Séamus Cleere

Séamus Cleere

Séamus Cleere (left) accepting the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1963.
Personal information
Irish name	Séamus de Cléir
Sport	Hurling
Position	Right wing-back
Born	1940 Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Club(s)
Years	Club
1959–1969	Bennettsbridge
Club titles
Kilkenny titles	6
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1960–1969	Kilkenny
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles	4
All-Irelands	2
NHL	2

Séamus Cleere (born 1940) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Cleere made his first appearance for the team during the 1960 championship and became a regular player over the next decade until his retirement after the 1969 championship. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals, four Leinstermedals and two National Hurling League medals. Cleere captained the team to the All-Ireland title in 1963.

At club level Cleere played with the Bennesttsbridge club, winning six county club championship medals.

Cleere played his club hurling with his local Bennettsbridge club. He had much success with the side in the 1960s, winning six Kilkenny SHC titles in all.

Cleere first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in 1962 when he captured his first National Hurling League medal. It was Kilkenny’s first league title since 1933. The following year he was appointed captain of the team and he won his first Leinster title following a comfortable victory over Dublin. This victory allowed Kilkenny to advance directly into the All-Ireland final where, for the third successive occasion, their opponents turned out to be Waterford. In the game itself Eddie Keher scored a record 14 points, 10 of which came from frees, giving the Kilkenny men a comfortable 4–17 to 6-8 victory over the Decies. Cleere had captured his first All-Ireland medal and had the honour of collecting the Liam MacCarthy Cup on behalf of his county. His performances throughout the championship campaign earned him a coveted Cú Chulainn award and the Texaco Hurler of the Year Award.