He had a loan spell at AFC Fylde in 2018, before being released by Guiseley later that year and subsequently joining Salford City in July 2018.
[3] He played non-league football for Liversedge, joining the club at the age of 17, but left less than a year later to study at Sheffield Hallam University.
[15] Lawlor signed for Hartlepool United on 1 August 2021 following a successful trial period, with the length of his contract not disclosed by the club.
[20] He was a regular member of the starting eleven, and Darlington's manager, Alun Armstrong, had expected the loan to be extended to the end of the season, but this did not happen.
[21] On 19 January 2022, a week after the loan expired, Lawlor's contract with Hartlepool was terminated by mutual consent.
[7] After the dismissal of manager Alun Armstrong and assistant Darren Holloway on 6 September 2023, Lawlor was one of a group of three senior players tasked with covering managerial duties until an appointment was made.