Graham Callanan

Graham Callanan (born 8 February 1982) is an Irish hurler who plays for Cork Senior Championship club Glen Rovers. He usually plays as a left wing-back but can also be deployed at midfield. Callanan is a former member of the Cork senior hurling team.

Playing career

Glen Rovers

Callanan joined the Glen Rovers club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, winning a Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship medal as a 19-year-old in 2001. With Glen's sister club, St. Nicholas', he won a Cork Under-21 Football Championship in 2003.

Callanan joined the Glen Rovers senior team during the 1999 Cork Championship but was an unused substitute throughout the season. He made his first appearance for the team on 14 May 2000 in an 0-11 to 0-18 defeat by Erin's Own.

On 10 October 2010, Callanan lined out at centre-back in Glen Rovers' first Cork Senior Championship final in 19 years, however, Sarsfields won the game by 1-17 to 0-18.

Callanan was appointed captain of the Glen Rovers senior team for the 2014 Cork Senior Championship. On 12 October, he captained the team from left wing-back when the Glen faced Sarsfields in the final. He scored a point during the game, however, Sarsfields won by 2-18 to 0-08.

Callanan retained the club captaincy for the 2015 Cork Senior Championship. On 11 October, he lined out at right wing-back in the final against reigning champions Sarsfields. A 2-17 to 1-13 victory secured the title and a first championship medal for Callanan.

For the third year in-a-row, Callanan was appointed captain of the Glen Rovers team. On 9 October 2016, he was at right wing-back when Glen Rovers defeated Erin's Own by 0-19 to 2-10 to win the Cork Senior Championship for the second year in succession. It was Callanan's second time lifting the cup as captain.

Cork

Minor and under-21

Callanan first played for Cork as a member of the minor team on 6 August 2000 in a 2-17 to 1-11 All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Dublin. On 10 September, he was at left wing-back when Cork suffered a 2-19 to 4-10 defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland final.

On 9 July 2002, Callanan made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team in a 1-15 to 1-14 Munster Championship semi-final defeat by Limerick. His under-21 tenure ended with a Munster final replay defeat by Tipperary on 3 August 2003.

Senior

Callanan made his first appearance for the Cork senior hurling team on 22 February 2004 in a 0-14 to 1-09 National Hurling League defeat of Limerick. He was a regular player during all of Cork's eight group stage league games but failed to secure a place on the starting fifteen for the Munster Championship. On 12 September 2004, Callanan was an unused substitute when Cork defeated Kilkenny by 0-17 to 0-09 in the All-Ireland final

On 22 May 2005, Callanan made his first championship appearance as a substitute in a 2-17 to 2-15 defeat of Waterford in the Munster Championship semi-final. He was later an unused substitute when Cork defeated Tipperary by 1-21 to 1-16 to win the Munster Championship. On 11 September, Callanan won his second All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute when Cork defeated Galway by 1-21 to 1-16 in the All-Ireland final.

Callanan was dropped from the Cork senior team in 2006 but returned the following year. He made his last appearance for the team on 18 July 2009 when he came on as a substitute in Cork's 1-19 to 0-15 defeat by Galway.

Career statistics

Club

Inter-county

Honours

;Glen Rovers
*Cork Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2015 (c), 2016 (c)
*Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2001

;St. Nicholas'
*Cork Under-21 Football Championship (1): 2003

;Cork
*All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2004, 2005
*Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2005
*Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2000

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Callanan, Graham
1982 births
Living people
Cork inter-county hurlers
Dual players
Glen Rovers hurlers
St Nicholas' Gaelic footballers
21st-century Irish sportsmen