Connect with us

Sport

‘Genuine and likeable’ McLoughlin fondly remembered in Killarney

Published

5 years ago

on

LEGEND: Alan McLoughlin played 42 times for Ireland between 1990 and 1999. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

VISIT: Alan McLoughlin is presented with a Killarney Athletic jersey by club stalwart Mikey O'Sullivan during the inaugural FAI Summer Camp at the Áras Phádraig in 1992.

In August of 1992, Ireland international Alan McLoughlin spent a week in Killarney as part of the first ever FAI Summer Soccer Camps, which were organised in this town in conjunction with Killarney Athletic. Over the course of his stay, the Portsmouth player coached a group of local youngsters at the old Áras Phádraig pitch on Lewis Road.

Long-serving Athletic chairman Mikey O’Sullivan liaised with McLoughlin throughout his visit and so impressed was he with the Mancunian’s work on the training pitch, he suggested that a career in coaching lay ahead for the then-25-year-old. McLoughlin, who was a bit-part player for Jack Charlton’s side at the time, quipped that he still had something to offer as a player.

Little did he or O’Sullivan know just how significant a contribution to Irish football he would later make.

Fast forward to November of 1993 and a tense and fractious night at Windsor Park in Belfast. Ireland needed a result against Northern Ireland to secure a place at the 1994 World Cup but with time ebbing away, they trailed by a goal to nil. Charlton turned to McLoughlin to come in and make an impact, and what an impact he made. The attacking midfielder controlled Denis Irwin’s half-cleared free kick on his chest before arrowing a beautiful half-volley to the corner of the net, and Ireland were heading for America.

It wasn’t McLoughlin’s only contribution to the Irish team – he was selected for two World Cups and was Ireland’s Player of the Year in 1996 – but it was undoubtedly his most important.

He continued playing for his country until 1999 and he would later fulfil O’Sullivan’s prophecy by taking on a coaching role with Portsmouth.

ILLNESS

McLoughlin was diagnosed with a kidney tumour in 2012. Although he had a successful operation at the time, he confirmed in March of this year that he was battling cancer again. He passed away on Tuesday at the age of 54.

Tributes have poured in for the Irish soccer hero these past few days and speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Mikey O’Sullivan said he has fond memories of McLoughlin’s time in Killarney.

“I recall meeting Alan at the time as he was an assigned coach to our coaching clinic and he was a very likeable and genuine fellow. He and his wife Debbie, along with their few-months-old baby Abby, stayed in the Gleneagle Hotel for the week.

 

[caption id="attachment_37480" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Alan McLoughlin is presented with a Killarney Athletic jersey by club stalwart Mikey O'Sullivan during the inaugural FAI Summer Camp at the Áras Phádraig in 1992.[/caption]

 

“When speaking with Alan he was very proud to be part of the Irish international team and valued his family ties with this country very much. (McLoughlin’s mother hailed from Knockaderry in County Limerick and his father came from Largan, between Headford and Tuam on the Galway/Mayo border.)

“I am sure that I can express condolences to Debbie, Abby and Megan and the wider family at this sad time of their great loss from all of us in Killarney who met Alan through the love and support of soccer.”

McLoughlin will always have a special place in the hearts of Irish soccer fans thanks to that wondergoal in Belfast in ’93 and in his autobiography he acknowledged how significant a moment that was for him personally.

“I occasionally get out the video of that goal against Northern Ireland, watch my volley and watch the elation on my face. I think back to touching down at Dublin airport as the hero of the hour. I think back over my life and career. Serious illness brings with it the inevitable thought of standing at the pearly gates, and accounting for your life. I think back on the characters I've come across, the family members that I have loved and cherished, the joy and pain, I think back to Big Jack telling the cameras that, with the goal, I had justified my existence.

“And I reflect with a wry smile that, yes, when all is said and done, I had done exactly that.”

 

Main pic: The late Alan McLoughlin, who played 42 times for Ireland between 1990 and 1999. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Related Topics:
Advertisement

News

Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

Published

2 weeks ago

on

7 November 2025

By

Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

Published

2 weeks ago

on

7 November 2025

By

After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

Attachments

Continue Reading