Eugene Cloonan (born 22 December 1978) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a full-forward for the Galway senior team.
He arrived on the Inter-County scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Galway minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.
As a member of the Connacht inter-provincial team at various times, Cloonan won one Railway Cup medals in 1999.
Cloonan's career tally of 14 goals and 116 points was a record score for a Galway player which stood until 2011 when it was surpassed by Joe Canning.
Cloonan first came to prominence with Athenry winning championship medals in the under-14 1992 against Loughrea under-16 1994 after an epic battle with near neighbours Turloughmore and minor grade in 1993,1994 & 1995.
Athenry surrendered their titles in 1997, however, Cloonan collected a second championship medal in 1998 following a 1–15 to 1–12 defeat of Abbey-Duniry in a replay of the decider.
A 2–14 to 3–7 defeat of Sarsfield's gave Cloonan, who scored all but four points of his team's total, his fourth championship medal in five years.
The Kilkenny champions had the lead with just a few seconds remaining, however, Cloonan scored a vital goal to level the match and force extra time.
[12] In 2004 Cloonan won his sixth and final championship medal following a narrow 0–15 to 0–13 defeat of reigning champions Portumna.
[13] Athenry faced little competition from Ballyhaunis in the provincial decider, and a 2–16 to 0–7 victory gave Cloonan a fifth Connacht medal.
[14] Athenry later had the chance of securing a record-equalling fourth All-Ireland title, however, James Stephens defeated Cloonan's side by 0–19 to 0–14.
In all, Cloonan made 88 Championship appearances for Athenry Senior Hurlers, from his debut against Portumna in 1996, to his final game against Beagh in 2008.
Cloonan made his inter-county debut for Galway against Tipperary in the under-14 Tony Forrestal competition in 1992.
A shock semi-final defeat of reigning champions Kilkenny propelled Galway to an All-Ireland showdown with old rivals Tipperary.