Clare still inspired by hero Loughnane

IN Clare’s magnificent All-Ireland title wins of 1995 and 1997, one man stood head and shoulders above all others — manager Ger Loughnane. A charismatic figure, it was the power and force of his personality that drove Clare to new heights during those heady years.

News this week that Loughnane is battling leukaemia has sent shockwaves through the GAA world and beyond.

Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin was one of the playing stars of the Loughnane era. Nowadays he is at the helm of the county side who face Galway in a make-or-break All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Pearse Stadium on Saturday night. And how he would love to bring some good news to his former manager this weekend.

O’Loughlin revealed: “Ger will be mentioned in training and I’m sure that the lads will give it their all.

“I’m sure the lads will do anything if we thought it would help Ger and keep his spirits up.

“Only a few weeks ago, I asked him to come and have a chat with the lads in the senior setup, and he did, no problem. A lot of them wouldn’t have heard him speak before and he was just fantastic. Having known him for over 20 years, that’s what I’ve come to expect — he had guys eating from the palm of his hand.

“We’ll be taking into account all the very positive things he said to us in his talk and putting it all together.

“We’ll go up to Galway and try to put on a good display for the team, for the county and for Ger Loughnane.

“I hope we can do that.”

As with everyone else, Ger O’Loughlin was shocked at the news.

“You’d be shocked that something like this would happen to a fella like Ger — the whole county is in shock.

“He was looking fine when he spoke to us, so this news was the last thing you’d expect. Hopefully now though everything will be fine and he’ll bounce back from this. We’re all hoping and praying that will be the case.

“He’s such an indestructible figure, such a great character, so outgoing and full of life and that will stand to him. “He’s in our prayers in Clare, and I’m sure around Ireland as well.”

Galway, who Loughnane also managed, have their own massive incentives to win. Nevertheless Sparrow O’Loughlin calls for his players to now lift their game again, after the disappointment of losing to Tipperary despite a huge display. “We have to take all the good things we did against Tipperary and try to bring those forward, play for the full 70 minutes, not lose our concentration. We got sucker-punched for a few soft goals. We have to learn from those mistakes, and learn faster than we’ve been doing. It has to start this Saturday night, that every score Galway get they’ll earn.”

O’Loughlin confirmed star full-forward Darach Honan is out of the Pearse Stadium clash.

“He has a long-term groin injury and it isn’t clearing up. He needs to rehab it for a few weeks to get it right. It’s an ongoing problem and it needs to be sorted out for once and for all.”