McLoughlin retires from Cork hurling panel
KANTURK’S Lorcán McLoughlin has called time on his inter county career after announcing his retirement this week.
Over a hectic decade of involvement, the stylish dual player showed his talents in abundance across both hurling and football on delivering consistent performances for club, division and county. However , injuries caught up with the versatile player over recent years, his lone involvement in championship 2018 limited to the Munster Final victory over Clare.
Having come to the forefront with Kanturk and Duhallow in the County Premier MHC and U-21 Hurling, McLoughlin,made his debut for Cork seniors in 2010 in a league match against Offaly.
Ever consistent, he always delivered a healthy ration of work, winning three Munster senior hurling medals during his career in 2014, 2017 and 2018.
Disappointment surfaced in 2013,lining out at midfield, Cork fell narrowly to Clare in the All-Ireland final replay. Whether football or hurling, McLoughlin was always a main source of inspiration, the winner of an All-Ireland U21 Football medal with Cork in 2009 and helping his divisional team Duhallow contest county SFC finals in 2012 and 2018.
A consistent shining light with Kanturk, success followed, the club landing both County IHC and County Premier IHC titles in addition to a County IFC last saeason. Fittingly McLoughlin never played a better game in the Kanturk jersey than in the All Ireland Club IHC Final at Croke Park last February.
Indeed McLoughlin disregarded the number on his back and played wherever the cause required him to perform and his 0-7 contribution did much to claim a thrilling victory over Kilkenny’s Ballyraggett.
In a fitting tribute, Kanturk GAA Club applauded the talents and skill of a teriffic exponent of football and hurling: “Words cannot do justice to describe how proud we have been of Lorcán McLoughlin on the biggest stage of all over the years. Your skill and grace on the hurling fields of Ireland were a joy to behold, thank you for the memories with Cork and wishing you many more memories with Kanturk.”