John Browne

John Browne (born 1977) is an Irish hurling manager and former hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship club Blackrock.

He played for the Cork senior hurling team over a seven-year period, during which time he usually lined out as a left corner-back.

Browne's brothers, Alan and Richard, also played for Cork.

Browne began his hurling career at club level with Blackrock.

On 23 October 1994, he was at centre-back when the Blackrock minor team defeated Midleton by 3-12 to 4-08 to win the Cork Premier Minor Championship.

Browne was just out of the minor grade when he was added to the Blackrock senior team.

He broke onto the club's senior team straight out of the minor grade in 1995 was part of three Cork Senior Championship-winning teams - 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Browne's early prowess also saw him selected for University College Cork, with whom he won a Fitzgibbon Cup title.

He made his first championship appearance for the team on 14 May 1995 in a 3-07 to 0-10 defeat of Avondhu.

On 17 July 1996, Browne made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team at right corner-back in a 2-18 to 1-12 defeat of Tipperary.

He won a Munster Championship medal on 24 July following a 3-16 to 2-07 defeat of Clare in the final.

Browne was eligible for the under-21 team again the following season and won a second consecutive Munster Championship medal on 30 July following a 1-11 to 0-13 defeat of Tipperary in the final.

On 21 October, he won an All-Ireland medal following Cork's 3-11 to 0-13 defeat of Galway in the final.

At inter-county level, Browne was part of the successful Cork under-21 team that won the All-Ireland Championship in 1997.

On 2 March 1997, Browne was at left wing-back when University College Cork faced the Garda College in the final of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

He collected a winners' medal following the 0-14 to 1-08 victory.

Browne joined the Blackrock club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels.

He joined the Cork senior team in 1998.

On 1 November 1998, Browne lined out at right corner-back in his first Cork Senior Championship final.

Imokilly provided the opposition, however, Blackrock were defeated by 1-10 to 1-05.

On 15 November 1998, lined out at centre-back when St. Michael's defeated St. Finbarr's by 1-11 to 0-08 to win the Cork Intermediate Championship.

Browne made his first appearance for the Cork senior team on 8 March 1998 in a 0-16 to 1-08 defeat of Kilkenny in the National League.

On 17 May 1998, he lined out at full-back when Cork defeated Waterford by 2-14 to 0-13 in the National League final.

Browne later made his first Munster Championship in 1-20 to 3-11 defeat of Limerick on 31 May.

During that time he was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1999, 2004 and 2005.

Browne also secured three Munster Championship medals and a National Hurling League medal.

At inter-provincial level, Browne was selected to play in one championship campaign with Munster.

He later became involved in team management and coaching and has served as manager of the Blackrock senior team.

Browne lined out at left corner-back in a second successive Cork Championship final on 31 October 1999.

He ended the game with his first winners' medal after the 3-17 to 0-08 defeat of University College Cork.

On 4 July 1999, Browne won a Munster Championship medal after a 1-15 to 0-14 defeat of reigning champions Clare in the final.

On 11 September, he was selected at left corner-back for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny.

After surrendering their title in 2000, Browne lined out in a third Cork Championship final on 6 October 2001.

Imokilly provided the opposition, however, he claimed a second winners' medal following the 4-08 to 2-07 victory.

On 2 December, Browne was again at left corner-back for Blackrock's 2-14 to 0-12 defeat by Ballygunner in the Munster final.

On 15 September 2002, Browne won a third championship medal following a 1-14 to 0-12 defeat of Newtownshandrum in the Cork Championship final.

Blackrock qualified for a fifth Cork Championship final in six years on 12 October 2003.

Newtownshandrum provided the opposition for the second year in succession, however, Browne, who lined out at left corner-back, ended up on the losing side by 0-17 to 1-09.

Browne played Gaelic football with Blackrock's sister club St Michael's.

From his debut, Browne was ever-present in the last line of defence and made a combined total of 58 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended in 2005.