Malin picked up their second win of the season with a fine performance in Connolly Park on Sunday afternoon where they completely dominated the second half proceedings, Glenfin unable to break through a solid home defence where Kevin McColgan and Danny Greene were outstanding while the return to action of Martin Lafferty and Paddy McColgan up front gave the home support a boost.

The visitors opened the scoring through Keiron Moy before an Anthony Kelly free levelled the proceedings. Matthew Byrne then put the home side ahead briefly before Kevin McGlynn made it two apiece from a dead ball after 6 minutes. Glenfin’s Frank McGlynn was unlucky to see his shot cannon off the crossbar as his side enjoyed their best spell of the game, a second Kevin McGlynn free and a Leigh Herron point putting the visitors two points ahead midway through the half.

Malin suffered a further blow at this stage, both Damian Harkin and Damian Ward having to retire early through injury, Gary Farren and Danny Greene replacing them as the home side were forced to re-shuffle their side, Declan Walsh going to full back in place of Harkin while Michael Byrne moved out to the half-forward line to allow Gary Farren into the corner. Despite the enforced changes Malin drew level again shortly after with scores from Charlie Byrne and Paddy McColgan but were rocked in the 23rd minute when Steven McDermott broke clear and fired a vicious drive which was well saved by Declan Lafferty in the Malin goal but the rebound was scrambled into the net by Micky McGlynn to put Glenfin 1-04 to 0-04 ahead. Malin responded well to this setback and had a couple of efforts go wide before Anthony Kelly reduced the deficit to 2 points with a free late in the half. Half time score in the match was Malin 0-05 Glenfin 1-04.

Keiron Foy had an early effort go wide for the visitors in the second half before Malin began to dominate, three points in as many minutes from Paddy McColgan and Anthony Kelly(2) putting the home side ahead with 7 minutes gone in the second period. Malin pulled further away 2 minutes later, Michael Doherty getting on the end of a good move before shooting into the net to put his side 1-08 to 1-04 ahead. Kevin McGlynn hit the first of three second half frees at this stage but his side could not find a way through an excellent Malin defence and scores from Matthew Byrne(2) and Martin Lafferty extended the Malin lead to 1-11 to 1-05 with ten minutes left.

McGlynn added his final two frees to pull Glenfin back to four behind but a late point from Michael Doherty, who also had a fine game in black and amber, sealed the win for Malin. This performance will give Malin a confidence booster ahead of the difficult Championship game away to Gweedore and if they can repeat this standard then they will not be too far away.

Malin Team
Declan Lafferty, Kevin McColgan, Damian Harkin, Robert Porter, Charlie Byrne(0-1), John McLaughlin, Damian Ward, Michael Doherty(1-01), Anthony Kelly(0-4,3 frees), Declan Walsh, Paddy Kelly, Matthew Byrne(0-3), Michael Byrne, Martin Lafferty(0-1), Paddy McColgan(0-2), subs used Gary Farren, Danny Greene.

Glenfin Team
Benjy O’Mara, John Harkin, Hugh Campbell, Mark McGinty jnr, Gareth Martin, Paul McCrudden, Micky Doherty, Mark McGinty snr, Gavin McDermott, Michael McGlynn(1-0), Frank McGlynn, Steven McDermott, Keiron Foy(0-1), Kevin McGlynn(0-5, 4 frees), Leigh Herron(0-1), sub used Malachy Martin.