ST MICHAEL’S PRODUCED an impressive performance to win Group C thanks to a comfortable victory over Malin at The Bridge.
St Michaels 2-18 Malin 0-11
They were made to work hard in this one against a determined Malin team which for the second week in a row put their relegation woes behind them to raise their game to championship pace but who in the end just didn’t have enough to really trouble a home team which has seen it all before.
However, at the end, there was disappointment for the Inishowen team with news filtering through that Four Masters had sneaked the runners-up spot in the group.
St Michaels can now look forward to tomorrow evening’s draw and a quarter-final clash with one of the runners-up from one of the other three groups.
That draw is scheduled to take place at 7pm in the clubhouse in Ardara following the home club’s final group game against Bundoran.
The home side started well and were three points ahead after six minutes – Colin McFadden, Odhran McFadden and Oisín Langan all kicked fine points from play.
Two minutes later a sweeping move from midfield ended with Michael Langan setting up an advanced corner-back Jamie Hunter palming the ball to the Malin net and St. Michaels were 1-3 ahead.
Stephen and Benny Fildara replied for Malin but the home team responded with two points Daniel Mc Laughlin and two more from Andrew Kelly and full-back Stephen Doak scoring for the second week in a row to leave it 1-07 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.
Stephen Mc Laughlin got his second point in the 26th minute, Benny McLaughlin kicked another free in injury time to leave the half-time score 1-7 to 0-4 to the home team.
Two Benny Fildara frees reduced the lead to four but in the 37th minute St. Michaels got a second goal. Oisín Langan was probably trying for a point but as the ball drifted away from goal Daniel McLaughlin retrieved the ball and set up full-back Stephen Doak who fisted to the net to make it 2-7 to 0-6.
The home team took command after that with a string of points , ten in total as they had twelve scorers in total to run out winners by 2-18 0-11 and top the group on the way to the quarter-finals.
St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jamie Hunter (1-0), Steven Doak ( 1-2 ), Michael Gallagher; Michael McGinley, Ciaran Gallagher, Oisín Langan (0-1); Christy Toye (0-1), Michael Langan (0-2); Daniel McLaughlin (0-2), Martin McElhinney (0-2), Colin McFadden (0-3); Hugh O’Donnell, Andrew Kelly (0-1), Odhran Mc Fadden (0-1). Subs: Michael Cannon (0-2), Liam Paul Ferry (0-1), Ruairi Friel.
Malin: Daniel Mullarkey; Gary Farren, Damian Harkin, Mick McLaughlin; Conor McColgan, Declan Walsh, Ciaran Doherty; John Gerard McLaughlin, Adam Byrne; Oisín McColgan, Stephen McLaughlin (0-2), Paul Mc Laughlin; Benny McLaughlin (0-7, 6f), Kieran McNicholas, Terence Doherty. Subs: Christy Mc Laughlin, Joe Doherty (0-1) Conor Farren (0-1), Daniel Houghton, Daniel McDaid, Sean Byrne .
Referee: Robbie O Donnell (Naomh Muire).
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