Award to Mark Shane’s Ipswich Town Signing

Children playing on the green at Desmonds Avenue before Friday evening’s 50th anniversary mass was celebrated. Included are, front from left: Seán Nolan, Anthony Begley and Shane McLoughlin – with: Colin McCarthy and Micheala Ahern. ©Photograph: John Reidy 19/08/2005

The Ipswich Town match-day programme with Shane featured.

The Desmonds Avenue U-10 soccer team which emerged Garda / KDYS Soccer League Champions at Limerick Road on Friday evening. included are: Geraldine O’Sullivan, KDYS; Brian Leonard, Ben Cooney, Shane McLoughlin, Captain; Kevin Nelligan and Sgt. John O’Mahony, competition founder. Back from left: Charlie Cooney, Kevin Keane, Síle Kerley, Coach; Matthew Browne and Aaron Nolan. ©Photograph: John Reidy 29/06/2007

Rising soccer stars, Shane (left) and Eamon McLoughlin pictured with FAI President, David Blood and their parents, Mary and Eamon and coach, Georgie O’Callaghan (back left) at the Castleisland Soccer Club Awards Presentation night at the River Island Hotel on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy 20/01/2006

Home for the weekend: Ipswich Town’s latest signing, Shane McLoughlin pictured with his parents, Eamon and Mary and his schoolboy days coach, Georgie O’Callaghan. Shane is holding the trophy presented to him by the club to mark his signing with Ipswich Town. ©Photograph: John Reidy

He has won every award and honor his cradling club could have thrown at him. Now, even when he’s long gone, they’re still honouring him.
When it came to Shane McLoughlin and awards the judges were always spot on. His natural talent for always being in the right place and a no fuss execution of great goals were his trademarks. These are the glaring trademarks which have seen him whisked off across the Irish Sea and a recent contract signing with his adopted Ipswich Town FC.
He’s strengthening his case for inclusion in top-flight football over there by bagging ten goals in the current season alone.
It was during a trip home at the weekend that the local club made the presentation to mark the significant milestone in Shane’s career.
Shane has been through the life-shaping experience of the Georgie O’Callaghan Schoolboys’ Academy – only Georgie wouldn’t put that fancy a name on it. However, for all intents and purposes that’s exactly what it is.
As a primary school pupil, Shane traveled to the UK on Georgie O’Callaghan’s annual trips to Manchester. These trips have been an annual feature of Castleisland schoolboy soccer in an unbroken sequence since 1973.
Admitting to a little home-sickness at the beginning of his cross-channel career, Shane said that the three years he has spent there has thought him a lot and he’s delighted with the club set up there now.
Former Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy is his boss there and he gets on well with his team-mates. Several of these lads helped him to settle in at the club.
Shane has been profiled in an Ipswich Town FC match-day program and his talent and versatility were well noted. His opinions on his new club were solicited and offered in the double-page spread.
You’ll be hearing a lot more of Shane’s career over the coming years.