Jerry O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Jerry O'Connor is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum
and with the Cork senior inter-county team.
in 1979. He is, along with his twin brother Ben
, the eldest in a family of ten children. O’Connor was born into a family that had a strong association with the game of hurling
. His father, Bernie O'Connor
, had played at minor, under-21 and senior levels for Cork in the 1960s, winning a minor All-Ireland
medal in 1967. O’Connor was educated at the local national school before later attending Mannix College in Charleville
. While going to school here he had his first All-Ireland success when he won a Senior Vocational Schools medal.
O’Connor currently works as a member of An Garda Síochána in Cork
.
with his local Newtownshandrum
club. He enjoyed much success at underage levels, winning practically every hurling competition from under-12 upwards. In 1996 he was barely seventeen years-old, however, he played a key role when Newtown won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship title. Two years later in 1998 O’Connor won a Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship title, with two more titles following in 1999 and 2000. That same year the O’Connor twins were instrumental in helping the club to win its first ever senior county championship
title. Three years later in 2003 O’Connor added a second senior county title before later landing a Munster club hurling medal as well as an All-Ireland
club medal. In 2006 he won another brace of county and provincial medals, however, Newtown were later defeated by Portumna
in the All-Ireland final.
medal in 2000, however, Cork were later defeated by Offaly
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In Cork hurling took a dramatic downturn culminating in a players strike in 2002. In 2003 the Cork hurlers were back and O’Connor won his second Munster title. The team were later defeated by Kilkenny
in an exciting All-Ireland final. In 2004 Cork were defeated by Waterford
in one of the greatest Munster finals of all-time. In spite of this O’Connor’s side qualified for another All-Ireland final showdown with Kilkenny. The game failed to live up to the expectations of commentators and fans, however, O'Connor won his first All-Ireland
medal.
In 2005 O’Connor won a third Munster medal before later winning a second All-Ireland medal following a win over Galway
. Both Jerry and his brother Ben finished off the year by becoming the first set of twins to be presented with All-Star
awards. In 2006 O’Connor won a fourth provincial medal before later qualifying to play in a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final. Once again Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, Cork were stopped in their bid to win three finals in-a-row.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team.
Early & private life
Jerry O’Connor was born in the village of Newtownshandrum, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1979. He is, along with his twin brother Ben
Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999. O'Connor is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.-Biography:Ben O’Connor was born in the village of...
, the eldest in a family of ten children. O’Connor was born into a family that had a strong association with the game of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. His father, Bernie O'Connor
Bernie O'Connor
Bernie O’Connor is a former Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Meelin and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s...
, had played at minor, under-21 and senior levels for Cork in the 1960s, winning a minor All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal in 1967. O’Connor was educated at the local national school before later attending Mannix College in Charleville
Charleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
. While going to school here he had his first All-Ireland success when he won a Senior Vocational Schools medal.
O’Connor currently works as a member of An Garda Síochána in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
.
Club
O’Connor plays his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
club. He enjoyed much success at underage levels, winning practically every hurling competition from under-12 upwards. In 1996 he was barely seventeen years-old, however, he played a key role when Newtown won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship title. Two years later in 1998 O’Connor won a Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship title, with two more titles following in 1999 and 2000. That same year the O’Connor twins were instrumental in helping the club to win its first ever senior county championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
title. Three years later in 2003 O’Connor added a second senior county title before later landing a Munster club hurling medal as well as an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club medal. In 2006 he won another brace of county and provincial medals, however, Newtown were later defeated by Portumna
Portumna GAA
Portumna GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Portumna in County Galway. The club is almost exclusively focused on hurling.-History:...
in the All-Ireland final.
Inter-county
O'Connor's skill was quickly spotted and he soon followed his brother onto the inter-county scene. He won his first MunsterMunster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
medal in 2000, however, Cork were later defeated by Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In Cork hurling took a dramatic downturn culminating in a players strike in 2002. In 2003 the Cork hurlers were back and O’Connor won his second Munster title. The team were later defeated by Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
in an exciting All-Ireland final. In 2004 Cork were defeated by Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
in one of the greatest Munster finals of all-time. In spite of this O’Connor’s side qualified for another All-Ireland final showdown with Kilkenny. The game failed to live up to the expectations of commentators and fans, however, O'Connor won his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
In 2005 O’Connor won a third Munster medal before later winning a second All-Ireland medal following a win over Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. Both Jerry and his brother Ben finished off the year by becoming the first set of twins to be presented with All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards. In 2006 O’Connor won a fourth provincial medal before later qualifying to play in a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final. Once again Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, Cork were stopped in their bid to win three finals in-a-row.