Johnny Clifford
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Born | 1934 Cork, Ireland |
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| Died | 19 October 2007 | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 1951-1956 | Glen Rovers | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 2 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 1953-1955 | Cork | 5 (3-5) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 2 (1 as sub) | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 (1 as sub) | ||
| Inter-county management | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Inter-county titles | |||||||||
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Johnny Clifford (1934–2007) was an Irish hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s. Clifford later served as manager of the Cork senior team on three separate occasions in the 1980s and 1990s.
Clifford first started playing hurling with his local Fair Hill club in the North Parish Leagues in the 1940s. After much success at under-age levels here he subsequently joined the famous Glen Rovers club. Clifford won his first two senior county titles in 1953 and 1954 before later winning several more in the late 1950s.
Clifford first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1950s. He was captain of the team in 1951 as Cork trounced Limerick by 5-11 to 1-3 in the provincial decider, giving Clifford a Munster winners' medal. He later led his county out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final against Galway. An entertaining hour of hurling took place, however, in the end Cork were victorious by 4-5 to 1-8. Not only did Clifford pick up an All-Ireland minor winners' medal but he also had the honour of collecting the cup on behalf of his team.
Clifford later joined the Cork senior team where he enjoyed further success. He was a key member of the team in 1954 as Cork set out on their three-in-a-row trail. Tipperary fell to Cork by 2-8 to 1-8 in the provincial final, giving Clifford a Munster winners' medal at senior level. A senior All-Ireland final appearance beckoned for the Glen Rovers man, with Wexford providing the opposition. A record attendance of nearly 85,000 people packed into Croke Park to witness a great battle between star forwards Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard. Instead, it was Clifford who proved to be the hero as he scored the vital goal for Cork with four minutes to go. At the full-time whistle Cork led by 1-9 to 1-6. While Christy Ring captured a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland medal, Clifford picked up his first, and only, All-Ireland winners' medal.
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