By Charlie Collins
Recent games between these teams in both league aad championship had been close encounters with very little to choice between them and the expectation was that this Micheal Murphy Sports and Leisure Intermediate Championship Final in O Donnell Park wouldn’t be any different. Their paths to this final had followed a similar pattern also, Malin unbeaten and Downings losing just once and both had been taken to extra-time in their respective semi-finals. So it seemed highly unlikely that we would have runaway winners in this county final.
The points came hard and fast in the opening twevle minutes, Paddy McElwee and Johnny McGroddy with two for Downings and Sean O Neill, Christy McLaughlin and Terence Doherty for Malin, 0-03 points apiece. McLaughlin’s free put Malin again but Downings hit back with three in a row, Johnny McGroddy’s third, Paddy McElwee’s second and Lorcan Conner’s first to lead 0-06 to 0-04.
Matthew Byrne’s super long range effort made it a one point game again and brought us to the half-time break with Downings just ahead by 0-06 to 0-05 and all to play for in the second-half. Lorcan Conner and Christy McLaughlin exchanged super points at the start of the second-half and then Paddy McElwee burst through and shot for goal but Daniel Mullarkey saved well to deny him.
Christy McLaughlin brought them level again but Sean Boyce and Johnny McGroddy replied quickly to put Downings two ahead, only for Sean O Neill to convert another free but two from Johnny McGroddy made it a three point lead for the first time in the game, 0-11 to 0-08.
Sean O Neill kicked a fine score to reduce that to two and Malin pushed hard for a winning goal in the time remaining but to no avail as Downings held on to record a super championship victory and a return to the Senior championship next year.
Credit also to Malin for an outstanding year and great championship campaign.
Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Hugo Davis, Ben McNutt, Alan Pasoma, Keelan McGroddy, Ronan Gallagher, Dean McBride, Oisin Boyce, Shane Boyce (0-01), Ben McBride, Kevin Doherty, Conor Boyce, Johnny McGroddy (0-06), Lorcan Connor (0-02), Paddy McElwee ( 0-02). Subs: Paddy McGinty and Ronan Pasoma for Gallagher and McBride (46mins), Ethan Cullen for McElwee (62mins), Tiernan McBride for Conor Boyce (64mins).
Malin: Daniel Mullarkey, Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Sean Byrne, Taylor Bonner, Conor Farren, Paul McLaughlin, John Gerard McLaughlin, Daniel Houghton, Josh Conlon, Matthew Byrne (0-01), Christopher McLaughlin (0-04), Conor O Neill, Terence Doherty (0-01), Sean O Neill (0-03). Subs: Shaun Kelly for Conor Farren (32mins), Bernard McLaughlin for Byrne (42mins), Seamus Houghton for Doherty (44mins), Conor McGeoghegan for Conlon (57mins).
Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba).
