Mixing
Stephen Cluxton
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Stiofáin Cluxton | ||
| Sport | Gaelic Football | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Born | (1981-12-17) 17 December 1981 Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Nickname | Clucko | ||
| Occupation | Secondary school teacher | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 1999– | Parnells | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Dublin titles | 0 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
Dublin City University | |||
| College titles | |||
| Sigerson titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 2001– | Dublin | 91 (0-48) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 14 | ||
| All-Irelands | 5 | ||
| NFL | 5 | ||
| All Stars | 5 | ||
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 18:32, 22 September 2017. | |||
Stephen Cluxton (born 17 December 1981) is an Irish Gaelic footballer. His league and championship career as goalkeeper with the Dublin senior team has spanned seventeen seasons since 2001
Born in Dublin, Cluxton was raised in a house that had a strong association with soccer. His father, Pat, won several medals with Postal Celtic, while Cluxton himself played with St. David's Primary School and Tolka Rovers. It was during his schooling at St. David's Secondary School that Cluxton developed into a Gaelic footballer, eventually becoming a goalkeeper.[1] He soon joined the Parnells club, eventually becoming a key member of the senior team.
Cluxton made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Dublin minor team. A Leinster medal winner in this grade, he later won a Leinster medal with the under-21 team. Cluxton made his senior debut during the 2001 championship. Since then he has established himself as Dublin's first-choice goalkeeper and has won five All-Ireland medals, beginning with lone triumphs in 2011 and 2013, and three championships in-a-row from 2015 to 2017. Cluxton is the only player in the history of the game to captain a team to four championship titles. He has also won a record thirteen Leinster medals, four National Football League medals and five All-Stars.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Playing career
2.1 Inter-county
2.2 International rules
3 Personal life
4 Charity work
5 Career statistics
6 Honours
6.1 Team
6.2 Individual
7 References
8 External links
Early life
Cluxton was born into a soccer background. His father Pat Cluxton won a lot of medals with Postal Celtic. He played soccer at St David's Primary School, Artane, County Dublin, and played at left back or on the left wing with Tolka Rovers. It wasn't until he went to St David's Secondary that he began to play Gaelic football. He played at corner forward until the school goalkeeper Robert O'Connor was suspended. Back up goalkeeper Tony Gallagher had just moved to Denmark, so without a known replacement, Cluxton volunteered to stand in for him in that position. He has remained in that position ever since.[2]
Playing career
Inter-county
Cluxton was an All Star winner in 2002, and he received the Young Personality of the Year Award at the 2002 RTÉ/Hibernian Sports Ceremony held in the Burlington Hotel, on Saturday 4 January 2003. Following Cluxton's sending off in the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2003 against Armagh, then manager Tommy Lyons blamed him for Dublin's defeat.[3] After this incident, Cluxton seriously considered quitting the Dublin panel to play professional soccer with League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic [this requires reference].
Cluxton was part of the Dublin City University team which won the 2006 Sigerson Cup, winning a place on the Third Level Hotshots Team. He was an All Star winner that year. Cluxton won the 2007 O'Byrne Cup with Dublin against Laois at O'Connor Park in Offaly. The game finished on a scoreline of 1–18 to 2–13. Cluxton to this day remains the best shot-stopper in Ireland with bags of skill and fast reflexes.
Overall, he has been described as "arguably...the best shot-stopper at inter-county level".[citation needed]
After disappointment in the National League final defeat to Cork, Cluxton played a major role in Dublin's 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning season, bridging a 16 year gap.[4] He scored the winning point in the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He is the only goalkeeper in the history of the game to have done so.[5] After the final whistle he slowly walked off the pitch down the tunnel beneath the Hogan Stand in keeping with his famously private persona and desire to shy away from the spotlight. It is believed Cluxton actually exited the pitch straight away as his beloved Manchester United were playing Chelsea in the premier league, and the second half was about to start.[6] Dublin teammate Paul Flynn paid tribute afterwards: "He [Cluxton] is out training an hour before everybody else and he kicks them over with his eyes closed. I didn't even look at the kick. I looked at him and he just kicked it and ran back. He is a phenomenal man, I am delighted for him."[7]
Upon Jim Gavin's appointment as manager of the Dublin Senior football team, he made Cluxton his team captain.[8] On 28 April 2013, Cluxton captained Dublin to win the 2013 National Football League after a 0–18 to 0–17 win against Tyrone at Croke Park, their first national league title for 20 years.[9] His free kicks have attracted criticism – in the 2013 Leinster final he spent eight minutes of the match trotting up the field to kick the ball over the bar.[10]
On 22 September, Cluxton captained Dublin to win the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Mayo, and scoring the point from a free that was the deciding winning point in the game. [11]
Cluxton captained Dublin to win the 2015 All Ireland final, regaining the Sam Maguire Cup having been defeated at the semi final stage to Ulster Champions Donegal on a scoreline of 3-14 to 0-17. The 0-12 to 0-09 success came against the 2014 champions Kerry.[12]
Cluxton again pointed from a free, making it the first time a goalkeeper had scored in 3 All Ireland Finals.
Cluxton again lead Dublin to an All Ireland Final in 2016 against Mayo. This ended a draw after a relatively poor game due to difficult weather conditions, a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-15.[13] He captained Dublin to win the replay on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-14.[14]
In 2017 Dublin were narrowly defeated in the National League final by Kerry by a single point. Dublin then went on to win a record 7 Leinster titles in a row.[15] On the 17th September, Cluxton again captained Dublin to a historic 3 in a row All Ireland titles with another narrow 1-17 to 1-16 victory against Mayo.[16] Having been outplayed in the first half, the Dubs turned the game around to win a thrilling game courtesy of a 75th minute Dean Rock free.[17]
International rules
Cluxton made his debut appearance for Ireland in the International Rules Series during the 2002 test series won by Australia. He was part of the victorious Irish team during the 2004 International Rules Series, winning the Irish player of the tournament award.[18]
Cluxton kept a clean sheet when he played in goal for Ireland in the 2010 International Rules Series in Limerick.[19] Cluxton captained Ireland during the 2011 International Rules Series in Australia. Ireland went on to win the Series.[citation needed]
Injury ruled him out of the 2013 International Rules Series so Paddy O'Rourke filled his gloves.[20][21][22]
Personal life
Cluxton is currently studying for a BSc in Science Education part-time, and is also a secondary school teacher at St David's CBS, Artane, where he teaches Biology. He became a member of the faculty at the beginning of the September 2006 term. He served as a member of the school football team coaching staff.[6]
Charity work
In April 2011, while participating in a charity soccer match between Darndale F.C. and Liverpool/Manchester United Legends in aid of Autism Ireland, Cluxton clashed with former Republic of Ireland soccer team player Jason McAteer. Cluxton and McAteer were both sent off.[23]
Career statistics
- As of match played 1 April 2017.
| Team | Season | National League | Leinster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
Dublin | 2001 | Division 1A | 0 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 |
| 2002 | 5 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 11 | 0-00 | ||
| 2003 | 5 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-00 | ||
| 2004 | 5 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-00 | 10 | 0-00 | ||
| 2005 | 7 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 13 | 0-00 | ||
| 2006 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 11 | 0-00 | ||
| 2007 | 7 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 13 | 0-00 | ||
| 2008 | Division 2 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 10 | 0-00 | |
| 2009 | Division 1 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 10 | 0-00 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-05 | 12 | 0-05 | ||
| 2011 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-06 | 3 | 0-06 | 12 | 0-12 | ||
| 2012 | 4 | 0-04 | 3 | 0-03 | 2 | 0-06 | 9 | 0-13 | ||
| 2013 | 7 | 0-04 | 3 | 0-07 | 3 | 0-09 | 13 | 0-20 | ||
| 2014 | 8 | 0-10 | 3 | 0-04 | 2 | 0-01 | 13 | 0-15 | ||
| 2015 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-01 | 13 | 0-01 | ||
| 2016 | 6 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | 13 | 0-00 | ||
| 2017 | 8 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 14 | 0-00 | ||
| 2018 | 6 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 6 | 0-00 | ||
| Total | 103 | 0-18 | 47 | 0-20 | 44 | 0-28 | 194 | 0-66 | ||
Honours
Team
- Dublin City University
Sigerson Cup (1): 2006
- Dublin
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (5): 2011, 2013 (c), 2015 (c), 2016 (c) 2017 (c)
Leinster Senior Football Championship (13): 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 (c), 2014 (c), 2015 (c), 2016 (c), 2017 (c)
National Football League (5): 2013 (c), 2014 (c), 2015 (c), 2016 (c), 2018 (c)
O'Byrne Cup (1): 2007
Leinster Under-21 Football Championship (1): 2002
Leinster Minor Football Championship (1): 1999
- Ireland
International Rules Series (2): 2004, 2011 (c)
Individual
- Awards
GAA-GPA All Stars Awards (5): 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013
GPA Gaelic Team of the Year (2): 2006, 2007
References
^ Hickey, Paddy (6 October 2005). "Cool Cluxton content to stay down to earth". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
^ Profile, unison.ie; accessed 29 November 2015.
^ Irish Independent story, unison.ie; accessed 29 November 2015.
^ Clerkin, Malachy (18 September 2011). "Cluxton stays cool to claim Sam". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 September 2011.In the end, it came down to one man. Or, if you prefer, a number one man. Stephen Cluxton, the Dublin goalkeeper who has been so crucial to their year, trotted forward with a minute of injury time left to drill an All-Ireland winning score into the Hill at last, after a breathless day in Croke Park.
^ "Cluxton the hero as Dublin win All-Ireland". RTÉ Sport. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
^ ab "All-Ireland Championship: Cluxton just so cool". The Belfast Telegraph. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
^ Houston, Rory (19 September 2011). "Flynn pays tribute to Gilroy's 'team'". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
^ "Dublin name Cluxton as captain". Irish Times. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
^ "Dublin 0–18 Tyrone 0–17". RTÉ Sport. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
^ "Cluxton frees took eight minutes". Hogan Stand. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
^ "Cluxton never lets Dubs down – he was outstanding". Irish Independent. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
^ "Dublin are All Ireland champions after seeing off Kerry in Croke Park". Independent. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
^ "Dublin and Mayo to do it again after tense All-Ireland Final draw". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^ "Dublin secure back-to-back All Ireland titles with one-point victory over Mayo in titanic battle". Independent. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
^ "A record seventh Leinster title in a row for ruthless Dublin but Kildare escape with credit". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
^ "History-making Dublin inch past heroic Mayo to make it three in a row". rte.ie. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
^ "Dean Rock wins the All-Ireland Final for Dublin in the last minute". Joe.ie. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
^ Profile, HILL16.ie; accessed 29 November 2015.
^ "Ireland 40–47 Australia". RTÉ News. 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010.
^ "Injury worry set to rule Cluxton out for Irish duty". Herald. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
^ "O'Rourke following the Cluxton template". Independent. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^ "Cluxton the template for O'Rourke". Hogan Stand. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^ Ellis, Fiona; O'Connell, Edel (5 April 2011). "McAteer calls on Cluxton to apologise over punch". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
External links
- Parnells GAA website
- Dublin GAA
- Official Dublin GAA website
- 2005 Sigerson Cup Final
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bryan Cullen | Dublin Senior Football Captain 2013–present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by Michael Murphy (Donegal) | All-Ireland Senior Football Final winning captain 2013 | Succeeded by Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry) |
| Preceded by Fionn Fitzgerald (Kerry) | All-Ireland Senior Football Final winning captain 2015-2017 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
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