MALIN edged into the intermediate championship quarter finals with three wins from four thanks to a home win against Red Hughs.
Malin 1-13 Red Hughs 1-11
Malin scored straight from the throw in with a Josh Conlon score up the right. Red Hughs replied with a mark from Calvin Bradley.
Paul McLaughlin got Malin’s goal when he ran onto a good ball and drilled high into the net from the 13 to put Malin a goal to the good.
This was quickly followed by two good Sean O’Neill points on the run. Brendan McLaughlin missed a great chance for a second goal after a peach of a ball from Damien Harkin, Fildara’s effort was superbly saved by Kelly in the Red Hughs goal.
Oiśin McGonagle hit a score from distance after good work from Darragh and Conor McGeoghegan to go into the first half water break 1-04 to 0-01 ahead.
Conor O’Neill pounced on a poor kick out and fed Conor McGeoghegan who pointed with ease.
The Killygordon men replied with a score up the right from number Pauric McMenamin and a well worked team score finished off by Tim Callaghan.
The visitors were beginning to gain the upper hand and Jack Gillespie made it three in a row shortly after. Cian Gallagher then picked up a breaking ball and fired over from close range.
With Red Hughs very much in the ascendancy, Calvin Bradley notched his second score of the afternoon. Malin needed to respond at this stage and the did in style with Josh Conlon’s through ball into Oiśin McGonagle who fed the incoming Conor O’Neill to point.
O’Neill then added another point with a classy effort from out on the right to leave Malin 1-07 to 0-06 ahead at the interval.
Josh Conlon started the second half as he did the first with a point, this time from a mark. Jack Gillespie responded quickly and again Bradley was on the scoresheet with a free after been fouled.
Damien Harkin was blackcarded and Red Hugh’s tapped over the free to leave just two in at the second half water break, Malin 1-08 to 0-9 in Malins favour.
Malin came out and scored a great point from Conor Farren after good work out of defence by Paul McLaughlin. Brendan McLaughlin scored his first of the day with ten minutes left and then added a second within a minute to extend Malin’s lead out to five.
Bradley pointed again to keep the visitors in touch. Conor Farren added a point from out the right for Malin. , Red Hugh’s full forward and their best player on the day,
Calvin Bradley added another up the right to get back to four down again. Conor McGeoghegan hit a point after a number of hand passes along the sideline.
Red Hughs got a late goal from substitute but there was no time for anymore with Malin winning on a scoreline of Malin 1-13 Red Hugh’s 1-11.
Malin: Daniel Mullarkey, Adam McGonagle, Ciaran Doherty, Darragh McGeoghegan, Paul McLaughlin (1-00), Charles Byrne, Oiśin McGonagle (0-01), Sean O’Neill (0-02) Kieran McColgan, Conor O’Neill (0-02), Conor Farren (0-02), Conor McGeoghegan (0-02), Josh Conlon (0-02, 1m), Brendan McLaughlin (0-02) and Damien Harkin.
Red Hughs: Luke Kelly, Sean Gallagher, Jason Callaghan, Shane Gallagher, Pauric McMenamin, Darragh McMenamin, Stephen McMenamin, Peadar McGlinchey, Tim Callaghan, Daireann MacRuari, Jack Gillespie, Thomas Mc Memamin, Gearoid Gallagher, Cian Gallagher, Aaron McGlinchey, Calvin Bradley