Dónal Clifford
Encyclopedia
Dónal Clifford was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local clubs Cloyne
and Glen Rovers
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team throughout in the 1960s and 1970s.
Clifford played his club hurling
with the famous Glen Rovers
club on the north side of Cork
city. He enjoyed much success with the club, and was a member of the panel when ‘the Glen’ captured senior county championship
titles in 1969, 1972 and 1976. This last win was later converted into both a Munster
club title, as well as an All-Ireland
club title.
medal. Two years later in 1966 he won a second Munster medal with the Cork minor team. That year Clifford also made his debut for the Cork under-21 team, playing in the drawn All-Ireland final. Two years later in 1968 he won an All-Ireland
medal with the under-21 side. In 1969 Clifford captured his only Munster under-21 medal on the field of play, before going on to win a second All-Ireland medal.
By 1969 Clifford was also a member of the Cork senior hurling team. He began his senior career by winning a National Hurling League
title. This was quickly followed by his first senior Munster
title, however, Kilkenny
later defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final. 1970 saw Clifford win his second National League title in-a-row. He also collected a second consecutive Munster title before playing in his second consecutive All-Ireland final. This time the opposition were Wexford
and Cork made no mistake in capturing the title. Clifford played little part in inter-county action after this victory.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local clubs Cloyne
Cloyne GAA
Cloyne GAA club is located in the small town of Cloyne in east County Cork, Ireland. Founded in 1887 they have yet to win a Cork Senior Hurling Championship title and have the dubious distinction of losing in the last 3 finals...
and Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team throughout in the 1960s and 1970s.
Club
Clifford was originally part of the Cloyne GAA Club. He won various underage medals and captained cloyne to win an intermediate county in 1966.Clifford played his club hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the famous Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
club on the north side of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
city. He enjoyed much success with the club, and was a member of the panel when ‘the Glen’ captured senior county championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles in 1969, 1972 and 1976. This last win was later converted into both a Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club title, as well as an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club title.
Inter-county
Clifford first came to prominence as a hurler on the Cork minor team. He won a Munster minor title in 1964, which was quickly followed by an All-IrelandAll-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal. Two years later in 1966 he won a second Munster medal with the Cork minor team. That year Clifford also made his debut for the Cork under-21 team, playing in the drawn All-Ireland final. Two years later in 1968 he won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal with the under-21 side. In 1969 Clifford captured his only Munster under-21 medal on the field of play, before going on to win a second All-Ireland medal.
By 1969 Clifford was also a member of the Cork senior hurling team. He began his senior career by winning a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title. This was quickly followed by his first senior Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title, however, Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
later defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final. 1970 saw Clifford win his second National League title in-a-row. He also collected a second consecutive Munster title before playing in his second consecutive All-Ireland final. This time the opposition were Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
and Cork made no mistake in capturing the title. Clifford played little part in inter-county action after this victory.