Conor McGrath (born 29 May 1991) is an Irish hurler who plays as a left corner-forward for the Clare senior team.
Born in Ennis, County Clare, McGrath was introduced to hurling by his father, a Toomevara native who was heavily involved in hurling coaching. He developed his skills in the Harty Cup with St. Caimin's Community School, while simultaneously becoming involved at underage levels with the Cratloe club. A dual player at the highest level, McGrath has won two championship medals each in both hurling and Gaelic football.
McGrath made his debut on the inter-county scene when he first linked up with the Clare minor team. After little success in this grade, he later won two All-Ireland medals with the under-21 team. McGrath made his senior debut during the 2011 championship. He has since gone on to play a key role for Clare in attack during a successful era, and has won one All-Ireland medal and one National Hurling League medal.
McGrath attended NUI Galway.
In 2009 McGrath was at right corner-forward as Cratloe qualified for their first ever championship decider. Reigning champions Clonlara provided the opposition in what turned out to be a close game. McGrath scored 2âÂÂ1 in helping Cratloe to a 3âÂÂ5 to 1âÂÂ9 victory. It was a first championship medal for McGrath.
McGrath was a key member of the Cratloe senior football team that faced Doonbeg in the 2013 final. A close game developed, however, a 1âÂÂ0 to 0âÂÂ7 victory gave McGrath the distinction of being a dual championship medal winner.
2014 was a huge year for McGrath, as the Cratloe hurlers and footballers reached the finals of their respective championships. A 0âÂÂ14 to 0âÂÂ6 defeat of Crusheen in the hurling decider gave McGrath, who scored 0âÂÂ6, a second championship medal. A week later the Cratloe lined out against ÃÂire ÃÂg in the football decider. A 2âÂÂ12 to 1âÂÂ11 victory not only saw the team retain the football title they won for the first time the previous year but they were also the first team in Clare in 100 years to win both senior hurling and football titles in the same season.
McGrath first played for Clare as a member of the minor team, however, he enjoyed little success in this grade. He was still eligible for the minor grade when he was drafted onto the under-21 panel in 2009. McGrath won his first Munster medal that year after being introduced as a substitute in Clare's 2âÂÂ17 to 2âÂÂ12 defeat of Waterford. On 13 September 2009, Clare faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. A last-gasp Cormac O'Donovan point secured a narrow 0âÂÂ15 to 0âÂÂ14 victory. McGrath was introduced as a substitute once again and collected his first All-Ireland medal in what was Clare's first championship title.