Loughgiel All-Ireland Champions 1983
After beating Clontibret of Monaghan in the Ulster Club Semi-Final, Loughgiel travelled to Ballygalget for the Ulster Final where the home side put up a gallant fight before Loughgiel won by one goal. Loughgiel 1-9 Ballygalget 0-9. On the 13th February 1983 the Munster Champions Moycarkey Borris travelled to Loughgiel for the All-Ireland Semi-Final.
This pairing was regarded by many as a mere formality for the Tipperary men and when they scored a goal shortly after the throw-in it looked as if they were right. Two goals late in the game from Paddy Carey(junior) and Aidan McCarry put the Ulster Champions into the All-Ireland final. Loughgiel 2-7 Moycarkey Borris 1-6.
Following a disputed match between St Rynaghs of Offaly and Kiltormer of Galway in the other Semi-Final, Loughgiel did not know which team they would meet in the final. Eventually the Offaly men were awarded the Final place, the game to be played in Croke Park on 17th April.
St Rynaghs had played in two All-Ireland Club Finals before although they had lost both. The sides finished level after a great game at Headquarters. Loughgiel 1-8 St Rynaghs 2-5.
The replay was fixed for the following Sunday at Casement Park with Jimmy Rankins of Laois as Referee. A brilliant display from the Shamrocks especially in the second half saw them win the All-Ireland Title.
Niall Patterson brought further honour to the Club when he won the B. & I. GAA Personality of the month for April 1983.
Loughgiel beat Kiltormer of Galway at the opening of Rasharkin’s new ground at the end of July so therefore defeating all three provincial champions in the same year.
Further success came when the Reserve Team won the 1983 Intermediate Championship defeating Rossa at Rasharkin.
After the successes of 1982 and early 1983, Loughgiel had to endure a double defeat on County Final day of 1983 when they lost both the Minor and Senior Championship Finals against the same opposition as the previous year. Ballycastle beat them in Senior by a point and Dunloy had eleven points to spare in the minor game. Ballycastle 1-14 Loughgiel 2-10 and Dunloy 2-11 Loughgiel 0-6.