Luke Loughlin makes rapid recovery to return for The Downs in Westmeath SFC

Luke Loughlin of Westmeath during the Leinster quarter-final between Meath and Westmeath. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Luke Loughlin has been praised for a remarkable return to action less than four months after writing his entire year off with 'a horrendous injury'.

The Westmeath star suffered a Grade 4C hamstring tear and tendon rupture during their Leinster SFC defeat of Meath in April and subsequently underwent surgery.

In an Instagram post at the time, the in-form attacker and two-point specialist said his inter-county season was over and acknowledged, 'I more than likely won't play sport again this year, never mind with Westmeath'.

But just two games into the county SFC, Loughlin came on for holders The Downs in Sunday's draw with Coralstown/Kinnegad, a tie which was a repeat of last year's final.

Loughlin was immediately influential too, knocking over two two-pointers and creating a goal in the 1-13 to 1-13 stalemate.

"Luke has come back from a horrendous injury," The Downs manager Dermot Power told Midlands 103. "I don't think anybody knows or understands the level of work that Luke has put in, whether it was his prehab or his rehab post his surgery. He deals with a lot of adversity in his life and he certainly dealt with that extremely well. We're delighted to have him back."

Westmeath went on to capture a first Leinster SFC title since 2004 in Loughlin's absence. 

The hope among supporters is that both Loughlin and John Heslin, who came out of retirement midway through this year's Championship, will both be available for Westmeath in 2027.