Lorcán steps away having shown his class at all levels for club and county

LORCÁN McLoughlin has stepped away from the Cork hurling panel.

The experience Kanturk native hurled for the Rebels since making his debut in 2010 and was a key figure in 2013 when Cork came within a puck of a sliotar of lifting Liam MacCarthy.

McLoughlin formed a high-energy midfield partnership with Daniel Kearney that summer and was RTÉ Man of the Match in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Dublin after rifling over three points.

He later spent time at wing-back, where he started against Limerick in the 2014 provincial final triumph, but in recent seasons he was on the periphery. He did feature off the bench as Cork secured back-to-back Munster titles but also struggled with injuries.

He announced his retirement via Twitter:

“Honoured to have represented the Cork senior hurling team for the past nine seasons.

“Thanks to my club, family and friends who have supported me through the good days and bad days.

“Wishing the Cork senior hurling team the best for the 2019 season. #GoodTime #GreatMemories”

McLoughlin, who turned 29 this week, first emerged as a star hurler in his early teens where his development was in tandem with the growth of the game in Duhallow. He was the driving force for Coláiste Treasa back in 2008 when they became All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior B champions and he landed 2-10 in that season’s semi-final win. 

He was a Cork minor in 2007 when they made the All-Ireland final where they were defeated by Tipp.

McLoughlin accelerated his development as a hurler in CIT, reaching Fitzgibbon and Cork senior hurling deciders.

A fine footballer as well, McLoughlin nabbed an All-Ireland U21 medal with Cork in 2009, along with his older brother John, and both have been heavily involved for their division in the senior football championship, losing the county final recently to St Finbarr’s.

He was Man of the Match in 2011 when Kanturk won the county junior final.

Earlier this year he was at the heart of his club Kanturk’s All-Ireland intermediate hurling victory against Kilkenny’s St Pat’s Ballyraggett at Croker. McLoughlin chipped in with 0-7 that day from a midfield berth.

Along with his brother John, Anthony Nash and Aidan Walsh, Lorcán has given Kanturk a high profile in the national stage but has always delivered locally as well. In a golden era for the club, they have landed junior and intermediate football titles, along with the intermediate and premier intermediate hurling crowns and that All-Ireland success.