See how our seven players who are out on loan at various clubs across the NIFL Premiership, Championship and Premier Intermediate League have got on so far at the halfway point of the season. All of the facts and figures in this article are correct as of Friday 2nd January.
Josh Kee
Josh Kee is spending the season on loan at Glenavon to help him gain more top-flight experience as they push to stay in the Sports Direct Premiership.
After joining at the end of August, he has started three times in the league against Dungannon Swifts, Linfield and Portadown. Most of his league appearances so far have been from the bench, coming on in eight occasions to gain 247 minutes of invaluable gametime.
In the BetMcLean Cup he has made two appearances, scoring a goal against Warrenpoint Town in their 2-0 victory in what was only their second win of the season and playing ninety minutes against Newry City where they lost 1-0. He’s also had two starts in the Mid Ulster Cup in a 4-0 win over Coagh United and the game against Annagh United that went to penalties with his effort being saved by the keeper.
In total, Josh has made fifteen appearances so far for the Lurgan Blues and has scored one goal. He will be hoping to contribute even more to his side for the rest of the season with the aim of avoiding relegation to the Championship.
Oisin Devlin
Oisin Devlin joined Bangor at the end of August and has quickly established himself as a starter in the team and a fan favourite of the Seasiders.
Oisin’s debut came two days after joining when he came off the bench in a 2-1 win against Dungannon Swifts and he hasn’t looked back since. He has gone on to start in twelve more league matches, only being took off in four of them in a period where he has made his importance known to manager Lee Feeney. The teenager did pick up a red card against Carrick Rangers that saw him miss out on three games, but once he was available for selection he was straight back into the team and has started ever since.
He also played the full ninety minutes in the 3-0 loss to Carrick Rangers in the Co. Antrim Shield and didn’t come off the bench against Lisburn Distillery in a convincing 4-1 win in the BetMcLean Cup, before being put out in the next round by Larne. Altogether, Oisin has made fourteen appearances.
Bangor currently are 7th in the league and can still break into the top six as the season goes on. Oisin will he doing his best to get his temporary side into the play-offs for Europe as well as trying to get a win away to Linfield in the Irish Cup.
Ambrose Ajala and Daniel Collett
Ambrose Ajala and Daniel Collet are both out on loan to Queen’s University in the Playr-Fit Championship, looking to build on their experiences from the Scholarship Programme and gain some gametime in first team football.
Ambrose has took off since joining Queen’s and has played in every game so far excluding the meeting with Larne, making twenty-four appearances in total, starting on seventeen occasions, and becoming a key player for the Students this season.
He has made a name for himself by scoring eight goals in the Championship which puts him as Queen’s top scorer as well as the 8th top scorer in the Championship. His first goal came in his second appearance, scoring the equaliser in a 3-1 away win at Dundela. Ambrose scored in his next game against Warrenpoint Town and a few games later against both Ards and Loughgall. He then extended his scoring streak to three games in a row after a brace against Ballinamallard United. A goal against Annagh United and H & W Welders has capped off his scoring so far, with the young striker being the Championship Player of the Week against Annagh.
Daniel Collett has had less game time than Ambrose after suffering a broken finger at the start of the season that sidelined him for a number of games. Since then, he has been on the bench fourteen times and is yet to make a start, but is gaining first-team experience to help his development.
Dan has still got some game time after playing for their U21s in a 2-2 draw with Dollingstown U21s, where he even scored a goal, and a 1-1 draw with Newington U21s.
After playing twenty-three games, Queen’s currently sit 4th in the second tier and have been a surprise package this season after only gaining promotion the year prior.
Jack Hastings
Jack Hastings joined Armagh City for the season, another team playing in the Championship. Last season he spent time at Annagh United and Carrick Rangers, making thirty-seven appearances and scoring one goal.
So far Jack has already scored more goals this season with four in only fourteen appearances. In his first month he made nine appearances, coming off the bench three times and starting in six matches. He got his first goal in the Mid Ulster Cup Quarter Final against Loughgall, the only goal in the game. This would be his last match for two months after picking up an injury.
Jack came back with a bang after coming off the bench against Dundela to score a minute later and grab another ten minutes before the end to help Armagh to a 3-1 win and their first victory in a month. After a brilliant twenty-four minutes he was the Championship Player of the Week. He got another goal in the next game against Limavady United after coming off the bench and then started the next three matches against Ballinamallard United, Loughgall and Ards.
The Eagles are 11th in the Championship, only two points above relegation rivals Dundela and nine points behind Institute who are above them. Armagh are out of the League Cup and Mid Ulster Cup and turn their attention to an Irish Cup fixture against Drumaness Mills and improving their league form.
Callum Cowan and Logan Graham
Both Callum Cowan and Logan Graham joined Portstewart who play in the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League.
Both players made their debut in the 1st round of the Irish Cup, losing to Newtowne. In the BetMcLean Cup they exited in the Preliminary Round to Moyola Park with Logan playing the full ninety minutes and Callum coming off the bench. Another 1st round exit came against Limavady United in the North West Senior Cup, although the Seahawks did do better in the Intermediate Cup by beating Aquinas before being beat by St. James Swifts. Callum and Logan started all three matches. The Craig Memorial Cup saw both players come on against Draperstown Celtic, Callum start against Tobermore United and neither play in the Semi Final where they were put out by Heights.
The pair have also made an impact in the league for Portstewart. Both Callum and Logan came off the bench against Coagh United to make their league debut in a 1-1 draw. Callum also came off the bench in the next two games against Lisburn Distillery and Strabane Athletic with the duo both coming off the bench at home to Rathfriland Rangers. Callum earned himself a start against Ballyclare Comrades and played the full ninety minutes, came off the bench against Oxford Sunnyside and started against Dollingstown. In those matches Logan made a cameo appearance against Dollingstown
Portstewart only have the league to focus on for the rest of the season and will look to regain their fine league form from the start of the season and carry it into the second half. They are 12th in the 14-team league, but are only nine points behind 1st place Moyola Park meaning everything is still to play for.
