AFTER hours, weeks, months and years of constant struggle with a back injury, Harry Loughran eventually had to face the music and confirm his retirement from football at all levels this week.
And as the dust begins to settle on the most difficult decision of his sporting life, the Moy clubman admitted that perhaps his biggest regret is that he won’t be around to share in the Tyrone All-Ireland glory he is convinced is just around the corner.
Loughran (26) played in the 2018 All-Ireland final which Tyrone lost to Dublin by six points but featured in just three more games for his county. He was sidelined last year when Tyrone lost to Donegal in the Ulster Championship but is certain that brighter days lie ahead for the Feargal Logan-Brian Dooher-managed side.
“The tough part of it all is that Tyrone are going to have great success over the next few years,” said Loughran.
“That Tyrone team has a few All-Irelands in it – I have no doubt about that. There is so much talent in the squad, there is a brilliant management team, a brilliant backroom team and a great leader – Mattie Donnelly is a leader and a player who has it all.”
Logan and Dooher took over the Tyrone reins after Mickey Harte’s 18-year tenure came to an end following that two-point loss to Donegal last November. Loughran explained how the new management duo had kept the door open for him to join their panel for this season but, in the end, he had to concede that he would never again be able to reach the level of fitness required for the inter-county game.
“When Feargal and Brian came in they gave me more time, they said they would give me a few months to see if I had tried everything and give me the chance to do the rehab,” Loughran explained.
“But there was no way I could join back up with the squad. I really appreciate them giving me that time but unfortunately it just didn’t work out.
“I’ll be taking up the role of supporter and cheering them on to success over the next few years because I have a lot of great friends in the team and I hope they do really well.”
The resumption of inter-county activity remains three months away and Tyrone will start the 2021 season in Division One North alongside newly-promoted Armagh as well as Monaghan and Donegal. That series of Ulster derbies will be good preparation for Tyrone to launch a challenge for a first Ulster title since 2017.
Should that go according to plan, the Red Hands can begin gearing up for a crack at the Sam Maguire which has been trapped in Dublin’s vice-like grip for the last six seasons.
“It will be difficult to break that Dublin dominance but it’s only when you’re in and around the Tyrone squad that you realise the quality of the players there,” says Loughran.
“Last year, when I was up in Gavaghy doing rehab after my operation, I ended up watching a lot of the training and you really appreciate the quality of the players and you can see the management team and the backroom team and everything coming together.
“A lot of the boys in the squad are hitting their prime now and I believe an All-Ireland will be coming very soon.”
