GER LOUGHNANE: THE CAREER THAT WAS...
1954 - Born in the east Clare village of Feakle.1971 - Loses a Munster minor final to a Jimmy Barry Murphy inspired Cork team which later wins an All-Ireland.
1973 - Makes his Clare hurling debut in a league match against Tipperary.
1974 - Loses a Munster final against Limerick but is rewarded with his first of two allstars.
1977 - Wins a league medal with Clare as part of a renowned half-back line that also featured Sean Stack and Sean Hehir. Picks up his second allstar.
1978 -Wins a second league medal and a second Railway Cup medal with Munster.
1987 - Quits inter-county hurling.
1988 - Helps Feakle to their first Clare title in 43 years.
1989 - Quits playing club hurling with Feakle after Munster club championship defeat to Mount Sion.
1992 - Sacked as county under 21 manager after a shock Munster final defeat to Waterford.
1994 - Comes in as a selector to Len Gaynor with a view to taking over outright management which he did in September. Embarks on an unprecedented fitness and discipline regime.
1995 - Clare lose a league final to Kilkenny but improve throughout the summer to win their first All-Ireland crown in 81 years.
1997 - Lands a Munster and All-Ireland final double over Tipperary. Launches a blistering TV attack on analyst and current Limerick manager Eamonn Cregan on the night of the final.
1998 - Steers Clare to a third Munster title in four years and then crosses swords with GAA authorities in what became known as 'The Colin Lynch Affair.' Remains defiant that Lynch shouldn't be suspended because there is no video evidence or referee's report to indict him for what he is alleged to have done in the early minutes of the Munster final. Does an amazing interview with local radio station Clare FM.
1999 - Masterminds replay win over Tipp declaring it "the most complete performance" from a Clare team in his time. Clare lose Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final to Kilkenny. He subsequently parts company with long serving selectors Tony Considine and Mike McNamara and more recent recruit Sean Stack whom he was grooming to take over. Voted by one newspaper as "hurling manager of the century."
2000 - Hails "the best ever prepared" Clare team which subsequently loses to Tipperary. Announces resignation.
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Jun 22, 2000 |
| Words: | 374 |
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