory of the season today in Connolly Park in a game that they were not at their best in for long spells.
Malin 1-9 Glenfin 1-8
Malin managed to grind out the win and after a tough set of opening fixtures which seen them on the road for three games against Bundoran, Ardara and Four Masters, Manager Terence Coulhoun will be delighted to have three wins on the board coming over Termon, Four Masters and now Glenfin.
Glenfin started the better and raced into a five nil lead with points from Conor McBride (2), Jason Marley, Stephen Carr and Ciaran Brady, it could have been worse for Malin as Daniel McGlynn flashed an effort across goal on ten minutes.
Malin hit a number of wides in the opening period didn’t score until the 22nd minute when Brendan McLaughlin slotted over a free after he had been fouled off the ball in the inside forward line. He added a more difficult point a few minutes later from a free out on the right.
Paul McLaughlin beat his man up the right to get Malin’s first from play as they improved as the half went on and they were glad to be in touch at half time only trailing by two – Malin 0-03 Glenfin 0-05.
Glenfin started the brighter of the second half too with Brady jinking and dummying to drive over the opening point. Malin had a let off later when Glenfin decided to go short with a 21 yard free and after it came to nothing a tap over free would have been the better option, especially in the context of a one-point defeat.
Glenfin got a goal shortly after when Stephen Ward’s ball in came to Karl McGlynn and he calmly rolled the ball low into the corner to put Glenfin in a commanding position 1-6 to 0-3 up ten minutes into the second half. Malin then upped their game with a quick reply with a free from Brendan McLaughlin starting the comeback. Stephen McLaughlin then put some air on his shot taking an age to go over from the 45’ after Sean Byrne did well to work the ball out of the corner.
Christopher McLaughlin then grabbed a goal for Malin, the ball across from Brendan McLaughlin, broke at the edge of the square and he drew on the loose ball hammering into the corner to put them only a point behind.
The momentum was now behind Malin and they were level after a 45’ was put over by Brendan McLaughlin – It was well won under pressure by Anthony Kelly, who had made the move to full-forward for the second half after the introduction of John Gerard McLaughlin at half-time.
McLaughlin hit another 45’ soon after which he had won himself after a shot of his had been blocked. Oisin McGonagle powered home another after a well worked move from a sideline ball and the same player then hit perhaps the score of the game. He collected a sublime defence splitting pass from Shaun Kelly and racing onto it at full speed powered over on the run for an excellent score.
Malin withstood late pressure after another jinking Brady score on 57 minutes left just two in it. Five minutes of injury time were played and Malin held the Glenfin men out to just a Stephen Carr free late on.
There was a nervy moment when a ball in around the square was punched towards goal but the experienced Damien Harkin was on hand to put two big hands on it on the line to secure two vital points for the Black and Amber. Next up for the Malin men is the long trek to Naomh Columba next Sunday.
Malin: Daniel Mullarkey, Ciaran Doherty, Daniel Green, Aiden Bambrick, Paul McLaughlin (0-1), Gary Farren, Sean Byrne, Shaun Kelly, Christopher McLaughlin (1-0), Stephen McLaughlin, Anthony Kelly, Oisin McGonagle (0-2), Brendan McLaughlin (0-5, 3f, 2 45’), Daniel Houghton and Damien Harkin. Subs used John Gerard McLaughlin for Houghton (half-time), Joseph Doherty for Christopher McLaughlin (56)
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh, Ronan Gallagher, John Harkin, Gary Herron, Ethan McGlynn, Daniel McGlynn, Daithi Carr, Stephen Ward, Gary Dorrian, Karl McGlynn (1-0), Stephen Carr (0-2, 1f), Jason Marley (0-1), Conor McBride (0-2), Ciaran Brady (0-3), Kevin McGlynn
