John Conlon
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seán Ó Conalláin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Born |
23 January 1989 Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Occupation | Primary school teacher | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
2006–present | Clonlara | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Clare titles | 2 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
| NUI Galway | |||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2009–present | Clare | 42 (6–81) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NHL | 2 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:51, 23 January 2020. | |||
John Conlon (born 23 January 1989) is an Irish hurler who plays for Clare Senior Championship club Clonlara. He usually lined out as a full-forward until 2020, when he became Clare's first choice for centre back.
Playing career
[edit]St. Flannan's College
[edit]Conlon played in all grades of hurling with St. Flannan's College in Ennis before progressing onto the college's senior team. On 12 March 2006, he was introduced as a substitute when St. Flannan's College suffered a 2–08 to 0–12 defeat by Midleton CBS Secondary School in the Harty Cup final.[1] On 1 May 2006, Conlon broke onto the starting fifteen when he was selected at full-forward for the All-Ireland final against Dublin Colleges. He scored a point from play in the 1–11 to 0–11 defeat.[2]
On 11 March 2007, Conlon lined out at full-forward when St. Flannan's College faced De La Salle College from Waterford in the Harty Cup final. He top scored with 0-08 but ended the game on the losing side after a 2–07 to 0–11 defeat.[3]
NUI Galway
[edit]As a student at NUI Galway, Conlon joined the university's senior hurling team and lined out in several Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns. On 6 March 2010, he lined out at right wing-forward when NUI Galway faced the Waterford Institute of Technology in the Fitzgibbon Cup final. Conlon scored the winning point in the 82nd minute and collected a winners' medal after the 1–1 to 1–16 extra-time victory.[4]
Clonlara
[edit]Conlon joined the Clonlara club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He had already joined the club's senior team when he won a Clare Under-21 Championship medal in 2008.[citation needed]
On 28 October 2007, Conlon won a Clare Inetrmediate Championship medal following Clonlara's 1–21 to 1–18 defeat of Killanena in the final. On 25 November 2007, he scored 1–03 when Clonlara claimed the Munster Club Championship after a 1–14 to 1–08 defeat of Drom-Athlacca in the final.[5]
On 26 October 2008, Conlon was selected at right wing-forward when Clonlara qualified for their first Clare Senior Championship final in 89 years. He scored two points from play and ended the game with a winners' medal after the 1–12 to 1–09 defeat of Newmarket-on-Fergus.[6]
Conlon was again selected at right wing-forward when Clonlara qualified for a second successive final on 1 November 2009. He scored a point from play but ended the game on the losing side after the 3-05 to 1–09 defeat by first-time winners Cratloe.[7]
On 11 October 2015, Conlon lined out at centre-back when Clonlara faced Sixmilebridge in the final. He ended the game on the losing side for the second time in his career after a 1–21 to 0–15 defeat.[8]
On 16 October 2016, Conlon captained the team from right corner-forward when Clonlara faced Ballyea in the final. He scored a point from play in the 1–11 apiece draw.[9] Conlon was switched to full-forward for the replay on 30 October 2016. He scored 1–01 from play but ended the game on the losing side after a 2–14 to 1–14 defeat.[10]
Clare
[edit]Minor and under-21
[edit]Conlon first played for Clare as a member of the minor team during the 2006 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 5 April 2006 when he lined out at left wing-forward in a 2–13 to 1–08 defeat by Tipperary.
Conlon was eligible for the minor grade for a second successive season in 2007. He played his final game in the grade on 27 June 2007 when he scored a point from play in a 1–20 to 0–14 defeat by Cork.
On 20 July 2008, Conlon made his first appearance for the Clare under-21 team. He scored a two points in the 1–20 to 1–11 defeat of Cork. On 30 July 2008, Conlon lined out at right wing-forward when Clare faced Tipperary in the Munster final. He scored two points from play but ended the game on the losing side after a controversial 1–16 to 2–12 defeat by Tipperary.[11]
Conlon was appointed captain of the Clare under-21 team in advance of the 2009 Munster Championship. On 29 July 2009, he captained the team from right wing-forward to a Munster final appearance against Waterford. Conlon ended the game with a Munster Championship medal after the 2–17 to 2–12 victory.[12] On 13 September 2009, he again captained the team when Clare faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Conlon scored three points from play and collected a winners' medal after the 0–15 to 0–14 victory.[13]
Conlon was eligible for the under-21 team for a third and final season in 2010. He played his last game for the team on 28 July 2010 when Clare suffered a 1–22 to 1–17 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster final.[14]
Senior
[edit]Conlon was drafted onto the Clare senior team in advance of the 2009 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 8 February 2009 when he was introduced as a substitute for Barry Nugent in a 3–13 to 1–18 first round defeat by Limerick.[15] On 21 June 2009, Conlon made his Munster Championship debut when he was again introduced as a substitute in a 3–18 to 1–22 defeat by Tipperary.[16]
On 7 April 2012, Conlon lined out at left corner-forward when Clare faced Limerick in the National League Division 1B final. He scored a point from play and claimed his first silverware at senior level after the 0–21 to 1–16 victory.[17]
On 8 September 2013, Conlon was selected at right wing-forward when Clare qualified to play Cork in the All-Ireland final. He scored two points from play in the 0–25 to 3–16 draw.[18] The replay on 28 September 2013 also saw Conlon scored two points from right wing-forward before collecting a winners' medal following the 5–16 to 3–16 victory.[19]
Conlon was a regular starter during Clare's 2016 National League success, however, he missed the drawn final and the replay victory over Waterford after sustaining ankle ligament damage in the semi-final victory over Kilkenny.[20]
On 9 July 2017, Conlon was selected at left wing-forward for his first Munster final appearance. He scored two points from play but ended the game on the losing side after Clare suffered a 1–25 to 1–20 defeat by Cork.[21]
Conlon was selected at full-forward when Clare faced Cork in a second successive Munster final on 1 July 2018. He scored five points from play but ended on the losing side after a 2–24 to 3–19 defeat.[22] Conlon ended the season by collecting his first GAA-GPA All-Star award.[23]
Conlon was appointed captain of the Clare senior team for the 2020 season.[24]
On 21 July 2024, he started in the half-back line as Clare won the All-Ireland for the first time in 11 years after an extra-time win against Cork by 3-29 to 1-34, claiming their fifth All-Ireland title.[25][26][27]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 27 June 2021.
| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Clare | 2009 | Division 1 | 3 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-02 | 5 | 0-03 |
| 2010 | Division 2 | 7 | 1–13 | 1 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-03 | 9 | 1–17 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 2–17 | 1 | 0-03 | 1 | 0-02 | 10 | 2–22 | ||
| 2012 | Division 1B | 6 | 2–11 | 1 | 1-02 | 2 | 0-06 | 9 | 3–19 | |
| 2013 | Division 1A | 4 | 0-08 | 2 | 0-03 | 6 | 0-09 | 12 | 0–20 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 1-08 | 1 | 1-02 | 2 | 1-05 | 9 | 3–15 | ||
| 2015 | 6 | 2–13 | 1 | 0-03 | 2 | 1-02 | 9 | 3–18 | ||
| 2016 | Division 1B | 6 | 3-07 | 1 | 0-01 | 3 | 0-03 | 10 | 3–11 | |
| 2017 | Division 1A | 6 | 1-09 | 2 | 0-04 | 1 | 0-00 | 9 | 1–13 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0–15 | 5 | 1–19 | 3 | 0-08 | 14 | 1–42 | ||
| 2019 | 4 | 2-07 | 4 | 1-02 | — | 8 | 3-09 | |||
| 2020 | Division 1B | 4 | 0-05 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-05 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 6 | 0-01 | ||
| Total | 71 | 14–114 | 21 | 4–41 | 22 | 2–40 | 114 | 20–195 | ||
Honours
[edit]- NUI Galway
- Fitzgibbon Cup (1) 2010
- Clonlara
- Clare Senior Hurling Championship (2) 2008,2023
- Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship (1) 2007
- Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship (1) 2007
- Clare
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2013, 2024
- National Hurling League Division 1 (2): 2016, 2024
- National Hurling League Division 1B (1): 2012
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2009
- Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2009
- Awards
- GAA GPA All Stars Awards (2): 2018, 2023
References
[edit]- ^ "Flannan's shocked as Midleton take Harty Cup". Irish Independent. 13 March 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ Larkin, Brendan (2 May 2006). "Dublin Colleges toast of capital". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "De La Salle Power to Harty title". Irish Independent. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (8 March 2010). "Sensational NUIG end the wait". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Quinn, Gerry (26 November 2007). "Dromin no match for Clonlara as they claim title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Madden's sharp shooting brings 89-year Clonlara famine to an end". Irish Independent. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Chaplin's final act earns first title for Cratloe". Irish Independent. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Shannon, Kieran (12 October 2015). "Gilly glory as Bridge too strong". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "O'Connell late show saves day for Clonlara". Irish Independent. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Quinn, Gerry (31 October 2016). "Ballyea show courage in abundance to land first title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Last-score controversy mars Tipp title success". Irish Examiner. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (30 July 2009). "Honan fires Banner to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (14 September 2009). "Last-gasp O'Donovan makes it a Clare day at Croker". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (29 July 2010). "Tipp take another step forward". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "McCarthy's Limerick scrape past Clare". Breaking News. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Tipperary 3–18 Clare 1–22". Irish Independent. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 April 2012). "Defiant Clare showing their steel". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 September 2013). "An emotional, riveting roller-coaster". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (30 September 2013). "A day borrowed from the hurling gods". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ^ Bailey, Ryan (27 April 2016). "Clare will be without the influential John Conlon for Sunday's league final". The 42. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Cork victorious over Clare in Munster hurling final". Irish Examiner. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ Clerkin, Malachy (1 July 2018). "Cork quietly collect another Munster title as Clare crumble". Irish Times. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ Fogarty, John (3 November 2018). "A season for firsts runs into November for Limerick at All-Stars ceremony". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ Ó Muircheartaigh, Joe (24 January 2020). "Clare captain Conlon hopes to follow Lohan's lead". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Eoin (21 July 2024). "Clare find extra gear to edge Cork in historic hurling final epic". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "All-Ireland SHC Final: Clare win epic encounter". GAA.ie. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Clare 3-29 Cork 1-34". Munster GAA. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.