Francis Loughnane
Encyclopedia
Francis Loughnane is an Irish
retired hurler
who played as a wing-forward for the Tipperary
senior team.
Loughnane made his first appearance for the team during the 1968 championship
and became a regular player over the course of the following decade. During that time he won one All-Ireland
winner's medal, one Munster
winner's medal, one National League
winner's medal and three All-Star
awards.
At club level, Loughnane is an All-Ireland
medalist with Roscrea
. In addition to this he has also won two Munster
club winners' medals and six county championship
winners' medals.
and enjoyed much success in a senior career that lasted more than twenty years.
He won his first county championship
winners' medal in 1968, beginning a grea t era of success for the club.
In 1969 Roscrea retained the county championship title before Loughnane subsequently added a Munster
club winners' medal to his collection.
A second set of county and provincial titles were annexed by Roscrea in 1970. Loughnane later lined out in the inaugural All-Ireland club final with St. Rynagh's
providing the opposition. A 4-5 to 2-5 victory gave him a coveted All-Ireland
club winners' medal.
Roscrea continued to be a major force in club hurling over the next decade with Loughnane winning further county championship titles in 1972, 1973 and 1980. He brought the curtain down on his senior club career following a defeat by Kilruane McDonagh's in the 1985 club championship decider.
minor hurling panel. He won a Munster minor medal in 1962, however, he failed to win an All-Ireland medal at this level. Two years later in 1964 Loughnane captained Tipperary to inaugural Munster and All-Ireland
under-21 titles. He won a second Munster under-21 title in 1965.
Three years later in 1968 Loughnane was a substitute when Tipp won the Munster senior title. By 1971 he was a full member of the team and won his first senior Munster
title. Loughnane later won his first All-Ireland
title when Tipp defeated Kilkenny
in a high-scoring game. He finished off the year by winning the first of three consecutive All-Star
awards (1971–73). The rest of the 1970s proved to be a bleak period for Tipperary’s hurling fortunes, however, Loughnane finished off his career by winning a National Hurling League
medal in 1979.
In 2009, he was ranked 111 of all-time greatest Irish hurlers by the Irish Independent
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired hurler
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
who played as a wing-forward for the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior team.
Loughnane made his first appearance for the team during the 1968 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1968
-Season:-Single game:-References:* Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists .* Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games ....
and became a regular player over the course of the following decade. During that time he won one All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winner's medal, one Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
winner's medal, one National League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
winner's medal and three All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards.
At club level, Loughnane is an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
medalist with Roscrea
Roscrea GAA
Roscrea GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Roscrea in North County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The club's ground ground shares its name with St. Cronan's BNS in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The club's colours are red and white and they play at Páirc Naomh Cronáin Roscrea...
. In addition to this he has also won two Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club winners' medals and six county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
winners' medals.
Club
Loughnane played his club hurling with RoscreaRoscrea GAA
Roscrea GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Roscrea in North County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The club's ground ground shares its name with St. Cronan's BNS in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The club's colours are red and white and they play at Páirc Naomh Cronáin Roscrea...
and enjoyed much success in a senior career that lasted more than twenty years.
He won his first county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
winners' medal in 1968, beginning a grea t era of success for the club.
In 1969 Roscrea retained the county championship title before Loughnane subsequently added a Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club winners' medal to his collection.
A second set of county and provincial titles were annexed by Roscrea in 1970. Loughnane later lined out in the inaugural All-Ireland club final with St. Rynagh's
St. Rynagh's GAA
St. Rynagh's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club that encompasses the towns of Cloghan and Banagher in County Offaly, in Ireland. Formed in 1961, the club gained almost immediate success - winning the senior championship in 1965. St. Rynagh's went on to appear in three All-Ireland club finals...
providing the opposition. A 4-5 to 2-5 victory gave him a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club winners' medal.
Roscrea continued to be a major force in club hurling over the next decade with Loughnane winning further county championship titles in 1972, 1973 and 1980. He brought the curtain down on his senior club career following a defeat by Kilruane McDonagh's in the 1985 club championship decider.
Inter-county
By the early 1960s Loughnane had joined the TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
minor hurling panel. He won a Munster minor medal in 1962, however, he failed to win an All-Ireland medal at this level. Two years later in 1964 Loughnane captained Tipperary to inaugural Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
under-21 titles. He won a second Munster under-21 title in 1965.
Three years later in 1968 Loughnane was a substitute when Tipp won the Munster senior title. By 1971 he was a full member of the team and won his first senior Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title. Loughnane later won his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title when Tipp defeated Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
in a high-scoring game. He finished off the year by winning the first of three consecutive All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards (1971–73). The rest of the 1970s proved to be a bleak period for Tipperary’s hurling fortunes, however, Loughnane finished off his career by winning a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal in 1979.
In 2009, he was ranked 111 of all-time greatest Irish hurlers by the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
.