Michael Molloy on the special ‘home from home’ aspect to London Masters football 

Michael Molloy was a real thorn in Donegal Masters’ side as he kicked three points from play and pulled most of the strings London’s 2-11 to 2-8 All-Ireland Shield semi-final win on Saturday. 

Stationed at No. 11 Molloy - who travels down weekly from Liverpool to be a part of the London squad - had his old clubmate Patrick Gallagher for company at the Errigal Ciaran grounds at the weekend. 

As well as that, former Kilcar men Conor McShane, David McShane, Ciaran Cunningham and Gerard McBrearty were also included in the Donegal ranks. And to add a little more Towney flavour to the Exiles line-up, David Cannon operated at wing half forward. 

Molloy explains that the loose and more traditional feel to Masters football makes it so enjoyable to play in. 

It felt like a brilliant game of football to play in, hard-hitting,” said Molloy. “It was a very honest game of football, man on man in that sense. Personally, it was a great chance to play against some of my old team-mates and childhood friends. 

“Patrick Gallagher was marking me throughout. Conor McShane caught me late once or twice and smiled as he did it!”

Masters football continues to capture the imagination but for players like Molloy, away from home for the past 17 years, it makes that distance feel a little less further away when the group meets up.  

“What’s good about it is the camaraderie of being around people from home. That’s the biggest takeaway from it. It’s such a great group of people. There is no drama, people just want to play. 

“If you win, great. But it’s more to do with the meeting up and just kicking a bit of ball. It’s home from home. I’m with John Mitchels in Liverpool. I travel down for the games but I look forward to it every single time”.

Molloy keeps a close interest in Kiclar’s fortunes and he makes a point of getting home as often as possible. Indeed, he doesn’t let four weeks pass by before jumping on a plane to make his way back to the northwest.  

“I do miss it and since dad passed away I try to get back as much as I can. I try to get over at least once a month to see mum because family is important”. 

On Kilcar’s current senior crop, he said: “They’re a brilliant group of players. They probably deserve another one but football doesn’t always work like that. Donegal is so competitive now, at that top bracket. But fingers crossed they’ll get once the line once more”.