{{Short description|Westmeath Gaelic footballer}} {{Distinguish|Luke O'Loughlin}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | code= Dual player | image = | name = Luke Loughlin | irish = | birth_place = Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland | feet = | inches = | occupation = | county = Westmeath | province = Leinster | club = The Downs/Clonkill | clpositionh = | clpositionf = | clubs = The Downs/Clonkill | clyears = | clapps(points) = | clcountyh = 3 | clcountyf = 1 | clprovince= | clallireland =
| <!-- Colleges(s) --> | colyears = | colleges = | colapps(points) = | <!-- College titles --> | fitz = | sig = | <!-- Inter-county(ies) --> | icyears = | counties = Westmeath | icapps(points) = | <!-- Inter-county titles --> | icprovince = | icconnacht = | iculster = | icleinster = 1 | icmunster = | icallireland = | nfl = | nhl = | allstars = | <!-- Last updated --> | clupdate = | icupdate = }} '''Luke Loughlin''' (born 1994/1995) is a dual player of Gaelic games, who plays football for The Downs, hurling for Clonkill and also plays at senior level for the Westmeath county football team. He has also featured for the New York county football team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/gylnn-new-york-football-panel-2730074-Apr2016/|title=Galway hurling star Johnny Glynn named on New York senior football panel|publisher=The42.ie|first=Steve|last=O'Rourke|date=22 April 2016}}</ref>
==Playing career== Loughlin was a playing member of the team when Westmeath won the 2019 National Football League Division 3 league title by a goal against Laois at Croke Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30915948.html|title=Westmeath claim more silverware with Division 3 success|work=Irish Examiner|first=Paul|last=Keane|date=6 April 2019}}</ref>
He collapsed while playing for Clonkill in the Westmeath SHC in August 2024. He was taken to the Regional Hospital in Mullingar where a CT scan thankfully came back clear.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/333047|title=Westmeath star recovering after collapsing during game|website=hoganstand.com|date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
Against Antrim in the 2025 Tailteann Cup, Loughlin nearly broke Cillian O'Connor's record for the highest individual score in a championship match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/336325|title=Cillian O'Connor's scoring record almost went last Sunday|work=Hogan Stand|date=13 May 2025}}</ref>
In the middle of the second half of the 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final against Meath, Loughlin went off injure. He later confirmed that he had torn a hamstring and ruptured a tendon, which required surgery and ended his season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2026/0429/1570956-westmeath-blow-as-loughlin-confirms-his-season-is-over/|title=Westmeath blow as Luke Loughlin confirms his season is over|work=RTÉ|date=29 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/340191|title=Westmeath lose Loughlin for season's remainder|work=Hogan Stand|date=30 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2026/04/30/westmeath-blow-as-loughlin-ruled-out-for-season/|title=Westmeath blow as Loughlin ruled out for season|work=Westmeath Examiner|first=Ronan|last=Fagan|date=30 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/westmeath-luke-loughlin-injury-654276|title=Westmeath Star Had Remarkable Response To Heartbreaking Injury Setback|work=balls.ie|first=Gary|last=Connaughton|date=30 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://topic.ie/blow-for-westmeath-as-loughlin-confirms-his-season-is-over/|title=Blow for Westmeath as Loughlin confirms his season is over|work=topic.ie|date=30 April 2026}}</ref> Loughlin had been the team's top scorer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/05/02/westmeath-still-dreaming-of-a-rare-leinster-title-despite-luke-loughlin-injury-blow/|title=Westmeath still dreaming of a rare Leinster title despite Luke Loughlin injury blow|work=The Irish Times|first=Gordon|last=Manning|date=2 May 2026}}</ref> His injury played a part in the return of John Heslin from retirement ahead of the 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2026/0514/1573426-team-news-no-ocallaghan-as-dublin-remain-unchanged/|title=Team news: John Heslin in Westmeath squad for Leinster final|work=RTÉ|date=14 May 2026|quote=Heslin has continued to play club football for St Loman's and the speculation increased that he was coming out of retirement after Luke Loughlin incurred a season-ending injury in the victory over Meath.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/340391|title=Heslin 'very privileged' after making dream Westmeath return|work=Hogan Stand|date=17 May 2026|quote='I'm thinking of Luke Loughlin and Johnny Lynham, who had big injuries. And if they didn't get injured, I wouldn't be here today. That's the reality,' Heslin stated.}}</ref> Loughlin had surgery the day before the final, then saw Westmeath off from the team hotel, and also received a medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41847237.html|title=Injured Westmeath star Luke Loughlin still played his part in Leinster glory|work=Irish Examiner|date=19 May 2026|quote=The medal in his pocket is the same as everyone else's and he's a massive part of it.}}</ref>
==Personal life== Loughlin is from Mullingar.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2022/0728/1312713-westmeath-footballer-luke-loughlin-on-addiction-and-recovery/|title=Westmeath footballer Luke Loughlin on addiction and recovery|publisher=RTÉ Lifestyle|date=28 July 2022|quote=27-year-old Luke Loughlin from Mullingar is known for playing with Westmeath, but off the pitch he has struggled with some major personal battles.}}</ref>
He has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2022/0714/1310097-luke-loughlin-westmeath/|title=Westmeath's Loughlin opens up about addiction battle|publisher=RTÉ News|first=Sinéad|last=Hussey|date=14 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/luke-loughlin-westmeath-addiction-516780|title=Westmeath's Luke Loughlin Out Of Hell After 10 Years Of Addiction|publisher=Balls.ie|first=P. J.|last=Browne|date=21 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://punditarena.com/gaa/james-fenton/luke-loughlin-addiction-battle/|title=Tailteann Cup winner Luke Loughlin opens up on addiction battle|publisher=Pundit Arena|first=James|last=Fenton|date=14 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2022/07/20/loughlin-to-speak-about-addiction-issues-at-rosemount-event/|title=Loughlin to speak about addiction issues at Rosemount event|work=Westmeath Independent|first=Kieran|last=Galvin|date=20 July 2022}}</ref>
==Honours== ;The Downs * Westmeath Senior Football Championship (1): 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/westmeath-sfc-final-glory-for-the-downs/|title=Westmeath SFC Final: Glory for The Downs|first=Gerry|last=Buckley|date=9 October 2022|quote=Luke Loughlin scored five points for The Downs in the Westmeath SFC Final}}</ref>
;Clonkill * Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship (3): 2018–2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/291896|title=Westmeath SHC final: Clonkill clinch 15th crown|work=Hogan Stand|date=27 October 2018|quote=Murtagh moved Clonkill two in front early in the resumption and more scores at that same end from Niall Mitchell and dual star Luke Loughlin would outweigh Ciaran Doyle's single, leaving it at 1–9 to 1–6 with 25 minutes to go.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/1020/1084603-clonkill-prevail-to-win-back-to-back-westmeath-crowns/|title=Clonkill prevail to win back-to-back Westmeath crowns|publisher=RTÉ|first=Conor|last=McKenna|date=20 October 2019|quote=Two points from Murtagh and Luke Loughlin respectively restored Clonkill's advantage, before Ciaran O'Brien scored the opening goal. His ninth minute effort made its way into the net after a pass from Joe Clarke.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/westmeath-shc-final-clonkill-win-three-in-a-row/|title=Westmeath SHC Final: Clonkill win three-in-a-row|first=Conor|last=McKenna|date=4 October 2020}}</ref>
;Westmeath * Tailteann Cup (1): 2022 * Leinster Senior Football Championship (1): 2026 * National Football League Division 3 (1): 2019
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Westmeath Football Team 2022}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loughlin, Luke}} Category:1990s births Category:Living people Category:Clonkill hurlers Category:The Downs Gaelic footballers Category:Dual players Category:New York inter-county Gaelic footballers Category:Sportspeople from Mullingar Category:Westmeath inter-county Gaelic footballers Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen