Career
Loughnane made his first appearance for the team during the 1968 championship and became a regular player over the course of the following decade. At club level, Loughnane is an All-Ireland medalist with Roscrea. Club
Loughnane played his club hurling with Roscrea and enjoyed much success in a senior career that lasted more than twenty years.
In 1969 Roscrea retained the county championship title before Loughnane subsequently added a Munster club winners" medal to his collection.
A second set of county and provincial titles were annexed by Roscrea in 1970. Loughnane later lined out in the inaugural All-Ireland club final with Saint Rynagh"s providing the opposition.
A 4-5 to 2-5 victory gave him a coveted All-Ireland club winners" medal. Roscrea continued to be a major force in club hurling over the next decade with Loughnane winning further county championship titles in 1972, 1973 and 1980.
He brought the curtain down on his senior club career following a defeat by Kilruane MacDonagh"s in the 1985 club championship decider.
When journalists decided, in 1996, to select a team of players to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship (a team based on performances at club level) Francis Loughnane was the only Tipperary player chosen. He was honoured in his accustomed position of right half-forward. Inter-county
By the early 1960s Loughnane had joined the Tipperary minor hurling panel.
Two years later in 1964 Loughnane captained Tipperary to inaugural Munster and All-Ireland under-21 titles.
Roscrea"s period of dominance in Tipperary hurling meant that he was Tipperary senior hurling captain in 1969 and 1970. He finished off the year by winning the first of three consecutive All-Star awards (1971-1973).
In 1973, Loughnane captained Tipperary when they reached the Munster final. In 2009, he was ranked 111 of all-time greatest Irish hurlers by the Irish Independent.
