BY RYAN FERRY

MALIN manager Paul Gallagher says the form is good within his club following their epic extra-time quarter-final win over Naomh Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin last Saturday.

The Connolly Park residents reached the Intermediate final in 2013 and were knocked out at the semi-final stage last season.

However, there was then a changing of the guard with Michael Byrne stepping down and a number of experienced players stepped away, while Donegal Under 20 star Conor O’Neill emigrated.

However, Malin haven’t felt sorry for themselves and have shown that they know how to win championship matches.

“The feeling is very good,” said Gallagher.

“Everyone you’re chatting to just seems to be buzzing for the games.

“I think it has taken some people by surprise because expectations were quite low with it being my first year and a lot of people stepping away.

“People might have been thinking we’d just try and weather the storm for a few years and build.

“It’s fine margins as well. We got two draws out of the four group games, and we got two late goals to beat Bundoran, so we could have ended up in the relegation play-offs.

“It’s a very tight championship but the people around here are buzzing and it’s all they talk about at the moment.”

Youngsters like Ciaran O’Kane at midfield, Mac McLaughlin, Darragh Douglas, and Finn Ward have all stepped up to the mark for Malin.

“Ciaran was part of the senior panel last year but he wouldn’t have played any championship games.

“I actually had him with the minors last year so he has really stepped up.

“When he’s not on the field, you notice the difference and his presence for kick-outs and everything.

“For a big man, he’s very comfortable on the ball.

“We have youth right across the field. We have Taylor Bonner in midfield with him and he’s only twenty years old and you have Darragh Douglas as well.

“We have a good blend, with Danny Green back home from America, and Paul ‘Fildara’ stepped back in after stepping out.

“It doesn’t take much. One or two players can gel it together.”

Gallagher hopes the extra-time battle on a heavy pitch doesn’t have too much of an impact on his side, and he admits that he hasn’t seen much of Naomh Muire this year.

“We travelled to Red Hughs – Bundoran and then we went on to Naomh Columba and Buncrana, and the one I didn’t get to was Naomh Muire. That’s the way it goes.

“I didn’t see a lot of Division 2 football this year because our games were on at the same time.

“And in the championship, you were just concentrating on your next game so I haven’t seen a huge amount of them.

“But look they are promoted to Division 1, and themselves and Naomh Muire were the two favourites going into this championship.

“They are well coached there with Danny so they will be a big challenge for us.”