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John Griffin (born 1983) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who is the current manager of the Kerry senior hurling team. He played for club sides Lixnaw, Finuge and Blarney and was also a member of the Kerry senior hurling team.

Early life

Born and raised in Lixnaw, County Kerry, Griffin first played hurling and Gaelic football as a schoolboy with Causeway Comprehensive. He lined out in all grades in both codes and was a member of the school's senior team that won a Munster vocational school's hurling-football double in 2001. He also captained the Kerry vocational schools' team to a 0-14 to 0-08 defeat by Donegal in the 2002 All-Ireland final. Griffin later lined out with the Cork Institute of Technologyy and captained the team in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Club career

Griffin began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with Lixnaw, winning three successive Kerry U21HC titles from 2002 to 2004. By that stage he had also progressed to adult level with Lixnaw, while also lining out as a Gaelic footballer with sister club Finuge. Griffin won a Kerry JFC title in 2002, before later claiming a Munster Club JFC medal after a 0-14 to 0-11 defeat of Kiskeam in the final.

Griffin claimed a second set of Kerry and Munster Club JFC medals in 2004. He later won an All-Ireland Club JFC medal after a 1-14 to 0-06 defeat of Stewartstown Harps in the 2005 All-Ireland club final. Griffin ended the 2005 season by winning his first Kerry SHC title after a 0-17 to 0-06 defeat of Abbeydorney in a final replay. He added a second Kerry SHC medal to his collection after a 1-12 to 2-06 win over Kilmoyley in the 2007 final.

Griffin was part of the Finuge football team that beat Spa by 1-12 to 0-12 to win the Kerry IFC title in 2012. A Munster Club IFC title followed after a defeat of St Vincent's, however, Finuge were subsequently beaten by Cookstown Fr Rock's in the 2013 All-Ireland club final.

The second half of Griffin's club career saw him concentrate solely on hurling. He claimed further Kerry SHC honours after defeats of Kilmoyley in 2014 and 2018. He brought his 20-year club career to end after transferring to the Blarney club in Cork in 2021.

Inter-county career

Griffin began his inter-county career with Kerry as part of the minor team that beat Carlow to win the All-Ireland MBHC title in 2001. He immediately progressed to the under-21 team and was part of the Kerry team that again defeated Carlow to take the All-Ireland U21BHC title in 2002. Griffin made his senior team debut in a National Hurling League defeat of Meath in 2003.

After several seasons without success, Griffin claimed his first senior silverware in 2010 when Kerry won Division 3A of the National League after a 2-18 to 1-15 defeat of Derry in the final. He was later part of the Kerry team beaten by Westmeath by a point in the 2010 Christy Ring Cup final. Griffin collected a winners' medal in that competition a year later after Kerry's 2-21 to 2-08 win over Wicklow in the 2011 final.

Griffin made his third Christy Ring Cup final appearance in four seasons in 2013, however, a late goal saw Down win by 3-16 to 2-17. He claimed further National League honours in 2014 when Kerry beat Carlow by 3-16 to 3-13 to take the Division 2A title. Griffin again lost out on further Christy Ring Cup honours following a 4-18 to 2-22 defeat by Kildare in the 2014 final.

Griffin took over the captaincy of the team for the 2015 season. He later won a second consecutive Division 2A title after a 5-17 to 3-17 defeat of Westmeath. Griffin's tenure as captain also saw Kerry claim a second Christy Ring Cup title after a 1-20 to 0-12 defeat of Derry in the 2015 final.

Griffin announced his inter-county retirement in May 2017.

International career

Griffin earned his first call-up to the Ireland national hurling team for the annual Shinty–Hurling International Series in 2006, however, Scotland won the series. He made a number of appearances for the international team over the following few years before claiming a winners' medal in 2009 after Ireland's 1-11 to 1-08 defeat of Scotland.

Management career

Griffin's coaching career began on the club scene in Cork. He served in various capacities with club sides Erin's Own, Ballygarvan and Carrigtwohill, higher education side MTU Cork and divisional side Imokilly. He was also a goalkeeping coach with the Cork senior hurling team under manager Kieran Kingston in 2022.

Griffin was appointed manager of the Kerry senior hurling team in August 2024.

Honours

Causeway Comprehensive

• Munster Vocational Schools' Senior Football Championship: 2001
• Munster Vocational Schools' Senior Football Championship: 2001

Lixnaw

• Kerry Senior Hurling Championship: 2005, 2007, 2014, 2018
• Kerry Under-21 Hurling Championship: 2002, 2003, 2004

Finuge

• Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship: 2012
• Kerry Intermediate Football Championship: 2012
• All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship: 2005
• Munster Junior Club Football Championship: 2002, 2004
• Kerry Junior Football Championship: 2002, 2004

Kerry

• Christy Ring Cup: 2011, 2015 (c)
• National League Division 2A: 2014, 2015 (c)
• National League Division 3A: 2010
• All-Ireland Under-21 B Hurling Championship: 2002
• All-Ireland Minor B Hurling Championship: 2001

Ireland

• Shinty/Hurling International Series: 2009

References

1. "The John 'Tweek' Griffin interview: 'Every young Irish person deserves the opportunity to play hurling'". Irish Examiner. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
2. "Mass brawl erupts at GAA schools final". Irish Independent. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
3. "Donegal ease to fifth title". Irish Independent. 29 April 2002. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
4. "Finuge take hard road to victory". The Corkman. 2 December 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
5. "Junior Football (Club)". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
6. "Galvin goal powers Finuge to deserved All-Ireland glory". Irish Examiner. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
7. "First place after second chance". Irish Independent. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
8. "Lixnaw take the title in surprise win". Irish Independent. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
9. "Fitzmaurice and Galvin fire revitalised Finuge to glory". Irish Examiner. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
10. "Mulligan's Cookstown shatter Finuge dream". Irish Independent. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
11. "Lixnaw survive barren second half to end final hoodoo". Irish Independent. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
12. "Conway is star man for Lixnaw on day referee requires Garda escort at finale". Irish Independent. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
13. "Kerry hurling legend transfers to Cork club". Radio Kerry. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
14. "U21 HC 'B' FINAL". Irish Independent. 22 August 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
15. "NHL 3A: Late goals secure promotion for Kingdom". Hogan Stand. 11 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
16. "Single point seals Christy Ring Cup for Westmeath". Irish Examiner. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
17. "Kingdom overcome disappointment to claim Christy Ring Cup". Irish Examiner. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
18. "High drama as last-minute goal seals Christy Ring Cup for Down". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
19. "Kerry win Division 2A title". RTÉ Sport. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
20. "Kildare hold on for historic win in Christy Ring Cup final". Irish Examiner. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
21. "Kerry Hurlers have new Captain and Coach for 2015". Kerry GAA website. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
22. "Kerry power past Westmeath into Antrim play-off". RTÉ Sport. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
23. "Kerry earn the right to rub shoulders with hurling giants". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
24. "Griffin calls time on Kerry career". Hogan Stand. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
25. "Shinty double for Scotland". Irish Independent. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
26. "Ireland hold out to complete day of shinty wins". Irish Examiner. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
27. "Shane Conway focused on Westmeath challenge". GAA website. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
28. "Imokilly's Ciarán Cronin ready for another push with ex-Kerry hurler as coach". Echo Live. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
29. "MTU Cork look for winning Fitzgibbon Cup start against Trinity". Echo Live. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
30. "Mark Kennefick fires Ballygarvan to league glory against Tracton". Echo Live. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
31. "Carrigtwohill looking to benefit from 'Tweek' as John Griffin comes on board for 2024". Echo Live. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
32. "Griffin set to become Kerry hurling manager". Irish Examiner. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.

• 1983 births
• Living people
• CIT hurlers
• Lixnaw hurlers
• Fingue Gaelic footballers
• Blarney hurlers
• Kerry inter-county hurlers
• Ireland international hurlers
• Hurling coaches
• Hurling managers
• 21st-century Irish sportsmen