Loughnane keeps in touch with Clare minors

DESPITE having health-related priorities, following his diagnosis with leukaemia, Ger Loughnane has sent a message of congratulations to the Clare minor hurlers, who have qualified for the Munster final on July 10 in Cork. Clare beat Tipperary in last Friday week’s semi-final.
“His [texted] words were ‘I heard the great news of the performance against Tipp. We all have big battles ahead but isn’t that what’s life is all about” Clare minor selector Eamon Fennessy said.
“We were absolutely astounded that he sent us this message. It’s a measure of the man really,” he added. 
Loughnane presented the 2010 Munster minor champions with their medals at their presentation night and had been in regular touch with the minor management throughout last year’s campaign.
“Last year, whether people knew it or not, Ger was never far away from us. His door was always open for advice and his thoughts on our games or his thoughts on our preparation going into the next game. He was always helpful to us but we never made it public knowledge. We just kept it very low key but we were very thankful to him. When it came to the presentation night, the players knew him and he had them eating out of his hand that night,” Fennessy recalled.
“We as a management definitely want to send our best wishes to him and from the whole panel as well. I think people had the perception that because he was on television, he was gone away from Clare but he wasn’t. He was still a Clare man and willing to offer advice if we wanted it and criticism as well,” he noted.
Loughnane, who was one of Clare’s greatest half-backs, managed the county to two All-Ireland and three Munster titles in the 1990s. He is receiving treatment for his condition at St James’ Hospital in Dublin.