Malin come good in second half to defeat Aodh Ruadh and secure status

Malin ensured they would be playing in Division 1 again next year with a powerful second half performance to take the win over Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon.

The result means that Aodh Ruadh will need to win next week away to Bundoran and hope the result is enough for them to avoid a relegation play-off.

Aodh Ruadh took the lead with a fisted point from corner back Callum O’Halloran. Malin then scored a goal when Brendan McLaughlin ran onto a great crossfield ball and passed across the square to the incoming Finn Ward and he flicked into the Aodh Ruadh net.

The goal would be Malin’s only score in the opening half and we had to wait ten minutes for the next score but it was a peach with Nathan Boyle hitting a classy point with the outside of his boot from the 45' out on the right. Another long wait saw  big midfielder Eamon McGrath power through and drive over to level up the scores. Jack Gallagher tapped over a moved-in free and he was on the scoresheet again shortly after with a well struck 45'. 

A few more wides from both sides played out the half and the score at the break read Malin 1-0 Aodh Ruadh 0-5. 

Josh Conlon breaks past Cian Dolan on Sunday in Malin Picture NWNEWSPICS

Jack Gallagher opened the second half scoring with another moved-in free. Malin needed a response and Josh Conlan drove over shortly after to get Malin going again. Sean O'Neill followed that point up with one of his own with a great effort from distance to leave just one in it. 

Darragh Douglas levelled the game with a point up the left and then he edged Malin ahead when he won Sean O'Neill's ball in and scored again from the left. Malin went two ahead when a great break away move involving Bonner and Luke Rudden saw the latter fouled and Christopher McLaughlin tapped over the free. 

Momentum was now with Malin and after a great run from Terence Doherty from the 45m line, he was happy enough to fist over to put a goal between the sides. Gallagher added another free for Aodh Ruadh  and when Senan Rooney fisted over there was only one it going into the closing minutes. 

Brendan McLaughlin finished off a great team score to extend the lead out again and then Malin scored a great breakaway goal when Luke Rudden fired into the net. Jack Gallagher pointed again from a free but Malin responded with a good Brendan McLaughlin point high over the bar from out on the left. 

Aodh Ruadh pumped a few high balls in at the end looking for a goal but nothing came of them, though they did manage the last score of the game as Shane Delahunty drove over but Malin ran out 4 point winners.

Malin scorers: Finn Ward, Luke Rudden  1-0 each; Darragh Douglas, Brendan McLaughlin 0-2 each; Sean O’Neill, Josh Conlan, Christopher McLaughlin (f), Terence Doherty 0-1 each.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Jack Gallagher 0-5 4f, 1 ‘45'; Nathan Boyle, Calum O’Halloran, Eamonn McGrath, Senan Rooney, Shane Delahunty 0-1 each.

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey, Taylor Bonner, Ciaran Doherty, Sean Byrne, Darragh Douglas, Conor Farren, Paul McLaughlin, John Gerard McLaughlin, Christopher McLaughlin, Brendan McLaughlin, Josh Conlan, Ciaran O'Kane, Finn Ward, Seamus Houghton and Sean O'Neill.

Subs: Terence Doherty for Ciaran O'Kane (35), Luke Rudden for Seamus Houghton (40),  Michael Walsh for Finn Ward (55); Adam McGonagle and Charles Byrne for Taylor Bonner and Darragh Douglas (59)

Aodh Ruadh: Aaron Cullen, Calum O’Halloran, Conor Patton, Jason Granaghan, Michael McKenna, Darren Drummond, Niall Murray, Cian Dolan, Eamonn McGrath, Diarmaid McInerney, Nathan Boyle, Senan Rooney, Eddie Lynch, Jack Gallagher, Darragh Dolan.

Subs: Shane Delahunty and Johnny Gethins for Nathan Boyle and Darragh Dolan (55)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada)