fourth Munster decider in 1981. A 3–12 to 2–9 defeat by Limerick was the result on that occasion. In 1986 Loughnane's played in a fifth and final provincial decider. Victory eluded him for the fifth time, as Cork secured a 2–18 to 3–12 victory. Loughnane retired from inter-county hurling following Clare's exit from the 1988 championship. Inter-provincial In 1975 Loughnane was chosen on the Munster inter-provincial team for the very first time. In spite of a narrow one-point defeat by Leinster in the decider, it was the first of seven successive seasons of Loughnane being picked for inter-provincial duty. The following year Loughnane was dropped from the starting fifteen, however, he was introduced as a substitute in the decider against Leinster. A narrow 4–9 to 4–8 victory gave Munster the title, and gave Loughnane a first Railway Cup medal. Defeat was Munster's lot the following year, however, Loughnane was back on the starting fifteen in 1978. A 0–20 to 1–11 defeat of Connacht secured a second Railway Cup medal for Loughnane. Munster faced defeat at the hands of a resurgent Connacht over the next two years, however, the team bounced back in 1981. Loughnane was at right corner-back as Munster trounced archrivals Leinster by 2–16 to 2–6. Management career Managing Clare Although Loughnane was noted as a great hurler in a county that was starved of success, it is for his exploits as manager of the Clare senior hurlers in the 1990s that he is best known. His managerial career began in the early 1990s when he became a selector on the Clare senior hurling team under Len Gaynor. He was later dropped after a heavy defeat, serving as manager of the Clare under-21 team in the intervening period, but returned as a senior selector in 1993. When Gaynor stepped down in 1994 Loughnane immediately became manager and was charged with preparing the team for the 1995 championship. His training sessions became infamous among players for their intensity and he made sweeping changes throughout the team. After a winter of intense training Loughnane's side proved their worth by reaching the final of the National Hurling League. Kilkenny hammered Clare on that occasion. Loughnane was particularly annoyed when he saw one of the Kilkenny players putting the winning trophy into the boot of his car. In spite of this Loughnane still predicted that his side would win the provincial championship. Clare