John Callinan was born in Clarecastle, County Clare in 1955 into a family of one brother and four sisters.
Callinan played hurling with the Clare minor team in the early 1970s before making his senior debut in 1973.
The following year he played in his first Munster final, however, his side lost out to Limerick.
Three years later in 1977 Callinan had his first major success when he won a National Hurling League medal.
In 1978 he won a second consecutive National League title, however, Clare lost out once again to Cork in the Munster final.