[2] McLoughlin came from Inishowen in County Donegal and grew up in and around the towns of Moville and Carndonagh.
On 26 July 1948 he played as an inside-right for Ireland at the 1948 Olympic Football Tournament.
[3] Brendan O'Kelly, who scored Ireland's only goal, like McLoughlin, also played for Bohemians and UCD.
McLoughlin joined Portadown in 1951, scoring on his début against Crusaders on 27 January 1951.
While at Portadown he represented the Ireland Amateur team on three occasions, played in games against England, Scotland and the Gold Coast.