Malin secured their first victory of the season when overcoming a gallant Convoy side in an entertaining game in Connolly Park on Saturday evening.
Malin 3-10 Convoy 0-16
Joseph Mc Gill opening the scoring for the visitors but Malin soon hit back with 4 quick fire points, Paul Fildara, Dan McDaid and a brace from Benny Fildara putting the home side in front. A point from Paddy Dolan reduced the arrears, but this spurred Malin into action.
On a day when Star Wars fever was gripping the north Inishowen area, the force really was with Seamus Houghton as he fired in two goals in quick succession and a further point from Conor Mc Geoghegan left Malin 2-5 to 0-2 in front midway through the first half.
Just when it looked that Malin were going to cruise to an easy victory, it was Convoy who finished the half the stronger of the two, hitting 5 unanswered points, 2 each from the boots of Joe Mc Gill and John Toye and an excellent score from Paddy Dolan to leave the scoreboard reading 2-5 to 0-7 in Malins favour as the teams left the field at the interval.
Convoy started the second half in a similar fashion as the ended the first and had the Malin defence in trouble as they rattled over two points apiece from John Toye and Paddy to tie the game at 2-5 to 0-11.
Sean O Neill finally ended the Malin drought when he fired over a close-range free to regain the lead, but this was soon cancelled out by a Paddy Dolan point.
A Paul Fildara goal on 50 minutes put Malin back in the driving seat, and a further point from Oisin McGonigle gave Malin a four-point advantage, but the men in green and gold refused to lie down and responded with two points from McGill to reduce the deficit to just two points.
Two quick-fire points from Benny Fildara helped Malin regain their four point advantage but again the visitors came back with again points from Joe Mc Gill keeping his side in touch in the final minutes. A well worked Malin score in the final minutes put 3 between the sides.
Convoy threw everything at Malin as the game entered stoppage time but the Malin defence held firm to take the spoils in a very well spirited and contested game.
Malin: D. McLaughlin, C. McColgan, C. Doherty, K McColgan, S. Byrne, D. Harkin, C. Farren, O. McGonigle, S. O’Neill, D. McCarron, C. Doherty, B. McLaughlin, S. Houghton, P. McLaughlin. Subs Used C. McGeoghegan, S. McLaughlin and C. Byrne
Convoy: S. Patton, E. Patterson, R. Donnellan, M. Patton, B.McNamee, J. Doherty, D. Bonnar, J.A Kee, J. Kee, P. Dolan, L. McMullan, J. McGill, T.McHugh, C.McNulty, J. Toye. Subs Used P.Mailey, P.Blake and C. Bonnar
