Darach Honan (born 21 March 1990 in Clonlara, County Clare, Ireland) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Clonlara and was a member of the Clare senior inter-county team from 2010 until 2017.[1]
Born in Clonlara, County Clare, Honan is the son of Colm Honan, a former Clare hurler, and Máire Ní Ghráda, an academic and native of Cork.[2] Honan was educated at the local national school before attending Ard Scoil Rís in Limerick. Here he concentrated on basketball and enjoyed much success at All-Ireland level with the school. Honan subsequently studied at University College Cork.[3]
Honan plays his club hurling with Clonlara and has enjoyed much success. In 2008 he was just out of the minor grade when Clonlara lined out against Newmarket-on-Fergus in the final of the county senior championship. On that occasion Clonlara ended an 89-year wait to claim the championship with a 1-12 to 1-9 win.[4]
Honan first played hurling for Clare as a member of the county's minor team. He enjoyed little success in this grade but later became a key member of the Clare under-21 side. In 2009 Clare made history by winning the Munster title in that grade for the very first time. Honan's side later played in the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, claiming a narrow 0-15 to 0-14 victory and a very first All-Ireland under-21 title.[5] Honan was later named the inaugural Bord Gáis Energy Breakthrough Player of the Year.[citation needed]
Honan made his senior championship debut for Clare in a Munster semi-final clash against Waterford in 2010. In spite of being beaten Honan scored an impressive 1-3 on his debut. Honan came on as a sub against Cork and scored Clare's fifth goal in the 2013 All-Ireland Hurling final replay played at Croke Park as Clare won their fourth All Ireland senior title.
In October 2017, Honan announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[6]