Conor Hayes

Who is Conor Hayes?

Conor Hayes is an Irish retired hurler who played as a full-back for the Galway senior team.

Born in Kiltormer, County Galway, Hayes first excelled at hurling in his youth. He made his first impression on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty he joined the Galway under-21 team. He made his senior debut during the 1979 championship. Hayes went on to play a key role for Galway for over a decade, and won three All-Ireland medals and two National Hurling League medals. A two-time All-Ireland-winning captain, Hayes was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.

As a member of the Connacht inter-provincial team for almost a decade, Hayes won four Railway Cup medal. At club level he is a one-time All-Ireland medallist with Kiltormer. In addition to this he also won two Connacht medals and three championship medals. Hayes also lined out with Glen Rovers.

Throughout his career Hayes made 23 championship appearances for Galway. His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1990 championship.

Hayes is widely regarded as one of Galway's greatest-ever club and inter-county hurlers. He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at full-back on the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium and on the All-Ireland Club Hurling Silver Jubilee Team.