'I need to play football': Former Larne striker highlights role of Irish League legend in transfer

Hastings was a prolific, highly-rated talent coming through the ranks at Inver Park, captaining Larne to Harry Cavan Youth Cup glory – he scored 36 goals for the club’s U18 and U20 teams throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

He earned his Premiership debut as a teenager on the final day of the same season, coming off the bench to provide an assist as Tiernan Lynch’s side celebrated Gibson Cup glory in style by beating Coleraine 5-0.

With the Inver Reds consistently battling for major honours, opportunities proved hard to come by for Hastings, who went in search of vital senior experience in loan moves to Annagh United, Carrick and Armagh City.

Confirmed as one of four players to be leaving Larne this summer, the 20-year-old has quickly found himself a new club, reuniting with Baxter at Carrick – the former Crusaders chief labelled his new striker as an “exciting young talent” after signing a two-year contract.

During his own playing career, Baxter scored goals aplenty for the likes of Ards, Linfield and Crusaders, and Hastings believes he’s learning from the perfect person as he looks to take his game to the next level.

“I was at Carrick on loan and Stephen is one of the main reasons why I have gone back,” he said. "Stephen is straight and honest, which is good.

"He lets you know where you stand and he has put trust in me to sign for him for two years so I am happy with that.

"I enjoyed working with Stephen during the loan spell and he really helped me in training. He was a striker as well so he helped me a lot...I'm still young and have a lot to learn.

"I have learned so much from Stephen already and I was only with him for three months, now I'm with him for two years so I'm looking forward to it.

"Hopefully I can settle quickly because this is the first senior club I have committed to, the others were all loans so I wasn't there on a permanent basis. I hope I can hit the ground running, score goals and help the team.”

The early stages of any player's senior career can be difficult as they look to establish themselves with loans often viewed as the best route.

Hastings showed his commitment to develop, driving over an hour to Armagh City multiple times per week last term, but hopes now being at a new permanent home can help bring the best out of him.

"Hopefully I can settle quickly because this is the first senior club I have committed to, the others were all loans so I wasn't there on a permanent basis,” he added. "I found it tough in the first couple of weeks (at loan clubs) when you're trying to get to know people.

"If you're playing then you can enjoy it, but if you're not playing it can be hard. My loans haven't been close to my house, I was driving an hour-and-a-half to get to training – it can be tough.

"I need to play football. I haven't kicked a ball since January with what happened at Armagh City...I just want to play football and kick on.

"I came back to Larne in January and it never worked out for me after the loans. That's football and you have to get on with it, hopefully this is a fresh start for me to get back to enjoying football.”

Hastings made two Premiership appearances for Larne alongside featuring in cup competitions and benefitted from training with a squad which has now won three league titles across the past four seasons.

The young forward also worked closely with former Rangers midfielder Andrew Mitchell, who followed Lynch to Derry City after his appointment at the League of Ireland club.

Hastings reflects on his Larne spell with mixed emotions, but feels it helped provide him with a solid platform which he can now build upon.

"I had ups and downs at Larne, but the good times were great, winning the Harry Cavan Youth Cup,” he said. “Andy Mitchell was the manager then and he was great with me - he still keeps in touch with me, helps me and speaks to me, I'm grateful to him for helping me.

"Mitch was great, he helped me so much at Larne, and there's S&C coaches, physios, Keith O'Hara and the coaches help you to develop.

"Some of the boys have been about the Irish League so they know what it takes to compete, it's great to learn from people like that.

"The first team was great, the experienced ones helped me a lot. Tomas (Cosgrove) was great with me when I first came up to play at 16, he looked after me that whole day which made me feel settled.

"I just want to hit the ground running now at Carrick, score goals, play football and help as much as I can.

"They have an experienced team so it will be good for me to learn off the players who have been about the league."