Blistering attack by Tuohy on former colleague Loughnane

THE Ger-Loughnane-for-Galway saga has taken another twist following stinging criticism from his former Clare player Fergie Tuohy.

In the mid 1990s Loughnane and Tuohy won All-Ireland titles together with Clare as manager and player respectively.

However, Tuohy says their relationship was “up and down” at the time and an obvious hardening of relations has since taken place.

Tuohy has launched a major attack on the Feakle man and asked if his suitors in Galway “know what they might be letting themselves in for?”

As things stand Galway are awaiting an answer from Loughnane about becoming Conor Hayes’s successor.

Loughnane made it clear he would only take the job if he wasn’t contested for the position. He pulled back from the race when it became clear that a number of others, including his former Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald, had joined the race.

Then, last weekend, Loughnane said he would reconsider the situation after the other nominees pulled out.

A meeting of the Galway hurling board was planned for Tuesday night but was postponed to allow Loughnane time to consider the situation.

As Galway chiefs sit by the phone and wait for his answer, Tuohy’s outburst is sure to be picked up on.

“It seems to me that he (Loughnane) has gone out of his way to have a cut at guys who gave him everything,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be one for underestimating the role of Ger Loughnane in our success, but I think history has underestimated the role of the team leaders on the field.”

Tuohy added: “If he goes to Galway he will be reminded very quickly of the tools he had to work with in Clare.”

Tuohy followed up with a blast at Loughnane’s media punditry which he claimed has been far too focused on individual Clare players and the team in general.

“Knocking the likes of Brian Lohan and Seanie McMahon was low, even for him,” continued Tuohy.

“Those two guys were the best that have ever played for Clare; and within the last 12 months they have given their best ever displays in a Clare jersey.

“And that was with someone else at the helm of the Clare setup, not Ger Loughnane.”

Writing in his regular column for the Farmer’s Journal, Tuohy acknowledged the “great moments” Clare had under Loughnane.

But he was quickly back on the offensive when he considered Loughnane’s offerings to Clare hurling in more recent years.

“To go on television and write what he has written about players who never, ever let him down, that was going too far,” said Tuohy. “It wasn’t the truth and he knew it.”

Tuohy questioned whether Loughnane is happy for Clare to be successful under any other manager.

“Regular readers of this column will know I am close to Anthony (Daly); indeed I am close to all that Clare team of 95-97,” he said.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Ger Loughnane was a hindrance to Anthony’s management of this Clare team.

“I wonder — and I’m well aware that I am wondering out loud here — if Ger would be happy to see Clare hurling succeed without him at the wheel. I have my doubts.”