Malin came strong in extra-time to see off Gaeil Fhánada 

Malin produced a power-packed performance in extra-time to pull away from a dogged and determined Gaeil Fhanada in this tight IFC semi-final tussle in Letterkenny. 

Malin 1-14 Gaeil Fhanada 1-7 (aet)

After leaving it late to force the extra-time, the men in the black in amber really turned up the heat in additional time.

Sean O’Neill and Conor McGeoghan kicked the points in the first period of extra-time to see the Inishowen side lead by two points, 0-12 to 1-7. 

And they closed the door with a further point and a Conor O’Neill goal to leave the road back for Gaeil Fhánada, a long one. 

The goal, in the middle of the second period, was well worked with Sean O’Neill finding his brother up the line and inside the Gaeil Fhánada cover. 

And as he cut in from the left and with a number of defenders closing in, O'Neill let fly from outside the large rectangle to give Mark McConigley, the Gaeil Fhánada keeper, no chance. Malin were now 1-13 to 1-7 ahead and there was no real way back for the men from Fanad. 

And though they battled bravely to the end, Daniel Mullarkey was equal to all of their high launches into the Malin goal area and, with the clock ticking, Christopher McLaughlin capped a good performance with the game’s closing point.  

Seven points was the margin of difference in the end so it was hard to believe it took a late Christopher McLaughlin point to force the game to extra-time, with the score at the end of normal time, Gaeil Fhánada 1-7, Malin 0-10.

Malin had been chasing the game from when Darren McElwaine lobbed Daniel Mullarkey from distance after the keeper misdirected his kickout straight into his grateful arms. 

That was just 16 minutes in and the goal propelled Gaeil Fhánada into a 1-2 to 0-2  lead. 

Liam McGreneghan, Josh Conlon, Conor Farren and McElwaine all traded scores as the two teams sized each other up. 

Two points separated the sides at the end of a cagey opening 30 or so minutes with Gaeil Fhanada ahead 1-3 to 0-4 with Sean O’Neill and Christopher McLaughlin raising white flags for Malin and James Kerr adding to the Gaeil Fhánada tally. 

The third quarter was a slow burner with Malin making no great inroads, despite playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze. 

Gaeil Fhánada still led by three 1-6 to 0-6 by the end of the third quarter. 

Josh Conlon on the burst and Sean O’Neill with a long-range strike added urgency to Malin play and the lead was cut to one, 0-8 to 1-6.

Callum McAteer then galloped forward on the right wing for a fine a fine point to restore a two-point advantage, 1-7 to 0-8. 

That was on the 50-minute mark and also Gaeil Fhánada’s last throw of  the dice as they did not score again in the remaining 15 minutes or so of play. 

Conlon and Christopher McLaughlin, two of Malin's best performers, slowly reeled Gaeil Fhánada in and McLaughlin levelled the tie in the second minute of injury time to force extra-time.

Malin scorers: Josh Conlon 0-4, Sean O’Neill 0-4,2f, Conor O’Neill 1-0, Christopher McLaughlin 0-3,Terence Doherty, Conor Farren, Conor McGeoghan 0-1 each. 

Gaeil Fhánada scorers: Darren McElwaine 1-2,1f, Liam McGreneghan 0-2 1 '45,1f, James Kerr, Eoghan Carr and Callum McAteer 0-1 each. 

Malin: Daniel Mullarkey; Gary Farren, Ciaran Doherty, Sean Byrne; Taylor Bonner, Conor Farren, Paul McLaughlin; John Gerard McLaughlin, Daniel Houghan; Josh Conlon,  Matthew Byrne, Christopher McLaughlin; Conor O’Neill, Terence Doherty, Sean O’Neill. 

Subs: Shaun Kelly for C Farren (h/t); Seamus Houghton for P McLaughlin (43); Conor McGeoghan for T Doherty (51); Brendan McLaughlin for J Conlon (59); Josh Conlon for M Byrne (9, e-t). 

Gaeil Fhánada: Mark McConigley; Shaun Kerr, Paddy Heraghty, Jimmy Coyle; Calum McAteer, Odhran Shiels, Brandon McClafferty; Liam McGrenaghan, Patrick Carr; James Kerr, Darren McElwaine, Eoghan Carr; Mark McAteer, Fergal Friel, Oisin Shiels.

Subs: Shaun Carr for F Friel(h/t); Oisin McFadden for K Coyle (53); Michael Sweeney for S Carr (61); Mark Friel for M McAteer (9, e-t).

Referee: Shane Murrin(Killybegs).