A Co. Limerick hurling fanatic this morning (FRIDAY) won a Silver medal at the World Transplant Games in Bangkok – and now he’s hoping it’s the start of a famous weekend on Shannonside.

Sixty year-old John Loftus, a former Ballybrown hurler and mentor when the club reached the 1990 All-Ireland club final, was just pipped for the gold in an exciting 100m race for Super Veterans. United Kingdom athlete Derek Johnson just held off John’s strong surge in the final 50m – there was less than a yard between them at the finishing-line.

Despite struggling with a virus for the last two days, John got out of his sick bed to contest the race in intense heat. And he had a further complication when his shoe-lace opened at about the halfway stage.

“It’s a medal I will wear proudly. It’s my first World medal in the Transplant Games, and I won’t settle now until I win a gold. I contracted a rare virus in 1992 that nearly killed me – that led to the deterioration of my kidney function and I received a transplant in October 2000,” he said.

“Before the transplant I was on home dialysis for a year which was tough. I was attached to a machine for ten hours every night so I had to structure my life around the dialysis.”

Now John’s attentions turn towards Sunday’s Guinness All-Ireland hurling final. “Richie Bennis was my idol going to school, and a great friend now, and I wish him and all the lads the very best,” he said.

“I will be watching the hurling final in Gerry Finnegan’s Bar in the heart of downtown Bangkok.”

John is joined in Bangkok by his wife Trish and daughter Tara, the other 22 athletes on the Irish, and about 25 Irish supporters.

John celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this week.

You can follow the athletes’ progress on www.transplantteamireland.com. For an organ donor card free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or for more information log on to www.ika.ie.

Note: On some browsers you may need to click the Play button twice.