AIB GAA Club Championship: Kilmallock’s Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin on the road to Croker

Clare man looking for ultimate prize in adopted county

What is it about Limerick club hurling that Clare men find so appealing? Ger O'Loughlin made his name as a manager with the three-in-a-row Limerick county champions Adare almost 10 years ago, while Tony Considine guided Garryspillane to their only Limerick title in 2006.More recently Sean Stack helped Na Piarsigh to Munster club glory, only to be denied at the last four of the All-Ireland series And so 'Sparrow' is now just 60 minutes away from guiding a Limerick side to a very first ever AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championship title on Tuesday March 17 in Croke Park. It is one stage further than he managed in his own club career with Clarecastle after a narrow All-Ireland semi final replay loss to the great Birr team in 1998. The challenge that awaits is formidable. Ballyhale boast numerous All-Ireland senior medalists as well as men who have carved their names into GAA folklore such as Henry Shefflin. The Munster champions are underdogs but that's not something the former Clare forward is concerned about.

'Well Na Piarsigh were favourites in Limerick and they had another good year and Sarsfields were strong while Cratloe were very strong too. Justifiably we were underdogs until the All-Ireland semi final with Portaferry. The underdog tag hasn't done us any issues in regards to preparation  We're no under illusion against Ballyhale but being underdogs isn't a disadvantage to us anyway.'

O'Loughlin however does feel his side will be at a slight disadvantage in terms of the venue. The club have a number of players who will have experienced Croke Park at underage and senior level such as Paudie O'Brien and Graeme Mulcahy. However O'Loughlin is annoyed at how his team were not allowed a chance to train or at least puck around on the pitch prior to their game. It's believed Ballyhale made no arrangements to travel to Croke Park but that is hardly a surprise when a number of players could probably give a guided tour of Jones' Road at this stage.

'We have been up there. We haven’t had a run out as such because of the regulations and that – they don’t allow you out onto the field, which is a bit of a setback really for guys who haven’t played there before.

'It’s not the ideal situation. We are expected to go up there on the 17^th and perform to the best of our ability and yet it’s disappointing that you can’t get a run out on the pitch.

'Look, it probably is a disadvantage and Ballyhale certainly have plenty of experience with all the lads they have involved that are regularly playing there. It’s not ideal for us but we won’t be using it as an excuse on the day.'

When Kilmallock have gotten onto the pitch to hurl they have been impressive. The club secured their third county title in five years with a success over the holders Na Piarsigh in November by 1-15 to 0-14. The game was in stark contrast to the twelve point opening round defeat to the 2013 champions in May of last year. Their Limerick success then saw them face Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields which produced one of the best games of 2014. Kilmallock edged their Munster rivals by two points deep into extra time to secure a 3-22 to 3-20 win. Their never say die attitude was also tested as they edged out a star-studded Cratloe side in the Munster final-again after extra time,

'We have had what you would call a few lucky bounces during the season. Probably our most decisive display was in the Limerick final where we beat Na Piarsaigh, not comfortably but certainly we were in control. The other matches in the Munster Championship campaign could have gone any way. Our games against Sarsfields of Cork down in Kilmallock was a very tight affair, literally up to the last minute or two, when we managed to get a point and then another one on the stroke of full-time.

'The same applied with Cratloe, that went to extra-time, so that shows you how close it was between winning and losing. They were great games to be involved in though because they probably put a bit of steel into us in tight situations.'

That potent alloy of hurling ability as well as dead eyed calm has raised expectations that 2015 may finally be the year that sees a Limerick side lift the AIB GAA Club Championship crown. Limerick sides have enjoyed a barren run in All-Ireland finals of almost all descriptions over the last number of years at Croke Park except for camogie. But that expectation and pressure is of no concern to the Clare man. Being an outsider is probably a help in how he approaches the thorny subject of  glory in a success starved county. He will know from his own time with Clare how pressure can build but he's hoping to turn it into a positive,

'For me it’s just a Kilmallock issue, we are going to Croke Park and it is a fantastic day for the club. I suppose the Limerick people would like to see a Limerick team win something in Croke Park but for me it’s a club issue really. We would be absolutely thrilled if we can do it for Limerick as well, the thing about it is Limerick teams find it hard to get to Croke Park firstly, and in All-Ireland finals their record hasn’t been great up there but that can change too.'

Ballyhale's status as one of the greatest club sides of all time can be cemented even further with victory on March 17th. There is a senior All-Ireland winner in almost every line of the field while Henry Shefflin is seeking to claim a second All-Ireland medal in less than six months in Croke Park. The Kilkenny side dispatched Gort in their last four encounter while Kilmallock overcame Ulster champions Portaferry. History shows that defeating the northern champions is often not the ideal preparation for taking on a stiffer challenge in Croke Park,but 'Sparrow trusts his side to be ready

'It is certainly something you always say that you might be better off with a really tight competitive semi-final, nine times out of ten it helps you in the final. Ballyhale probably got that against Gort. But you can only play what’s in front of you. We played a couple of good games against decent opposition since January 10^th and we have learned a good bit from it. Conditions have been tough with wind and rain but you learn a bit at the same time from those games. We have had a few good workouts so we should be sharp enough.'

For O'Loughlin he'll be hoping  it will be his first chance to taste Croke Park glory again since his heyday of the mid 1990's under Ger Loughnane. He's hopeful that when they step out next week to face the Leinster champions that they mentally tuned in,

'Playing a team like Ballyhale focuses the mind a lot quicker. A lot of the times you are better off to be playing one of the best teams in the country because there is no room for a lack of attention to detail. We definitely know from where we are at and what we will have to do to beat Ballyhale on the day.'