The 2011–12 season saw a number of changes at Connacht. For the province as a whole it was the first season in the Heineken Cup, the top European rugby competition. Connacht qualified for the 2011–12 Heineken Cup due to Leinster winning the previous season's tournament, which granted Ireland an extra berth. Meanwhile, the squad had lost a number of key players during the preseason through transfers. Among the players to depart the province was first choice tighthead prop, Jamie Hagan, leaving a position open on the starting team. Initially this spot was filled by Rodney Ah You. Loughney made his Heineken Cup debut away to Harlequins on 10 November 2011, coming on as a replacement for Wilkinson. Ah You struggled with his new status as first choice however, and on 10 December 2011 Loughney started his first ever Heineken Cup game, at home to Gloucester in the Sportsground. Loughney started two more matches for the team in the Heineken Cup including the home game to Harlequins, Connacht's first ever win in the competition. His status as first choice carried over into the domestic league, which had been renamed the "Pro12", and Loughney played in 20 out of 22 games in the league season, starting 15 times. In March 2012, Loughney played his 100th game for the province, becoming one of the youngest players in the team's history to reach the milestone.