Jason Cleere
{{Short description|Irish hurler}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2020}}
{{infobox Gaelic games player
|image =
|name = Jason Cleere
|irish = Íason de Cléir
|nickname =
|occupation = Student
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1996|8|1}}
|birth_place = Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland
|feet = 6
|inches = 0
|sport = Hurling
|code = Hurling
|county = Kilkenny
|province = Leinster
|club = Bennettsbridge
|clyears =
|clposition =
|clapps(points) =
|clcounty = 0
|clprovince =
|clallireland =
|colleges = Mary Immaculate College
Institute of Technology, Carlow
|fitz = 0
|colyears =
|counties = Kilkenny
|icyears = 2017–present
|icposition = Left wing-back
|icapps(points) = 0 (0-00)
|icprovince = 0
|icallireland = 0
|nhl = 0
|allstars = 0
|clupdate =
|icupdate = 21:54, 8 January 2020
}}
Jason Cleere (born 1 August 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Bennettsbridge and at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a left wing-back.{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/article/index/235176|title=Four All-Ireland medals in twelve months|date=9 April 2015|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}}
Playing career
=St. Kieran's College=
Cleere first came to prominence as a hurler with St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny. Having played in every grade as a hurler, he was eventually called up the college's senior team. On 5 April 2014, he lined out at right wing-back when St. Kieran's College defeated Kilkenny CBS to win the Dr. Croke Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/croke-cup-st-kierans-cbs-kilkenny-1400634-Apr2014/|title=19th All-Ireland for St. Kieran's after win over Kilkenny CBS|date=5 April 2014|publisher=The 42|accessdate=4 August 2018|first=Trevor|last=Spillane}}
On 28 February 2015, Cleere won a Leinster Championship medal when he lined out at centre-back when St. Kieran's College defeated St. Peter's College by 1-14 to 1-06 in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/county/wexford/article/index/232765|title=Schools: St Kieran's back in the winners enclosure|date=28 February 2015|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=4 August 2018|first=|last=}} He was again at centre-back when St. Kieran's faced Thurles CBS in the All-Ireland final and collected a second successive winners' medal following a 1-15 to 1-12 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/croke-cup-all-ireland-final-st-kierans-thurles-cbs-april-2015-2030979-Apr2015/|title=Kilkenny school St Kieran's have won their 20th All-Ireland title|date=5 April 2015|publisher=The 42|accessdate=4 August 2018|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}
=Bennettsbridge=
Cleere joined the Bennettsbridge club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team.
On 9 November 2014, Cleere won a Kilkenny Junior Championship medal following a 1-17 to 1-07 defeat of Mooncoin in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/227525|title=Bennettsbridge bring cup to Martin's grave|date=12 November 2014|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}} On 6 December, he won a Leinster Championship medal following Bennettsbridge's 1-20 to 0-03 defeat of Shamrocks in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/county/kilkenny/article/index/228713|title=Leinster Club JHC final: Bennettsbridge enjoy runaway success|date=6 December 2014|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}} Bennettsbridge subsequently qualified for an All-Ireland final meeting with Fullen Gaels on 15 February 2015. Cleere collected a winners' medal from right wing-back following a 2-17 to 2-14 victory.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/nicky-cleeres-haul-points-the-way-for-bennettsbridge-30994395.html|title=Nicky Cleere's haul points the way for Bennettsbridge|accessdate=28 November 2017 |newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=15 February 2015|first=|last=}}
On 18 October 2015, Cleere was at right wing-back when Bennettsbridge drew 0-20 to 3-11 with St Patrick's Ballyragget in the final of the Kilkenny Intermediate Championship. He lined out in the same position in the replay on 24 October and collected a winners' medal after a 1-16 to 1-14 victory. Cleere won a Leinster Championship medal on 21 November following a 1-14 to 0-13 defeat of Kiltale in the final.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/bridge-win-comes-at-cost-34244499.html|title='Bridge win comes at cost|accessdate=31 March 2019|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=30 November 2015|first=|last=}} On 7 February 2016, he was selected at right wing-back for the All-Ireland final against Abbeyknockmoy. He ended the game with a winners' medal following a 1-17 to 1-14 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/bennettsbridge-kilkenny-croke-park-2590279-Feb2016/|title=Kilkenny's Bennettsbridge claim second All-Ireland club title in 12 months|date=7 February 2016|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Paul|last=Keane}}
On 28 October 2018, Cleere lined out at centre-back when Bennettsbridge faced Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final of the Kilkenny Senior Championship. He ended up on the losing side following a 2-20 to 2-17 victory for Ballyhale.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/henry-shefflin-launches-managerial-career-as-ballyhale-win-kilkenny-championship-37467662.html|title=Henry Shefflin launches managerial career as Ballyhale win Kilkenny championship|date=28 October 2018|newspaper=Irish Independent|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Martin|last=Breheny}}
=Kilkenny=
==Minor and under-21==
Cleere was selected for the Kilkenny minor team for the first time during the 2013 Leinster Championship. On 7 July he won a Leinster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Kilkenny's 1-18 to 0-08 defeat of Laois in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/murphy-points-the-way-as-kilkenny-cruise-past-laois-to-claim-crown-29402610.html|title=Murphy points the way as Kilkenny cruise past Laois to claim crown|date=8 July 2013|newspaper=Irish Independent|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}}
On 26 April 2014, Cleere made his first appearance for the Kilkenny minor team when he lined out right wing-back in a 2-08 to 0-03 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/county/kilkenny/article/index/214887|title=Leinster MHC: Dubs too good for dismal Cats|date=26 April 2014|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}} He was switched to centre-back for the Leinster final against Dublin on 6 July and collected a winners' medal following the 2-19 to 2-10 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-dublin-leinster-minor-final-2014-1556863-Jul2014/|title=Kilkenny power past Dublin to retain their Leinster minor crown|date=6 July 2014|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Niall|last=Kelly}} On 7 September, Cleere won an All-Ireland medal at centre-back following Kilkenny's 2-17 to 0-19 defeat of Limerick in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/kilkenny-minors-savour-all-ireland-success-against-spirited-limerick-1.1920852|title=Kilkenny minors savour All-Ireland success against spirited Limerick|newspaper=Irish Times|date=7 September 2014|accessdate=23 June 2015|first=Ian|last=O'Riordan}} It was his last game in the minor grade.
Cleere subsequently progressed onto the Kilkenny under-21 team during the 2015 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 2 June when he lined out at right wing-back in Kilkenny's 4-12 to 2-16 defeat of Dublin in the quarter-final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-kilkenny-u21-2-2138894-Jun2015/|title=Late goal gives Kilkenny dramatic win over Dublin in Leinster U21 hurling thriller|date=2 June 2015|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}} On 8 June, Cleere was again at right wing-back when Kilkenny suffered a 4-17 to 1-09 defeat by Wexford in the Leinster final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/240694|title=Leinster U21 HC final: Magical Model maul Cats for three-in-a-row|date=8 July 2015|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=|last=}}
On 5 July 2017, Cleere won a Leinster Championship medal with the under-21 team after scoring three points from centre-back in 0-30 to 1-15 defeat of Wexford in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-wexford-u21-2-3480994-Jul2017/|title=Kilkenny land 30 points en route to completing U21 and minor Leinster hurling double|date=5 July 2017|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien}} On 9 September, he was again at centre-back for Kilkenny's 0-17 to 0-11 defeat by Limerick in the All-Ireland final.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/limerick-savour-that-september-excitement-in-u21-hurling-final-458686.html|title=Limerick savour that September excitement in U21 hurling final|date=11 September 2017|newspaper=Irish Examiner|accessdate=31 July 2018|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}
==Intermediate==
Cleere earned a call up to the Kilkenny intermediate team for the 2016 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 13 July in Kilkenny's 3-14 to 2-14 defeat of Wexford in the Leinster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-wexford-intermediate-2877133-Jul2016/|title=Late Kilkenny rally beats Wexford in Leinster decider to set up All-Ireland final with Clare|date=13 July 2016|publisher=The 42|accessdate=31 July 2018|first=Michael|last=Dwyer}} On 6 August, Cleere was selected at right wing-back when Kilkenny faced Clare in the All-Ireland final. He ended the game with a winners' medal following a 5-16 to 1-16 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/5-star-kilkenny-first-all-ireland-intermediate-six-years-2914121-Aug2016/|title=5-star Kilkenny secure first All-Ireland Intermediate title in 6 years|date=6 August 2016|publisher=The 42|accessdate=31 July 2018|first=Eoin|last=Brennan}}
==Senior==
Cleere was added to the Kilkenny senior team prior to the start of the 2017 National League. He made his first appearance on 5 March when he was selected at centre-back in Kilkenny's 0-22 to 0-15 defeat of Cork.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-team-clare-3270175-Mar2017/|title=Cody hands senior debut to young Bennettsbridge centre-back as Cork leave Horgan out|date=3 March 2017|publisher=The 42|accessdate=31 July 2018|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/kilkenny-beat-14-man-cork-in-lively-nowlan-park-encounter-780091.html|title=Kilkenny beat 14-man Cork in lively Nowlan Park encounter|date=5 March 2017|newspaper=Irish Examiner|accessdate=31 July 2018|first=|last=}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 18 August 2019.}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="3"|National League !colspan="2"|Leinster !colspan="2"|All-Ireland !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score |
| rowspan="3"|Kilkenny
|2017 |rowspan="3"|Division 1A |4 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | |
| 2018
|0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | |
| 2019
|2 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-00 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-00 |
Honours
;St. Kieran's College
- All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2014, 2015
- Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2015
;Bennettsbridge
- All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship (1): 2016
- Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship (1): 2015
- Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2015
- All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2015
- Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2014
- Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship (1): 2014
;Kilkenny
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Jason Cleere navigation boxes
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{{Kilkenny Minor Hurling Team 2014}}
{{Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Team 2016}}
{{Kilkenny Under-21 Hurling Team 2017}}
{{Kilkenny Hurling Team 2019}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleere, Jason}}
Category:Bennettsbridge hurlers