Oisin McLoughlin, remember the name.
They’ll remember him forever in Westport, the Leaving Cert student, the corner forward, the two-goal king of Croke Park.
He might yet be small in stature and young in years but he’s big in heart, he’s overflowing in talent.
Westport were crowned AIB GAA All-Ireland Intermediate Football champions on Sunday after a thrilling 2-12 to 3-8 win over Colmcille’s of Meath and it was their late programme change Oisin McLoughlin that led them there with two stunning goals.
In a game of fine margins, the tie swung back and forward at a breathless pace but, twice, when the Leinster champions looked to be making inroads on the Westport deficit, it was the whippet corner forward Oisin McLoughlin that was there to ruthlessly keep them at bay.
His first was just incredible.
A long, hard ball was planted down the side beneath the Hogan Stand and, with glue on his hands and strength in his shoulders, McLoughlin won the thing and held onto it under serious pressure from two Colmcille’s men.
He was a good 60 metres from the byline but, with a jinky turn and a bit of skill, he pumped the afterburners and left both white shirts eating dust in his trail. He took the ball the whole way, darted inside and rolled it coolly in off the near post and reeled away like it was just another day – not the biggest day in his club’s history.
Oisin McLoughlin though#TheToughest pic.twitter.com/Uz5dAvooiW
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) February 19, 2017
If you only ever watched one clip of Oisin McLoughlin in your life, you’d have seen enough in that goal to know that the Westport forward possesses a number of frightening qualities:
- Hands
- Skill
- Pace
- Audacity
- Composure
Along with Colm Moran, another Leaving Cert student, the deadly duo ripped the opposition a new one on the wide open plains of Croke Park and it was the two that combined again in the second half.
Colm Moran to Oisin McLoughlin – WHAT A COMBO
Leaving Cert students… LEAVING CERT STUDENTS!#TheToughest pic.twitter.com/dUpqe33IIw
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 19, 2017
That was Westport’s last score of the game and, as it turned out, they needed every last drop of what McLoughlin’s two green flags gave them because they had to survive a late onslaught to win by a point.
Naturally, the two-goal hero took all the plaudits during an exhilarating performance.
Oisin McLoughlin will be given the freedom of @WestportGAA if they can hold on #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/MR1PmXt23k
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) February 19, 2017
Oisin McLoughlin goal was as good as Darran O Sullivan's in the junior semi final. & came in the next attack after Colmcilles goal. Some run https://t.co/Vc5aOUMtSR
— Joss (@townjoss) February 19, 2017
Oisin McLoughlin, Jesus Christ #TheToughest
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 19, 2017
What a bloody goal, Oisin McLoughlin runs from the sideline under the Hogan, no one meets him and he finishes brilliantly, low off the post.
— Tommy Rooney (@TomasORuanaidh) February 19, 2017
Oh Oisín McLoughlin 😍 #TheToughest
— Mayo Club '51 (@MayoClub51) February 19, 2017
Savage goal by Oisin McLoughlin. #westport gaa #TheToughest
— Ruairi D (@ruairid2002) February 19, 2017
May just crown the mcloughlin kid now. Leeroys gonna have a rival in Westport
— Eoin Forde (@EoinFordeeoin) February 19, 2017
He already has an All-Ireland to his name and only good memories of Croke Park. He’s young but, Christ, this is an exciting start to a senior career.
As Lee Keegan said afterwards about McLoughlin and his student companions:
“Kids with big balls, that’s what they are.
“It would be so easy for a young lad to come to Croke Park and not freeze but just do something different,” the Footballer of the Year said.
“He [McLoughlin] just stuck to the game plan, Colm [Moran] stuck to his game plan. These lads, they just have no fear at all.”
Oisin McLoughlin, remember the name.
