Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin (born 5 September 1967 in Clarecastle, County Clare, Ireland) is an Irish former hurling manager and former player.
Feakle were the opponents on this occasion, however, Clarecastle made history by retaining the title for the first time.
O'Loughlin added a fourth county title to his collection inside of nine championship seasons.
Clarecastle subsequently represented the county in the provincial club series of games and even reached the final.
[2] A defeat of St. Gabriel's of London in the All-Ireland quarter-final saw O'Loughlin's side advance to a semi-final meeting with Birr.
New fitness regimes and new personalised diets and, above all, a new psychological approach, resulted in the fittest and most prepared Clare team ever taking to the field for a third consecutive Munster final.
Clare never surrendered and, thanks to an inspirational penalty by goalkeeper Davy FitzGerald, fought back to win by 1–17 to 0–11.
[7] A subsequent defeat of Galway gave Clare the right to line out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final.
Four minutes from the end substitute Éamonn Taaffe first timed a long range free straight into the net to give Clare a one-point lead.
After a quick equaliser captain Anthony Daly calmly sent over a 65-metre free to give his team the lead again.
The introduction of the new 'back-door' system resulted in both Clare and Tipperary meeting for the second time in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final.
Clare were well on top for much of the game, however, Liam Cahill and Eugene O'Neill scored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes.
John Leahy missed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide.
[10] In winning the 1997 All-Ireland final Clare defeated Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary – the big three of hurling.
The Munster final victory over Waterford in a replay was an ill-tempered affair, with many citing it as the beginning of the end for Clare's great run of success.
With two minutes left to play Clare were 1–16 to 2–10 ahead and looked destined for victory, however, referee Jimmy Cooney blew the full-time whistle.
The Offaly supporters launched a sit-down protest on the pitch at Croke Park and a second replay was granted.
A defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers saw Clare exit the championship and brought an end to the county's managerial team.
[12] This victory gave him a unique distinction of winning club titles with Clarecastle as a player and as a manager.
O'Loughlin crossed the border from Clare to Limerick and took charge of club side Adare in time for the 2007 championship season.
[13] A second consecutive appearance in the final of the county championship saw Adare take on hurling kingpins Ahane.
After a disastrous showing in the National League and near relegation from the championship, a majority of the players retired from inter-county activity as they believed that it was time for team manager Mike McNamara to resign.
[23][24] In 2013 O'Loughlin was appointed manager of the Newtownshandrum senior hurling team and beat Ballymartle in the first round of the cork championship.