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Malin off to a winning start
17.02.11
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Malin...2-13 Randalstown Tír na nÓg...1-14 by Damian Dowds at Connolly Park MALIN got their season under way with a fine two point win in an open and entertaining Ulster League match against Randalstown Tír na nÓg in Connolly Park on Saturday. New manager Danny Lafferty no doubt intends to use this league competition to experiment ahead of the club’s debut in Division 1 of the All County League, which gets under way next month. He will have been pleased with Malin’s attacking play – ten different scorers got on the mark – but less happy with his side’s defence which conceded 1-14 against the Antrim Division 3 side. |
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Matthew Byrne hit two early
scores, and the sides traded early scores as they
settled into the game. Malin made the first breakthrough
when they scored a goal that was breath-taking in its
simplicity. Midfielder Matthew Toiton had pointed to
give Randalstown an 0-5 to 04 lead in the 15th minute.
Michael Doherty, who put in a good shift over the hour,
rose to win Declan Lafferty’s kickout. He switched the
play over to the left wing and passed to Gary Farren
who, in turn, slipped the ball into Declan Walsh who was
surging through the middle. He took two solos before
slamming the ball into the net. Walsh repeated the move five minutes later, |
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but the result was a point
on that occasion, and Matthew Byrne converted a
difficult free from the right to put Malin 1-6 to 0-6 in
front. But the visitors finished the half strongly, with
Christy Sheerin pointing and midfielder Kevin Sheerin
drawing a fine save from Lafferty at the expense of a
point. Randalstown scored from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Christy Sheerin was felled in the parallelogram and Niall McCoy scored from 11 metres. Lafferty pulled off another fingertip save at the expense of a Sheerin point within 30 seconds of the second half throw-in and Malachy Duffin added a second Randalstown point, but Malin shifted up through the gears and hit six unanswered points (through Charlie Byrne, two from Michael Doherty, Darren Doherty, Gary Farren and Terence Doherty) to lead by 1-12 to 1-10 midway through the second half. Two frees from the ever-accurate Christy Sheerin drew the visitors level, before Gary Farren hit what proved to be the winning goal in the 56th minutes. Substitute Brian Doherty won the ball in the right corner, rounded his man and played the ball into fellow sub Anthony Kelly who hand-passed for Farren and the half forward scored from close range. Kelly added a free soon after to stretch Malin’s lead to four, and while Christy Sheerin hit two late points, Malin were good value for their win. Malin’s next outing is at home to Newtownstewart on 27 February. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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