Malin boss Michael Byrne content with start to Division 1 campaign

Malin boss Michael Byrne was content to see his side overcome both Storm Kathleen and a dogged Downings, on the road, on Saturday evening. 

In what was a repeat of last season’s Intermediate Championship final, Byrne’s charges turned the tables on the locals with a late scoring burst to emerge 0-7 to 0-5 winners. 

Two points also separated the teams at the end of last October’s IFC decider with Downings claiming the spoils at 0-11 to 0-9. 

“Any win in Division 1 for Malin is a good win but this was a big victory in very difficult and windy conditions away from home,” Byrne told DonegalLive. 

Downings played with a howling ‘Kathleen’ in their backs in the first half and led 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time. But Byrne knew the elements would be in his side’s favour on the restart. 

“I think we went a long way to winning in the first half and we were very happy to be only four points down at half-time when we probably could have been eight or nine down.

“We were not happy with our play in the first half. We really struggled to get our kickouts away against the wind. 

“Downings won nearly all the breaks around the middle of the field.  But we soaked up a good bit of pressure and we felt we were in a good enough position at the break.

“We knew from the first half that their keeper was going to have problems with the kick outs so we pushed up on the restarts.

“Christopher McLaughlin scored two quick points at the start of the second half, which was important and he had a shot off the post too.

“It took us a while to get our next point as we kicked a number of wides and, in fairness to the boys, it was difficult to judge the swirling wind at times. 

“Christopher played well throughout but in the last quarter a number of our leaders on the field really stood up. 

“Ciaran Doherty drove forward and kicked a brilliant point and really showed great leadership in the last quarter. “

The two-point win was Malin’s second on the trot in the two opening games of the new league season following the previous Saturday’s home victory over Bundoran. 

“It is a great start but there is a long way to go and we have a lot of battles ahead of us. 

“Every day we go out in this division is a battle and we have to always be at our best to get a result.”