New role gives me extra opportunity to shine, says Linfield’s Kirk Millar

Kirk Millar is all smiles after scoring the goal that ultimately decided Linfield's duel with Loughgall

Loughgall's Oran Brogan attempts to shrug off Jamie Mulgrew

Tiernan Kelly's own goal puts Linfield 1-0 up

Linfield's Josh Archer tracks Andrew Hoey

Benji Magee is congratulated after scoring Loughgall's consolation

Kirk Millar has revealed how he is revelling in a role that has given him a new found freedom in the Linfield team.

With the licence to roam, however, comes a responsibility to deliver. Although that’s not something that should really be a worry for the man who for years was considered to be simply an out and out winger.

As he closes in on a decade as a Linfield player, with now over 400 appearances in blue, he continues to add to his catalogue of fantastic goals, with his strike crucial in giving Linfield a 2-1 win over Loughgall to keep them four points clear at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership.

Loughgall's Oran Brogan attempts to shrug off Jamie Mulgrew

Millar admitted that David Healy’s team needed ‘a bit of spark.’ The home side’s strong defence proved difficult for Linfield to break down, while their quality on the ball was reflected in the fact that it was the County Armagh men who created more scoring opportunities in the first-half.

Two crucial interventions from Millar, however, turned things within the first 10 minutes of the second period.

The first was trademark Millar; his crosses from the right are renowned in the Irish League and such was the danger from a free-kick delivery that Tiernan Kelly was caught on the wrong side of the ball and diverted it into his own net.

Tiernan Kelly's own goal puts Linfield 1-0 up

The second was also typical of Millar, but this time he popped up in a