“I got a goal against Lampard’s Chelsea and I am delighted I got a goal in the final.”
The words of Eric Molloy; a man who has travelled the world playing ball of some kind. Playing in the FIFA World Cup is not something many people get to brag about however the feeling of winning a county final with your parish has to rank up there with everything else.
Molloy came on a substitute last Sunday as Rathvilly and Eire Óg battled it out for Carlow’s top footballing honours and put his foot to good use by grabbing a goal. Instead of taking credit, Molloy was quick to shine a light on the team effort.
“Usually when you come on you are trying to get up to the pace”, Molloy told Scoreline.
“We took our time, but Robbie Molloy in goal saved us in the end. Two great saves. If they got that, the game could have gone anywhere. Everyone stepped up to the mark, we were well at it, and that’s what was needed to beat Eire Óg.”
Provincial success is now up for grabs with the Carlow champions scheduled to take on the Louth champions Naomh Mairtin this Sunday. With the quick turnaround in games, celebrations may have had to be curtailed, but it is a situation Molloy is used to;
“Games comes thick and fast, I am used to that with the soccer. We will be ready for that.”
What a difference a year makes.
Last year Molloy was playing for Polish club Stomil Olsztyn, before joining Waterford in March and moving to Shelbourne in July. Damien Duff has since been appointed as Shelbourne manager and with Molloy’s contact up for renewal, he hopes the Irish legend gets to see a replay of his performance in the final.
“Can you show Duff that goal and get onto him? The contract is up and I’ll be hoping to secure a new contract for next season.”
In case he is reading this, here is the goal in question.
Highlights from a thrilling @michaellyngmtrs SFC County Final thanks to CarlowGAA TV in assoc. with our streaming partners @PaircTV 🇬🇳📽🇬🇳 pic.twitter.com/YuY88YUHVv
— Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) November 16, 2021
