By Charlie Collins
Current video games between these groups in each league aad championship had been shut encounters with little or no to alternative between them and the expectation was that this Micheal Murphy Sports activities and Leisure Intermediate Championship Remaining in O Donnell Park wouldn’t be any completely different. Their paths to this last had adopted the same sample additionally, Malin unbeaten and Downings dropping simply as soon as and each had been taken to extra-time of their respective semi-finals. So it appeared extremely unlikely that we’d have runaway winners on this county last.
The factors got here onerous and quick within 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 factors apiece. McLaughlin’s free put Malin once more however Downings hit again with three in a row, Johnny McGroddy’s third, Paddy McElwee’s second and Lorcan Conner’s first to guide 0-06 to 0-04.
Matthew Byrne’s tremendous lengthy vary effort made it a one level recreation once more and introduced us to the half-time break with Downings simply forward by 0-06 to 0-05 and all to play for within the second-half. Lorcan Conner and Christy McLaughlin exchanged tremendous factors firstly of the second-half after which Paddy McElwee burst via and shot for purpose however Daniel Mullarkey saved properly to disclaim him.
Christy McLaughlin introduced them degree once more however Sean Boyce and Johnny McGroddy replied shortly to place Downings two forward, just for Sean O Neill to transform one other free however two from Johnny McGroddy made it a 3 level lead for the primary time within the recreation, 0-11 to 0-08.
Sean O Neill kicked a fantastic rating to cut back that to 2 and Malin pushed onerous for a profitable purpose within the time remaining however to no avail as Downings held on to report a brilliant championship victory and a return to the Senior championship subsequent 12 months.
Credit score additionally to Malin for an impressive 12 months and nice championship marketing 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).
Downings win Donegal intermediate title was final modified: October seventeenth, 2023 by
