McLoughlin the quintessential team player

The final whistle sounds in Parke and Knockmore’s starting players and management make a quick retreat for the dressing-rooms after a comfortable win against Mayo Gaels secures them a home quarter-final.

Kevin McLoughlin isn’t quite so lucky.

He and the other Knockmore subs are put through a series of sprints to try to bring their running load closer to those who played a full game.

He’s out of breath when he comes off to be greeted by his children afterwards and is still catching his breath when interviewed.

“When you only get fifteen minutes you have to do as much as you can, there’s a lot of them other boys played 60 so it’s just good to get the legs open, get a win and into the quarter-finals,” said McLoughlin.

He’s 36 this year and as lean as ever. It says plenty for the humble nature of the man that he is very happy to play whatever role is asked of him. He came on in the 41st minute in their opening round win over Balla, did not feature in the draw against Westport and came on in the 48th minute against Mayo Gaels. He was part of Tony McEntee’s coaching team in Sligo this year and so was not able to give the full commitment earlier in the year.

“I haven’t done the level of training the rest of the lads have so when I came back in I kinda knew … Look I might not have 60 minutes but I’m going to give it everything if it is for 60 minutes or ten minutes or if I don’t get on the pitch, encouraging. Whatever role I have, I’m happy enough with,” he said.

But what a sub to have for Raymond Dempsey and his management team. He came on here and within seconds, Liam Durkan had a goal. Within a minute, McLoughlin found the net himself.

“There’s an element of luck sometimes with these and timing,” he deflects. “You could say I was involved in some of them but we looked like we were on the verge of scoring a couple of goals even prior to me coming on so I got one of them myself and in fairness to Mayo Gaels, when we went that good few points in front, they probably put down the heads a little bit,” he added.

His own finish showed all his experience and nous, coming in from the right and placing it low, under Paul Mannion. We ask him if that’s what Kevin McLoughlin the coach would be advising lads in that situation.

“You do. You don’t always do it yourself but I managed to do it today!” Only days later, McLoughlin is unveiled as part of the new Mayo U20 management team fronted by Keith Higgins. But for now all focus remains on the club.

McLoughlin wasn’t to know at the time that it’s Ballintubber who Knockmore will welcome to St Joseph’s Park.

“It’s great to get a game at home. You’ve your home crowd in front of you but, look, in one sense it means nothing. It’s still a pitch at the end of the day but having it so close to home is great to maybe try to get more supporters there. Looking forward to seeing who we get.” 

And Kevin McLoughlin will be there, doing whatever his management ask of him, forever the team player.