John Gardiner (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = John Gardiner
irish = Seán Ó Gairnéir
fullname = John Gardiner
placeofbirth = Farranree
countryofbirth = Cork
dob =
height = 6'1"
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Na Piarsaigh
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 2002-
icapps(points) = 23 (1-27)
icprovince = 3
icallireland = 2
allstars = 1
clupdate =
icupdate =

John Gardiner (born 1983 in Cork, Ireland) is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and with the Cork senior inter-county team.

Early & private life

John Gardiner was born in Farranree in Cork in 1983. He was educated locally at the famous St. Finbarr’s College, a famous hurling nursery on the north side of the city. He later attended the Cork Institute of Technology. Gardiner currently works as an official with Ulster Bank.

Playing career

Club

Gardiner plays his club hurling and Gaelic football with his local Na Piarsaigh club. He has enjoyed some success with the club, culminating in the winning of a senior county hurling title in 2004.

Inter-county

Gardiner first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in 2000 as a dual player on Cork’s minor hurling and football teams. That year he won a Munster minor medal with the Cork minor footballers before later winning a Munster minor title with the county’s hurling team. Gardiner subsequently collected an All-Ireland minor title with the footballers following a defeat of Mayo. He was a non-playing substitute in that game. In 2001 he won a second consecutive Munster medal with the minor hurling team. Gardiner later produced a fantastic exhibition in the championship decider against Galway. After defeat in the previous year’s final Cork gained their revenge and Gardiner collected a coveted All-Ireland minor hurling medal.

It was his performance in that game that brought Gardiner to the attention of the Cork senior hurling panel selectors. He made his championship debut with the senior hurlers as a substitute in an All-Ireland qualifier against Limerick in 2002. He subsequently lined out at centre-back when Cork, showing little or no appetite for battle, were eliminated by Galway in the second round of the qualifiers that year. Gardiner started at midfield in all of Cork’s championship games in 2003. That year he won his first senior Munster medal following an exciting victory over Waterford. Unfortunately, Cork were later defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. In spite of lining out at midfield Gardiner has always been more suited to a defensive role. He has been a permanent fixture in the half-back line since he shone there after swapping positions with Tom Kenny for the second half of the 2004 Munster semi-final against Limerick. Cork later went on to lose a thrilling Munster final to Waterford; however, Gardiner’s side later went on to reach the All-Ireland final. After a dour game Cork defeated Kilkenny and Gardiner captured his first senior All-Ireland medal. In 2005 Gardiner captured his second Munster title following a defeat of Tipperary at home in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Cork later remained on course to appear in their third consecutive All-Ireland final. At Cork’s semi-final game against Clare Gardiner proved to be one of the heroes after he landed a number of long-range frees. ‘The Rebels’ won that day and later defeated Galway in the championship decider, giving Gardiner his second All-Ireland medal. He later collected his first All-Star award. Gardiner was also collected the coveted GPA Hurler of the Year title. 2006 saw Gardiner collect his third Munster title following another victory over Tipp. He later lined out in his fourth consecutive All-Ireland final as Cork attempted to win their third championship in-a-row. After a twelve-game run of success Cork were finally defeated by Kilkenny. In Cork’s first championship game of 2007 Gardiner became embroiled in the so-called 'Semplegate' affair. As both Cork and Clare emerged from the tunnel at the same time a massive fight ensued. Three Cork players – Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Dónal Óg Cusack – were suspended for the following game while Gardiner was lucky to be reprieved. Cork’s championship campaign later ended in defeat to Waterford in the All-Ireland quarter-final replay.

In 2008 Gardiner was appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team.

Provincial

Gardiner has also lined out with Munster in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He captured a winners’ medal in this competition as captain of the side in 2005 as Munster defeated Leinster. Gardiner won a second Railway Cup title in 2007 as Munster defeated Connacht under floodlights at Croke Park.

Teams