Malin centre-half forward Adam Duffy was the match-winner as the Inishowen men defeated Gaoth Dobhair in this highly entertaining Under 14 League final.
Malin 2-12 Gaoth Dobhair 0-7
In fairness to the losers the eleven point gap between the teams wasn’t a real reflection on this contest but the difference was that when the goal chances game it was Malin – and particularly Duffy – who twice found the net.
Malin lead by five points at half-time mainly because they were more clinical in their finishing.
After just two minutes Duffy gave a taste of what was to come from him on the night when he finished Malin first real attack with a fine finish to the corner of the net.
Gaoth Dobhair hit back with points from Fionnan Coyle and a Ryan Doherty free to briefly lead for what would be the only time in the game.
Malin hit back impressively with five points in a row, Duffy hit three, two from play and Daniel Mc Laughlin and Niall Gallagher both scored from play also, while Ryan Doherty completed the first-half scoring with a fine point to leave it 1-05 to 0-03 to Malin at the break.
Any hopes of a Gaoth Dobhair comeback were ended early in the second-half when Malin added 1-02 without reply to move ten points in front.
As he had in the opening half Duffy got the second period underway scoring wise when his dipping effort deceived keeper Daniel Roarty and ended up in the net. Duffy then added a point from a free, Daniel McLaughlin added his second point of the game and in the 35th minute it was a ten point game at 2-07 to 0-03.
To their credit Gaoth Dobhair didn’t let their heads drop and in fact they enjoyed a period of dominance for the next 15 minutes but could only show four points by the impressive Ryan Doherty was their efforts.
Malin rallied again and got there scoring act together with five unanswered points, Duffy added two to make his personal tally for the evening 2-6, with David Doherty, Fergal Doherty and Keelan Hegarty adding the others for a final score of 2-12 to 0-7 in Malin’s favour and a first Under 14 title since their only previous one in 2003.
Malin: Ben Miller, Sean McGrenaghan, Darragh McGeoghegan, Oliver McCaffrey, Conor Murray, John McLaughlin (F), Finn Ward, Conor O’Neill, Niall Gallagher (0-1), Daniel McLaughlin (0-2), Adam Duffy ( 2-6, 4f ), Fergal Doherty (0-1), Keelan Hegarty (0-1), Jamie McLaughlin, Sean O’Kane. Sub: David Doherty (0-1) for D. McLaughlin (50).
Gaoth Dobhair: Daniel Roarty, Aran McGee, Eamonn McBride, Ronan Heffernan, Darragh Ferry, Cian McEntee, Peader O Baoill, Sean Noel McFadden, Fionnan Coyle (0-1), Stephen Mc Fadden, Ryan Doherty (0-6, 4f), Aodhan Smith, Neil Doran, Cathal Burke, Johnny O’Donnell. Sub: Adam McGeever for O’Donnell (50).
Referee: James Conners (St.Eunan’s)
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