Graham Clarke (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Graham Clarke is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling
with his local club Ballygalget
and has been a member of the Down
senior inter-county team since 1993.
. Clarke later lined out in the Ulster club final, however, Dunloy
were victorious by 0-17 to 2-4 .
Two years later in 1992 Clarke added a second senior county title to his collection. Ballygalget, however, were subsequently defeated by Cushendall
in the Ulster club final.
Clarke’s side went into decline following this defeat as Ballygalget lost the next four county championship finals. The team bounced back in 1997 and a defeat of Portaferry gave Clarke a third county winners’ medal at senior level. Ballygalget made it two-in-a-row in 1998 before later lining out in another provincial club decider. Ballycastle McQuillan’s provided the opposition on that occasion, however, after a draw and an exciting replay that featured extra-time Ballygalget were the victors by 1-14 to 1-12. It was Clarke’s first Ulster
club winners’ medal. Ballygalget were subsequently defeated by Rathnure
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Ballygalget made it three county titles in-a-row in 1999, with Clarke adding a fifth county winners’ medal to his collection. His club subsequently surrendered their Ulster club title to Cushendall.
After a period out of the limelight Ballygalget returned in 2003 with Clarke collecting a sixth county winners’ medal. It was the first of another three-in-a-row for Ballygalget and for Clarke. The third of these victories was subsequently converted into a second Ulster club title for Clarke. The club was later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 2008 Clarke won his ninth county senior championship winners’ medal following an eleven-point trouncing of Portaferry.
minor hurling team in the late 1980s. He was only fifteen years-old when he captured a coveted Ulster
title in this grade in 1989, following a defeat in a replay of Antrim
. Down were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Clarke made his senior debut for Down in a challenge game against Meath
in 1993. It would be another few years before he became Down’s first-choice goalkeeper for the championship. Following Noel Keith's retirement Clarke made his senior championship debut in 1997. That year he won a coveted Ulster
title following a 3-14 to 0-19 defeat of Antrim
. Down, however, were subsequently trounced by Tipperary
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
The next few years proved to an unhappy time for Down’s hurling team as Antrim and Derry
reclaimed their status as the standard-bearers in the provincial championship. Clarke lined out in further Ulster finals in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2008, however, he ended up on the losing side on all six occasions.
In 2005 a restructuring of the championship saw Down being entered in the Christy Ring Cup
, effectively a competition for the ‘second-tier’ hurling teams. Clarke’s side did well in their debut year and even reached the final of the competition. Westmeath
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, at the full-time whistle Down were defeated by 1-23 to 2-18. The team, however, have failed to build on this in recent years.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He has enjoyed little success with his province as Ulster have failed to even qualify for the Railway Cup final in recent years.
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 plays 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 club Ballygalget
Ballygalget GAA
Ballygalget GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Castlewellan in County Down, Northern Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Honours:*Down Senior Hurling Championships:...
and has been a member of the Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
senior inter-county team since 1993.
Club
Clarke plays his hurling with his local club in Ballygalget and has enjoyed much success. He first came to prominence on the club’s minor team in the late 1980s. He served as the goalkeeper on the team that captured four consecutive county championship titles in that grade. Clarke later joined the club’s senior team and became the first-choice goalkeeper at the age of sixteen. He won his first county senior championship winners’ medal in 1990, following a defeat of BallycranBallycran GAA
St. Joseph's Ballycrann is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Ballycran, County Down, Northern Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling. The club competes in Down GAA competitions.-External links:**...
. Clarke later lined out in the Ulster club final, however, Dunloy
Dunloy GAA
Dunloy Cú Chulainn's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Dunloy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling...
were victorious by 0-17 to 2-4 .
Two years later in 1992 Clarke added a second senior county title to his collection. Ballygalget, however, were subsequently defeated by Cushendall
Ruairí Óg GAC
Ruairí Óg Gaelic Athletic Club or Ruairí Óg GAC, known locally as Ógs, are a Hurling and Camogie Gaelic Athletic Association Club in Cushendall, County Antrim, Northern Ireland....
in the Ulster club final.
Clarke’s side went into decline following this defeat as Ballygalget lost the next four county championship finals. The team bounced back in 1997 and a defeat of Portaferry gave Clarke a third county winners’ medal at senior level. Ballygalget made it two-in-a-row in 1998 before later lining out in another provincial club decider. Ballycastle McQuillan’s provided the opposition on that occasion, however, after a draw and an exciting replay that featured extra-time Ballygalget were the victors by 1-14 to 1-12. It was Clarke’s first Ulster
Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual tournament played between the senior hurling clubs in Ulster. There are nine county championships between the nine counties of Ulster. The nine winners go on to play each other in the Ulster Club Championship in a knock-out format...
club winners’ medal. Ballygalget were subsequently defeated by Rathnure
Rathnure GAA
Rathnure St. Anne’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rathnure, County Wexford, Ireland. Rathnure's most famous players are the Rackards and Quigley brothers.-First AGM:...
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Ballygalget made it three county titles in-a-row in 1999, with Clarke adding a fifth county winners’ medal to his collection. His club subsequently surrendered their Ulster club title to Cushendall.
After a period out of the limelight Ballygalget returned in 2003 with Clarke collecting a sixth county winners’ medal. It was the first of another three-in-a-row for Ballygalget and for Clarke. The third of these victories was subsequently converted into a second Ulster club title for Clarke. The club was later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 2008 Clarke won his ninth county senior championship winners’ medal following an eleven-point trouncing of Portaferry.
Inter-county
Clarke first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the DownDown GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
minor hurling team in the late 1980s. He was only fifteen years-old when he captured a coveted Ulster
Ulster Minor Hurling Championship
The Ulster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The competition began in 1930, with Down winning during the inaugural year. The most successful...
title in this grade in 1989, following a defeat in a replay of Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
. Down were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Clarke made his senior debut for Down in a challenge game against Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
in 1993. It would be another few years before he became Down’s first-choice goalkeeper for the championship. Following Noel Keith's retirement Clarke made his senior championship debut in 1997. That year he won a coveted Ulster
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the premier intercounty "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Ulster Hurling Final is played in July...
title following a 3-14 to 0-19 defeat of Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
. Down, however, were subsequently trounced by Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
The next few years proved to an unhappy time for Down’s hurling team as Antrim and Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
reclaimed their status as the standard-bearers in the provincial championship. Clarke lined out in further Ulster finals in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2008, however, he ended up on the losing side on all six occasions.
In 2005 a restructuring of the championship saw Down being entered in the Christy Ring Cup
Christy Ring Cup
The Christy Ring Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2005 for middle-ranking hurling teams in Ireland....
, effectively a competition for the ‘second-tier’ hurling teams. Clarke’s side did well in their debut year and even reached the final of the competition. Westmeath
Westmeath GAA
The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, at the full-time whistle Down were defeated by 1-23 to 2-18. The team, however, have failed to build on this in recent years.
Inter-provincial
Clarke has also lined out with UlsterUlster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He has enjoyed little success with his province as Ulster have failed to even qualify for the Railway Cup final in recent years.