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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

St. Flannan's College

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. 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.

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.

NUI Galway

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.

Clonlara

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Clare

Minor and under-21

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.

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. 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.

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.

Senior

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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. Conlon ended the season by collecting his first GAA-GPA All-Star award.

Conlon was appointed captain of the Clare senior team for the 2020 season.

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.

Career statistics

As of 27 June 2021.

Honours

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

1. "Flannan's shocked as Midleton take Harty Cup". Irish Independent. 13 March 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
2. Larkin, Brendan (2 May 2006). "Dublin Colleges toast of capital". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
3. "De La Salle Power to Harty title". Irish Independent. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
4. O'Toole, Fintan (8 March 2010). "Sensational NUIG end the wait". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
5. Quinn, Gerry (26 November 2007). "Dromin no match for Clonlara as they claim title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
6. "Madden's sharp shooting brings 89-year Clonlara famine to an end". Irish Independent. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
7. "Chaplin's final act earns first title for Cratloe". Irish Independent. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
8. Shannon, Kieran (12 October 2015). "Gilly glory as Bridge too strong". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
9. "O'Connell late show saves day for Clonlara". Irish Independent. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
10. Quinn, Gerry (31 October 2016). "Ballyea show courage in abundance to land first title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
11. "Last-score controversy mars Tipp title success". Irish Examiner. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
12. O'Toole, Fintan (30 July 2009). "Honan fires Banner to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
13. O'Toole, Fintan (14 September 2009). "Last-gasp O'Donovan makes it a Clare day at Croker". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
14. O'Toole, Fintan (29 July 2010). "Tipp take another step forward". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
15. "McCarthy's Limerick scrape past Clare". Breaking News. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
16. "Tipperary 3–18 Clare 1–22". Irish Independent. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
17. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 April 2012). "Defiant Clare showing their steel". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
18. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 September 2013). "An emotional, riveting roller-coaster". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
19. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (30 September 2013). "A day borrowed from the hurling gods". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
20. Bailey, Ryan (27 April 2016). "Clare will be without the influential John Conlon for Sunday's league final". The 42. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
21. "Cork victorious over Clare in Munster hurling final". Irish Examiner. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
22. Clerkin, Malachy (1 July 2018). "Cork quietly collect another Munster title as Clare crumble". Irish Times. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
23. Fogarty, John (3 November 2018). "A season for firsts runs into November for Limerick at All-Stars ceremony". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
24. Ó Muircheartaigh, Joe (24 January 2020). "Clare captain Conlon hopes to follow Lohan's lead". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
25. Ryan, Eoin (21 July 2024). "Clare find extra gear to edge Cork in historic hurling final epic". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
26. "All-Ireland SHC Final: Clare win epic encounter". GAA.ie. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
27. "Clare 3-29 Cork 1-34". Munster GAA. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.

• All Stars Awards winners (hurling)
• 1989 births
• Living people
• University of Galway hurlers
• Clonlara hurlers
• Clare inter-county hurlers
• Alumni of the University of Galway
• Irish schoolteachers
• 21st-century Irish sportsmen