McLaughlin looks at the Buncrana win as another step towards success for Malin

Malin’s one-point win over Buncrana in Sunday’s IFC quarter-final was another massive step forward on their road to championship success. 

That was the feeling felt by team captain Christopher McLaughlin after his side came from two points down in the closing minutes to win on a 0-11 to 0-10 point scoreline in a highly competitive All-Inishowen, quarter-final clash in Carndonagh.  

It’s a massive boost for this Malin team to win at the weekend as they hope to banish the demons of last season and go one step further after they were pipped by Downings in the Donegal IFC final. 

“Like all teams in the championship, when we set out our main aim was to win it,” insisted the Malin skipper afterwards.  

“We had it tight in the group stages and we were lucky to get through but thankfully we did.” 

Malin were in a highly competitive group alongside Termon, Red Hughs, Naomh Columba, and Bundoran were they achieved one win, one draw, and two losses to Termon and Naomh Columba, who are also in the semi-final of the Intermediate competition.  

“Once you get into the quarter-final it is every man for himself and thankfully we have come through today against a good Buncrana side,” McLaughlin said. 

Malin played with the advantage of a strong wind in the first half and led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time but they knew they had a lot more work to do.  

“Buncrana won the toss and elected to play with the wind,” he said. 

“You have to play the cards you are dealt. We didn’t push on as much as probably many people felt we should have in the first half, but there are those who probably thought a three-point lead was enough. 

“But I was confident with the work we had done and that the boys would never give up and they would battle to the end. 

“Buncrana are a good team and they have options everywhere are the field. It was a tight game, but I had faith in our boys from one to 15 and the subs that came on. 

“When Buncrana went ahead, we never panicked and the character in the team got us there. We got through today and that is another step forward in the championship.”