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Malin survives clash with
the Gaels
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Malin...1-12 Fanad Gaels...2-7 By Inishowen Independent Malin ensured their survival in Division 1B of the All County Football League with a victory over Fanad that was much more comfortable than the two point margin suggests. Playing against the wind in the first half, Malin built up a five point half-time lead and stretched that lead to ten midway through the second half. However, two late goals from the foot and fist of Michael Sweeney put a gloss on the final scoreline that does scant justice to Malin’s dominance over the hour. It is six weeks since Malin last played, and in the interim manager Pat McLaughlin arranged a number of challenge matches against Inishowen and other opposition. Even though Fanad have been involved in Ulster Intermediate Club Championship and league action in that time, Malin looked far sharper in every sector of the field. |
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Seamie Friel opened the
scoring for the visitors with a point when he took a
pass from Christy Sweeney and used the right hand post
to guide the ball over. Sean Kelly responded with a fine
effort into the wind two minutes later before Friel drew
a free and curled the ball over at the other end with
five minutes gone. As word came through that Four Masters had beaten Termon and a draw would be enough for Malin to maintain Division 1B status, the home team started to dominate but couldn’t convert all their possession into scores. Anthony Kelly scored pointed frees in the sixth and 17th minutes on either side of four consecutive Malin wides. Then Matthew Byrne chipped in with the decisive score |
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of the match. Typically
tenacious tackling by the Malin forwards saw them
dispossess a Fanad defender. Brendan McGonagle won the
loose ball and passed across the square for Matthew
Byrne to goal from close range and put four points
between the teams with 12 minutes of the first half
remaining. A Michael Sweeney point from 45m reduced Fanad’s deficit to three, but points from Paddy Kelly and Danny Lafferty put Malin five points to the good. With the wind rattling through the roof of the stand, Declan Lafferty conceded a 45 that Seamie Friel pointed before Anthony Kelly restored Malin’s five point advantage with a point from play on the half-time whistle to make it 1-6 to 0-4. Seamie Friel got the opening point of the second half before the first minute had elapsed, but Malin took complete control from then until the dying minutes of the game. Four points in as many minutes – an Anthony Kelly free, a Michael Byrne effort from distance and two excellent points on the run from Sean Kelly – put Malin 1-10 to 0-5 ahead eight minutes into the second half. |
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Remarkably, Fanad started shooting for goal midway
through the half, but Declan Lafferty and his defence
were in no mood to be charitable. Charlie Byrne at right
half back and Declan Walsh at full-back gave fine
displays over the hour while keeper Lafferty dealt with
everything thrown his way – until the dying minutes that
is. Two further points from Sean and Anthony Kelly gave Malin a 1-12 to 0-5 lead with nine minutes of the game remaining. That was a fair reflection of the difference in performance between the teams, but as Malin started coasting to the full-time whistle, Fanad started to chase them down. Defender Paddy Shiels pointed after good work by Mark Friel on the right and Seamie Friel added his fifth and Fanad’s seventh point with five minutes remaining. The tall figure of Michael Sweeney was moved to full forward and he found the net two minutes before the end. His shot from eight yards was half-blocked by substitute Michael Doherty but sneaked in just inside the left hand post. But there was still no need for Malin to panic. They retained possession well until, with virtually the last kick of the game, Fanad launched another high ball into the danger area. Michael Sweeney climbed highest and with his back to goal punched to the net to |
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make it 1-12 to 2-7 seconds
before referee Kieran McShea sounded the full-time
whistle. In a campaign stretching back to April Fools’ Day, it has taken Malin 37 weeks to complete their 16 league games. The players will now have a short break before the preseason training starts next month: such is the lot of club players these days. Malin: Declan Lafferty; Robert Porter, Declan Walsh, John McLaughlin (R); Charlie Byrne, Damien Harkin, Kevin McColgan; Anthony Kelly, Sean Kelly; Matthew Byrne, Brendan McGonagle, Paddy Kelly; Danny Lafferty, Michael Byrne, Paddy McColgan. Subs: Michael Doherty for J. McLaughlin (43 mins); Scorers: Anthony Kelly 0-5 (3 frees); Sean Kelly 0-4; Matthew Byrne 1-0; Paddy Kelly 0-1; Danny Lafferty 0-1; Michael Byrne 0-1 Fanad Gaels: Oisin Blaney; Cathal Martin, Sean McElwaine, Colm McElwaine; Paddy Shiels, Paddy McConigley, Fergal Friel; Brendan Callaghan, William McAteer; Michael Sweeney, Ciaran McElwaine, Mark Friel; Christy Sweeney, Seamus Friel, Aidan McAteer. Subs: Eamon Sweeney for C. Sweeney (half-time); Hugh Friel for Fergal Friel (40 mins); Scorers: Michael Sweeney 2-1; Seamus Friel 0-5 (3 frees); Paddy Shiels 0-1. Results elsewhere in Division 1B mean that Four Masters will have a play-off with St Michael’s to determine which side is promoted and meets Glenswilly in the league final. At the other end of the table, MacCumhaill’s are relegated following their defeat to Naomh Columba, with the latter in a relegation play-off against either Fanad or Termon. However, Fanad have two games remaining and two points will ensure they avoid the relegation play-off. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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