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William John Ring (1917 – 11 October 2008) was an Irish hurler, trainer and administrator. At club level he played with Cloyne, divisional side Imokilly and at inter-county level with various Cork teams.

Playing career

Ring played minor and junior hurling with the Cloyne club, winning back-to-back East Cork JHC medals in 1938 and 1939 and Cork JHC medal in the latter year. In the same period, he lined out with divisional side Imokilly. Ring was a member of the Cork junior hurling team in the 1930s and played with the senior team in the Oireachtas Cup in 1940. A serious knee injury curtailed his playing career.

Post-playing career

Ring was a long-time trainer and selector of Cloyne teams which won multiple East Cork JHC titles across three decades, as well as a Cork JHC title in 1961 and Cork IHC titles in 1966 and 1970. He also served as a trainer and selector with the Imokilly team. Ring was also Cloyne chairman on two separate occasions and was club president for 30 years.

Personal life and death

Ring was born in Cloyne, County Cork 1917. His brother, Christy Ring, won eight All-Ireland SHC medals and is regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time. His son, Paddy Ring, also played at various levels with Cork.

Ring died on 11 October 2008, at the age of 91.

Honours

Player

Cloyne

• Cork Junior Hurling Championship: 1939
• East Cork Junior Hurling Championship: 1938, 1939

Management

Cloyne

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1966, 1970
• Cork Junior Hurling Championship: 1961
• East Cork Junior Hurling Championship: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1976

References

1. "Gaelic Games: Where legend of Ring was forged". The Sunday Times. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
2. "GAA Mourning for another of the legendary Rings of Cloyne". Evening Echo. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
3. Crowe, Dermot (31 October 2004). "Brothers born to hurl". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
4. Torpey, Michael (March 2010). "The greatest hurler ever". The Clare Champion. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
5. "16 for 16: The most important Irish athletes of the last 100 years - Christy Ring". The 42. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
6. Moran, Seán (27 December 1999). "Century's Best: Hurler". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
7. "Cork GAA mourns passing of club greats from Cloyne, Killeagh and St Nick's". Echo Live. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
8. "The death has occurred of Willie John RING". rip.ie. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2023.

• 1917 births
• 2008 deaths
• Cloyne hurlers
• Imokilly hurlers
• Cork inter-county hurlers
• Hurling selectors
• Gaelic games administrators
• 20th-century Irish sportsmen