John Allen (hurling manager)

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John Allen (born 1956) is an Irish hurling manager and former hurler and Gaelic footballer, currently managing the Cork senior hurling team.

John Allen was born in Cork in 1956. He joined the St. Finbarr's GAA club in his youth and showed great talent as both a hurler and a Gaelic footballer. He was quickly noticed by the Cork inter-county selectors and became a member of the minor panel in 1973. Over the next decade he would have great success as a dual player at club and inter-county levels. Allen first tasted Gaelic Games success in 1976 when he won an All-Ireland Under-21 medal with Cork in 1976. He soon made the step up to senior level where he won his first and only All-Ireland medal as a player in 1978. Allen's sporting career turned to football following this. He won a National Football League in 1980 and won a Munster Football Championship medal in 1983. At club level with St. Finbarr's Allen also had much success. In 1977 he won an All-Ireland Club Hurling medal, before going on to win three All-Ireland Club Football medals in 1979, 1980 and 1986.

In retirement Allen became involved in coaching various teams at all levels. from 1999 until 2001 he served as masseur with the Cork hurling team. He opted out for a year after this and returned as a selector in 2003. In late October 2004 Allen succeeded Donal O'Grady as the Cork manager for a two-year term and was immediately charged with the task of guiding the team to a second consecutive All-Ireland title for the 2005 Championship. He succeeded in doing this, however, the pressure was on Allen for the 2006 Championship when the team was on the verge of winning the coveted three-in-a-row. Allen's side were defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. It was his first defeat in ten championship games. In September 2006 Allen announced, after much speculation, that he was not seeking another term as Cork manager. Allen's selector, Ger Cunningham, is the early favourite to succeed him.

Preceded by: Donal O'Grady

Cork Senior Hurling Manager 2005-2006

Succeeded by: Gerald McCarthy

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2005
1 D. Óg Cusack | 2 P. Mulcahy | 3 D. O'Sullivan | 4 B. Murphy | 5 J. Gardiner | 6 R. Curran | 7 S. Óg Ó hAilpín (Capt.) | 8 T. Kenny | 9 J. O'Connor | 10 B. O'Connor | 11 N. McCarthy | 12 T. McCarthy | 13 K. Murphy | 14 B. Corcoran | 15 J. Deane | Subs: N. Ronan | K. Murphy | Manager: J. Allen