It has been a most impressive start to the season for this season’s newly promoted team to the Premiership, Loughgall.
Having returned to the top-flight after a 16-year absence, there is a refreshing air about the Villagers and how they have handled the step up from the second-tier.
While they recently suffered a heavy 6-0 reversal at the hands of Glentoran, that goes down as a rare blot on the copybook in a campaign that has already seen them beat reigning Irish League champions Larne and leave with a point on away days to north Belfast rivals Crusaders and Cliftonville.
The Co Armagh club, based in a village so small that it has come to international attention, are doing things their way – and that is the most endearing aspect of their early success.
Much of the credit must go to manager Dean Smith and his coaching staff.
When Loughgall achieved the step up, they knew that their home settlement would become the smallest place population-wise to house a top-tier football team in Europe in 2023/24. Only 282 people live there, per the 2011 Census, making the club a true hub of the community as the big hitters of Irish League once again lay in wait.
But while they may be little in stature, that arguably fosters their collective spirit and their infallible heart.
As it stands, the Lakeview Park panel sit seventh-place in the Premiership, with 15 points garnered from their 12 matches played to date.
Consolidation would have been Smith’s primary objective going into this term and, as Newry City also found out to their gain last time out, such sturdy beginnings can prove crucial when the questions turn to survival come the closing stages. 11 of their points, intriguingly, have been picked up on the road, suggesting they thrive off the freedom of expression when the shackles are off.
Which links to another point. They have stuck to their guns. They have stuck, fundamentally, to what makes them great.
They have stuck to their identity.
And that’s what makes them likeable. Just because they are at a higher level than what they were before, does not mean they have abandoned their principles.
Yes, the home form – their defeat of Larne, when Benji Magee sent Lakeview wild with a late 89th-minute winner, is their only home victory to date in league play – could do with a bit of improvement, but where some might change tack for entering the big time, Loughgall are still comparable to how their tackled the Championship.
Inspired in other quarters by the leadership qualities of captain Ben Murdock and set-piece nuisance Caolan Loughran, the safe hands of German-born shot-stopper Berraat Turker – he naturally featured when German broadcaster ZDF shone a light on their adventure – the exuberance of youth conjured up by Magee and Jay Boyd, the instinctiveness of Nathaniel Ferris and the attacking contributions from midfield of the gifted Andrew Hoey, the core of the side that got Loughgall up has also been trusted to impress by Smith.
Continuity, often an unspoken pillar of excellence in the Irish League, is abundant at this club.
And should the performances continue to marry with that, trips to Loughgall on the top-flight agenda won’t be leaving any time soon.
Featured image from David Kerr/NIFL media.
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