A JASON Doherty goal deep
in added time ensured Malin’s progression to the first
round proper of the Junior B Championship. Doherty’s
goal finally settling a good exciting game that featured
some fine scores from both sides.
The first leg of this tie had finished in a draw,
meaning that the winners of this second leg tie last
Saturday would progress to the first round proper. The
visitors were first off the mark, Prunty opening the
scoring after three minutes. Jason Doherty levelled
matters soon after before Brendan McLaughlin put Malin
ahead from a free after Paul McGonagle was fouled.
The Malin midfield pairing of Philip McClean and Paco
McLaughlin were winning most of the ball around the
middle but Malin were unable to convert possession into
scores in the opening quarter and soon found themselves
behind again, scores from O’Donnell and an Allen free
putting Convoy ahead once more. Eddie Kelly for Malin
and Convoy’s Brown traded scores midway through the
first half before Malin picked up the pace in the second
quarter and three scores from Jason Doherty without
reply put Malin 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at half time.
Malin began the second half in much the same vein as
they had finished the first and added a further three
points in the opening ten minutes through Eddie Kelly
(2, 1 free) and Brendan McLaughlin. Convoy looked out of
the game at this stage but some sloppy play from Malin
allowed Ronny Carlin to hit Convoy’s first score of the
second half 14 minutes in and Brown, who was Convoy’s
best player on the day, hit a second soon after to put a
goal between the sides.
Malin suffered a further blow two minutes later when
centre-half back Lee Kelly was sent off and Convoy
reduced the deficit to 2 points, Brown hitting another
fine score off the outside of his boot. Malin introduced
Steven McLaughlin (Fildara) and he made an immediate
impact, beating a number of Convoy players before being
fouled as he bore down on goal. Paco McLaughlin took the
resulting penalty but his effort came back off the post
and was cleared to safety.
Buoyed by this lifeline the visitors pressed forward
once more and Brown hit another fine score to put just
one point between the sides going into the final five
minutes but the 14 men gathered themselves for a final
push.
Stephen McLaughlin’s speed once again proved too much
for the Convoy defence who were forced to foul him once
more, this time for a free 20 metres out which Eddie
Kelly converted in and the same player repeated the feat
as time ran out to restore the three point lead.
Convoy pushed forward in added time in search of the
goal needed to draw level, but in doing so they left
gaps at the back and Jason Doherty, who had a quiet
second half by his standards, received a ball in acres
of space and he drove the ball past the Convoy keeper to
ensure a Malin victory.
Malin had good performances all over the field, although
Steven McLaughlin (Davy), Philip McClean and Paco
McLaughlin stood out but the introduction of Steven
McLaughlin (Fildara) really turned the game in Malin’s
favour at a crucial stage. Convoy were well served by
O’Donnell, McNamee and Brown who was their star
performer on the day.
Malin: Lochlainn Byrne, James Gallagher, Tony
McColgan, Shane McColgan, Steven McLaughlin(Davy), Lee
Kelly, Johnny McCarron, Philip McClean, Paco McLaughlin,
Paul McGonagle, Eddie Kelly(0-5, 3 frees), Jason
Doherty(1-04), Steven McLaughlin(O), Mark McKinney,
Brendan McLaughlin(0-2, 1 free) Sub used Steven
McLaughlin(Fildara)
Convoy: B Kelly, P Laverty, K Kelly, S Brown, D
Gibson, S O’Donnell (0-1), C Donnellan, E Allen (0-1,
free), A McNamee, P McMullan, L Prunty (0-1), A Brown
(0-4), L McMullan, R Carlin (0-1), A Sweeney.
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Inishowen Independent. |
