Malin were relegated on Saturday night after failing to beat Ardara and other results working against them.
Malin went into the game level with Termon and one point ahead of Four Masters knowing that they had to better their results.
Having failed to beat Ardara themselves, coupled with Four Masters last-minute goal win against Glenfin and Termon winning over MacCumhaill’s, Malin dropped to the third tier – following several years in the top two divisions.
Conor Classen opened the scoring from the throw-in, running through and tapping over off his left side. Oisin O’Donnell extended the visitors lead firing over from 30 yards out.
Malin replied with Jason Doherty swinging over from the left and then they levelled with Brendan McLaughlin finishing off a well-worked move out off the corner.
Ardara dominated the remainder of the half with six unanswered scores with Paul Waters, Brendan Nelis, Classen, Nicolas Maguire, John Ross Malloy and C J Molloy with a free.
Malin were also dealt a blow midway through the first half with a black card for Brendan McLaughlin who would have been a major scoring threat.
Malin made a good start to the second half with the first three points, all from frees with Paul McLaughlin and Seamus Doherty (2).
The momentum was soon taken away when Lorcan O’Donnell finished into the net from the thirteen after veteran substitute Brendan Boyle marked his introduction with an immediate assist.
Seamus Doherty traded frees with Gareth Concarr before Ardara hit two in a row from O’Donnell and Concarr again. John Gerard McLaughlin briefly stemmed the tide but Nelis and Molloy tagged on two more for the Ardara men.
Paul McLaughlin freed but it was immediately cancelled out by Brendan Boyle with a long-range score. Seamus Doherty got a late consolation goal but the match finished with the scoreline Malin 1-08 Ardara 1-14.
Malin will have to pick themselves up for the championship next week as they travel to Four Masters next Sunday before a home game against Termon and St. Michael’s away.
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