Antrim side Laochra Loch Lao made their debut in Division 3 last Wednesday. The Irish-speaking club was only founded last December and has their first taste of club football against St. Malachy's in Belfast last week.
The newly formed side didn't manage to cap the event with a win going down 1-11 to 3-10, but that didn't dampen the spirit of secretary/corner forward Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, who spoke to Irish News of the importance of the game:
For us, the first game was a hugely historic occasion because we had established Laochra as an amalgamated team back in 2006/07 to take part in the national Gaeltacht competition (Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta) but the step of starting a new club is a big deal.
We have U6, U8 and nursery programme, which is thriving, and we have a ladies team who have entered in Division 3 and are top of the league. The key for us is participation, that's the main thing - we're a GAA club, but also a language project.
A historic day for @LaochraLochLao as they play @stmalsbelfast #Division3 #GAA pic.twitter.com/bOQHTNNNBp
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) April 18, 2018
