As we approach the business end of the season, we take a look at the players we currently have out on loan at their respective clubs.
Sean Brown
The young defender joined fellow Sports Direct Premiership side Ballymena United on loan in January, after spending the first part of the campaign at NIFL Championship outfit Bangor FC.
Since joining, the 18-year-old has started and completed ninety minutes in every Sports Direct Premiership so far, apart from again his parent club where he was ineligible due to the loan agreement.
The versatile right-sided defender has provided one assist in the Sports Direct Premiership, setting up Noah Stewart in a 1-1 draw with Newry City back in February.
Sean will look to play a crucial role in the coming weeks as the Sky Blues battle against relegation from the Sports Direct Premiership, with some key fixtures upcoming in the split.
Caolán Donnelly
The 19-year-old midfielder joined NIFL Championship side Ballyclare Comrades during the January window after impressing for our Olympic side and making his first-team debut back in September.
Since joining, Caolán has been a regular feature in the starting eleven for the Comrades, scoring in his first two appearances against Strabane Athletic and Dergview.
The holding midfielder has gone on to score two more goals in the NIFL Championship alongside putting in a number of man of the match performances as Ballyclare Comrades solidified their position in the table ahead of the split.
Oisin Devlin
After signing for Tiernan Lynch’s side during the January transfer window, the young midfielder returned to Institute on loan for the remainder of the campaign as part of the deal.
The 17-year-old has amassed 25 appearances in the NIFL Championship at the time of writing and has been a key figure in the middle of the park as the team push for the promotion spots in the table.
Traditionally more of a holding midfielder, Oisin has found the back of the net twice during the campaign against Ballinamallard United and Dergview respectively.
Oisin will be hoping to be a key part of the squad as the team continues to push for promotion to the Sports Direct Premiership, with just seven points separating the top four at the time of writing.
Odhrán McCart
The 19-year-old defender joined NIFL Championship side Ards at the end of the January transfer window after captaining our Olympic side for the first half of the season.
Odhrán, who featured for our first team in the Bet McLean Cup earlier this season, has been a regular feature in the backline for Ards since joining, starting all seven NIFL Championship games.
It’s coming into a crucial part of the campaign for Odhrán and the rest of the Ards side as they look to battle off relegation during the run-in.
Matthew Lusty
The young striker joined fellow Sports Direct Premiership side Dungannon Swifts at the start of the season.
The 20-year-old made a big impact at Stangmore Park, scoring nine Sports Direct Premiership goals, alongside three assists.
Matthew also played a key role in the Swifts’ run to the semi-finals of the Bet McLean Cup, scoring three goals and registering two assists in the competition.
However, Lusty’s loan ended abruptly back in December as he suffered a broken collarbone during a Sports Direct Premiership game against Glentoran. The striker returned to the club after the injury and will continue his recovery and rehabilitation at the club for the remainder of the season.
