Cloughaneely started the game the better and had the best of the first half. The away side found the back of the Malin net twice in the first 10 minutes due to defensive errors by Malin defenders, the first goal dropping under the bar and into the net. A second goal followed shortly after when a mix-up in the home defence resulted in Maguire finding himself one-on-one with Malin goalie Declan Lafferty and the big number 14 made no mistake in slotting the ball under Lafferty and into the net. Malin then responded with Matthew Byrne hitting a goal and a point in the eleventh and twelve minute. Cloughaneely’s Denis Boyle then scored a free from 30 yards out. The rest of the half was a dogged affair with a number of chances being squandered by both teams. Two further frees from Boyle pushed the men from the West 5 points clear. An Anthony Kelly free being Malin’s only response. Half-time score Malin 1-02 Cloughaneely 2-03.

Malin came out in the second half a much more determined team with more fluency to their play. Matthew Byrne and Gary Farren after good play by the Malin forwards. The trusty boot of Anthony Kelly then slotted over 2 points to bring Malin level.  Cloughaneely no. 17 McGarvey struck a point from long range despite being put under pressure from the Malin rearguard. Matthew Byrne then brought the sides all square again before the roar of the day went up when Paul McLaughlin put the Malin men ahead for the first time in the game. However Cloughaneely’s Denis Boyle showed his accuracy by slotting over a free in injury time before the final whistle went.

Malin Team
Malin Team and Subs: D. Lafferty, D. Doherty, J. G. McLaughlin, J. McLaughlin, D. Doherty, D. Ward, C. Byrne, D. Greene, P. Kelly, A. Kelly, P. McLaughlin, T. Doherty, M. Byrne, G. Farren, D. McDaid, C. Farren,