New Monaghan ladies manager

The Scotshouse man will take over the hot seat from John McAleer who had led the side to the All Ireland final last year and the All Ireland semi final this year. Speaking after his appointment, McLoughlin was understandably delighted to be given the opportunity to manage his county.

“Happy and privileged, it is a great honour to manage any county team but extra special to have the opportunity to manage your own county.”

While it is the first time as manager of the side, McLoughlin was involved in 2006 when he worked along with Padraig Treanor when the side lost the Ulster decider to Armagh.

“We were not far away in 2006, lost to Armagh in the Ulster final which was Armagh’s first Ulster title. In the league we went down to Laois to play Cork and ran them very close when nobody give us a chance. Laois knocked us out of the All Ireland championship which was a major blow.

“Now the side are in the top four in the country. In 2008, inexperience let them down against Cork and last year a little bit of luck would have saw them back into the final. Dublin showed everyone else and opened the eyes of other counties that teams are getting closer to Cork.”

The new Oriel girls boss has previously managed a number of Clones teams at both juvenile and senior level and has also managed his own club Currin at senior level. He was also part of the Clones ladies management team that claimed the Ulster junior title in 2005 and worked with Development squads in the county.

McLoughlin has named Paul O’Hanlon (Carrickmacross), Dessie Connors (Clones) and Sharon McMeel (Truagh) as his management team. The Scotshouse man and his management team will have a meeting later this week and hopes to hold trials in the coming weeks.