The Return of the Warrior: John Conlon Defies the Odds at 36
When John Conlon ran out onto the Cusack Park pitch on Sunday afternoon, the roar from 4,960 fans told its own story. Seven months after a freak accident almost ended his career — and at 36 years of age — the two-time All-Star and two-time All-Ireland champion was back in the saffron and blue.
Last July, during a routine club training session with Clonlara, Conlon chased a ball towards a fence. His wedding ring caught in the wire, causing catastrophic damage to his finger. He was rushed to Galway for emergency surgery, where doctors delivered a stark prognosis — there was only a 20 per cent chance of saving the finger. For a man who had already battled back from a ruptured cruciate ligament in 2020, it was another devastating blow. Conlon later admitted he questioned whether he would ever play hurling again — even at club level.
What followed was an extraordinary recovery. Conlon underwent medicinal leech therapy to encourage regrowth in the damaged finger, sitting for hours as the treatment took its course. His former Clare teammate Colin Ryan described the lengths Conlon went to — his positive attitude and sheer meticulousness in getting himself right were unlike anything he had seen. Through six gruelling months of rehabilitation, Conlon kept one goal in mind: pulling on that Clare jersey once more.
Named at centre-back for the Division 1B clash against Down, Conlon took to the field for his 18th season in Clare senior colours. He was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution, with the job already done and Clare cruising.
Speaking to Clare FM after the game, the emotion was clear. “It was actually funny at 36 years of age going out playing a game and you probably feel a bit nervous,” he said. “It’s just great to get back out on the field — last year was tough. If you told me last July that I’d be doing this again, I would’ve probably said that it was a mad thing. It’s been a tough six or seven months but it’s been all worth it. It’s great to just get back out playing with the lads and really just wearing that Clare jersey again.”
On the pitch, the All-Ireland champions were in devastating form. After the sides were level three times in the opening nine minutes, Clare pulled away emphatically. Twelve different players got on the scoresheet. Mark Rodgers led the way with 1-9, while three starting debutants — Senan Dunford (0-5), Diarmuid Stritch (0-3), and Niall O’Farrell (0-2) — combined for ten points, offering an exciting glimpse of Clare’s future alongside their legendary number six. Ross Hayes also made his starting league debut, while Ronan Kilroy and Jamie Moylan were introduced from the bench.
The final scoreline of 3-35 to 0-15 reflected the gulf between the reigning Liam MacCarthy holders and Division 1B newcomers Down.
Since making his debut against Limerick in the 2009 league, Conlon has become the heartbeat of Clare hurling — a county championship winner with Clonlara, a two-time All-Ireland senior medalist in 2013 and 2024, a two-time All-Star, and the 2024 Gaelic Writers’ Association Hurling Personality of the Year. But it is his spirit that defines him most.
As Conlon himself put it, looking around at the new faces in the dressing room: “I made my debut in 2009 against Limerick in the league and a lot of lads were making their debut today. Isn’t that what you want to see as a Clare hurler and Clare supporter? Onwards and upwards.”
Clare 3-35 · Down 0-15 Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis · Attendance: 4,960