Barry Johnson (hurler)

Barry Johnson (born 17 June 1984 in Rathcormac, County Cork) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Bride Rovers and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2009.

Playing career

Club

Johnson plays his club hurling with his local club called Bride Rovers and has enjoyed much success. In 2003 he helped his club to take the county intermediate championship title following a ten-point victory over Inniscarra. Bride Rovers later represented Cork in the provincial series of games and even reached the final. Kilruane MacDonagh's of Tipperary provided the opposition on that occasion, however, victory went to Bride Rovers. It gave Johnson a coveted Munster club winners' medal at intermediate level.^[1] Bride Rovers subsequently lined out in the county senior championship. In 2008 the club even reached the final, with Sarsfield's providing the opposition. A narrow 2-14 to 2-13 defeat, however, resulted in Johnson ending up on the losing side on that occasion.^[2]

Inter-county

Johnson first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork 'development panel' in late 2008 during the 2008-2009 Cork players strike.^[3] Johnson first lined out for Cork, as captain, in a challenge game to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Colman's College in Fermoy. He played in some further challenge games and was named at midfield for Cork's National Hurling League campaign. Johnson made his competitive senior début in the 4-14 to 1-14 defeat by Dublin in the opening round of the National Hurling League 2009. He subsequently lined out in all of Cork's National League games and was one of the few players from the 'development panel' that remained on the team when the 2008 panel returned.

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