South Antrim Division 2 Football League
Laochra Loch Lao 1- 12 v 2-5 Wolfe Tones,
Fintann Quinn reports from Colaiste Feirste
An Caisleán Glas Wolfe Tones fell to a four point defeat against Laochra Loch Lao in their latest game at Colaiste Feirste on the Falls Road in Belfast on Wednesday 30th September 2020. It was the third time since the Greencastle club reformed 10 months ago that the sides have played each other with both clubs having registered a win apiece prior to Wednesday’s tie. Ultimately The Laochra were a more experienced and well drilled unit who were worth the maximum return in this South Antrim Division Two fixture.
The West Belfast outfit raced out of the blocks and clipped over three unanswered points, it could have been more had Tones goalkeeper Danny McIvor not clawed what looked like a nailed on goal, round the post. The Tones registered a point from an Odhrán Hassan free before centre half back Joe Reid stepped up to the plate with a fine solo run from deep in his own half, finding Hassan with a smart pass which then allowed the Derry native to slot cooly over to bring the visitors within a point. This was ultimately as close as the new boys would get and three unanswered Laochra points meant Wolfe Tones trailed 0-6 to 0-2 at half time.
On the restart the teams exchanged wides before LLL scored three more points on the bounce to move seven clear. Lansdowne Road man Reid kept Enda McAtamney’s charges in the game with another fine run from deep which he finished with a shot from distance that lobbed the home keeper and found the top corner of the net. Another exchange of points saw the tie sit at 1-3 to 0-10 before the game was effectively ended as contest when the hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Kevin Parke, which was duly dispatched, and two further points saw Laochra hold an insurmountable 1-12 to 1-3 lead.
Serpentine Road man Kieran Moloney scored Wolfe Tones second goal and further points from Gerard McDonnell and Rory MacAuley finished the scoring as the game ended on a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-5 in favour of the Belfast Gaeltacht side. Kevin McCallion and Eoin McKee both made their Wolfe Tones debuts on the night and despite the short time since their return to Antrim football the Greencastle outfit can hold their heads high, competing with a team dotted with men who have Junior Championship experience in their locker. With a big squad packed with players new to Gaelic Games, or returning after an absence, there are plenty of positives to take from the game for Wolfe Tones. The attitude,discipline and work rate from the whole squad is excellent and the more they play together and learn together the more they will kick on. The improvement since the management team came in three months ago is marked and this inexperienced squad can and will improve by playing a more expansive game, providing backup and a man on the overlap perhaps and putting a name on a pass over what will be a busy Autumn period.
Wolfe Tones: Danny McIvor, Conor McMullan, Neil Brannigan, Declan Moloney (Fergal McQuillan), Stevie Lowrie (Kevin McCallion) Joe Reid 1-0, Rory MacAuley 0-1, Jonah Magill, Kieran Moloney 1-0, Gerard McDonnell 0-2, Paul Carlin, Aodhan Moloney, Paul McAdorey, Sean Harkin (Eoin McKee), Odhran Hassan 0-2 (Stevie Rea)