Ger O'Loughlin

Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin (born 5 September 1967 in Clarecastle, County Clare, Ireland) is an Irish former hurling manager and former player.

An effective forward, O'Loughlin enjoyed a successful playing career at club level with Clarecastle and at inter-county level with Clare.

In 1986 he lined out in his first final of the county senior championship.

O'Callaghan's Mills provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Clarecastle emerged as the winners.

It was O'Loughlin's first county title.

In 1986 Clarecastle were back in a second consecutive county championship final.

Feakle were the opponents on this occasion, however, Clarecastle made history by retaining the title for the first time.

It was O'Loughlin's second county title.

The club later represented Clare in the Munster and even reached the final of the competition.

Borrisoleigh of Tipperary provided the opposition, however, O'Loughlin's side were defeated by 1–13 to 1–9.

After enjoying little success with the Clare minor and under-21 hurlers, O'Loughlin quickly joined the senior hurling team for the 1986–87 National Hurling League.

Clare reached the final of the competition that year and lined out against Galway.

O'Loughlin's side just fell short that day and lost the game by 3–12 to 3–10.

The next few years proved to be an unhappy time for the Clare hurling team as they struggled against the traditional hurling powers in the provincial championship.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond O'Loughlin's side, while Clarecastle were beaten by Sixmilebridge in the county final of 1989.

He was a key member of the latter team during the 'golden age' of the 1990s and collected two All-Ireland titles and three Munster titles in the space of four years.

After a successful spell as manager of his native club Clarecastle, O'Loughlin took charge of the Adare club in Limerick.

During his term the club captured three club championship titles in-a-row.

In 1991 O'Loughlin lined out in a fourth county championship decider.

Scariff were the opponents, however, the title went to Clarecastle.

O'Loughlin lined out in his first Munster final in 1993.

Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion, however, the game turned out to be a complete disaster for Clare.

A final score line of 3–27 to 2–12, in favour of Tipp, resulted in a humiliating trouncing for Clare.

Three years later in 1994 Clarecastle were back in yet another county final.

Up-and-coming club side St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield provided the opposition, however, they were no match for Clarecastle.

O'Loughlin added a fourth county title to his collection inside of nine championship seasons.

In 1994 Clare were back in the Munster final for a second consecutive year.

Limerick provided the opposition in O'Loughlin's second provincial decider; however, the result was a familiar one.

Defeat in the county final of 1996 gave Clarecasle the impetus to make amends in 1997.

St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield line dout in opposition, however, Clarecastle had too much and won the game.

It was O'Loughlin's fifth county championship winners' medal.

Clarecastle subsequently represented the county in the provincial club series of games and even reached the final.

Limerick champions Patrickswell provided the opposition, however, a 2–11 to 0–15 score line gave Clarecastle the title and gave O'Loughlin a Munster club winners' medal.

A defeat of St. Gabriel's of London in the All-Ireland quarter-final saw O'Loughlin's side advance to a semi-final meeting with Birr.

A thrilling 1–15 to 3–9 draw was followed by an even more exciting replay with extra-time.

A narrow 0–12 to 0–11 score line gave Birr the win and saw Clarecastle exit the championship.

This was O'Loughlin's last major occasion with Clarecastle.

He retired from club hurling in 1999.

O'Loughlin's tenure as manager of the Clare senior team last from 2009 until 2011 and ended without any success.

O'Loughlin played his club hurling with his local team in Clarecastle and enjoyed much success during a golden age for the club.