Jack O'Connor (Wexford hurler)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seán Ó Conchubhair | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left wing-forward | ||
| Born | 1995 Piercestown, County Wexford, Ireland | ||
| Occupation | Product manager | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| St Martin's | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Wexford titles | 2 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
2013-2017 | University College Dublin | ||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2014-present | Wexford | 18 (2-16) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 23:38, 22 July 2019. | |||
Jack O'Connor (born 1995) is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Championship club St Martin's and at inter-county level with the Wexford senior hurling team. He usually plays as a right wing-forward, but can also be deployed as a left wing-back.[1]
Early life
[edit]Born in Piercestown, County Wexford, O'Connor is the son of John O'Connor and nephew of George O'Connor, both of whom won All-Ireland medals with Wexford in 1996. His brothers, Harry and Rory O'Connor, have also played for Wexford at various levels.[2] His cousin, Joe O’Connor, has also played for Wexford.
Playing career
[edit]University College Dublin
[edit]As a student at University College Dublin, O'Connor joined the senior hurling team during his second year. He lined out in several Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns without success.[citation needed]
St Martin's
[edit]O'Connor joined the St Martin's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels as a dual player. He experienced championship success in the under-21 grade before joining the club's top adult teams as a dual player.
On 22 October 2017, O'Connor lined out at left wing-forward when St Martin's qualified for the Wexford Hurling Championship final. He scored a point from play and ended the game with a winners' medal after the 2-16 to 1-09 defeat of Oulart-the Ballagh.[3] On 29 October 2017, St Martin's had the chance to achieve the double when they faced Starlights in the Wexford Football Championship final. O'Connor lined out at midfield in the 0-17 to 1-08 defeat.[4]
Wexford
[edit]Minor and under-21
[edit]O'Connor first played for Wexford as a member of the minor team during the 2012 Leinster Championship. On 8 July 2012, he scored a point from left wing-forward when Wexford suffered a 2-14 to 1-15 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final.[5]
O'Connor was once again eligible for the minor grade in 2013. He made his last appearance for the team on 23 June 2013 when he came on as a substitute in a 1-14 to 0-13 defeat by Laois in the Leinster semi-final.[6]
O'Connor was drafted onto the Wexford under-21 team in advance of the 2014 Leinster Championship. He made his debut in the grade on 4 June 2014 when he lined out at left wing-back in Wexford's 2-14 to 0-10 defeat of Kilkenny.[7] On 9 July 2014, O'Connor won a Leinster Championship medal when he again lined out at left wing-back in Wexford's 1-20 to 0-18 defeat of Dublin in the final.[8] On 13 September 2014, he was again selected at left wing-back for the All-Ireland final against Clare, but ended on the losing side following a 2-20 to 3-11 defeat.[9]
On 8 July 2015, O'Connor won a second successive Leinster Championship after scoring a point from left wing-back in Wexford's 4-17 to 1-09 defeat of Kilkenny in the final.[10] He retained his position at left wing-back for the All-Ireland final against Limerick on 12 September 2015, however, he ended on the losing side for the second year in succession following a 0-26 to 1-07 defeat.[11]
O'Connor was switched to midfield for the 2016 Leinster Championship. He played his last game in the under-21 grade on 1 June 2016 in a 2-12 to 1-08 defeat by Dublin at the quarter-final stage.[12]
Senior
[edit]O'Connor was added to the Wexford senior team at the start of the 2014 season. He remained an unused substitute but a member of the panel during Wexford's National League and Leinster Championship campaigns.[13]
On 13 February 2016, O'Connor made his first appearance for the Wexford senior team when he came on as a 58th-minute substitute for Shane Tompkins at full-forward in Wexford's 2-23 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick in the National League.[14] He made his Leinster Championship debut on 21 May 2016 when he lined out at left wing-back in Wexford's 2-19 to 0-12 defeat by Dublin.[15]
On 2 July 2017, O'Connor was selected at midfield when Wexford qualified for their first Leinster final in nine years. He ended the game on the losing side following the 0-29 to 1-17 defeat by Galway.[16]
On 20 January 2018, O'Connor was named as a substitute when Wexford faced Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final. He was introduced as a substitute for Cathal Dunbar and scored a point in the 1-24 apiece draw. Wexford won the subsequent free-taking shoot-out, with O'Connor claiming his first silverware at senior level with Wexford.[17]
Wexford reached a second Leinster final in three years on 30 June 2019. O'Connor was selected at right wing-forward and collected a winners' medal after scoring a point in the 1-23 to 0-23 defeat of Kilkenny.[18]
Honours
[edit]- St Martin's
- Wexford Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2017
- Wexford
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2019
- Walsh Cup (1): 2018
- Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 2014, 2015
References
[edit]- ^ "Jack O'Connor is embracing his destiny". GAA website. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Harrington, John (13 November 2017). "Rory O'Connor is living up to great expectations". GAA website. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Furlong, Brendan (23 October 2017). "St Martin's upset the formbook in Wexford decider". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Wexford SFC final: St. Martin's denied double by Starlights". Hogan Stand. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Leinster MHC final: Dublin retain provincial crown". Hogan Stand. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (23 June 2013). "GAA minor wrap: Laois shock Wexford, Tyrone beat Down to progress to final". The 42. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ Knox, John (5 June 2014). "Late blast underlines Wexford superiority". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (9 July 2014). "Superb McDonald goal helps Wexford claim Leinster U21 hurling title against Dublin". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (14 September 2014). "Kelly on fire as Clare young guns shoot down Wexford for a third title in a row". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Leinster U21 HC final: Magical Model maul Cats for three-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (12 December 2015). "Limerick ease past Wexford to claim U21 hurling title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ Bailey, Ryan (1 June 2016). "Dublin produce sparkling performance to end Wexford's bid for four-in-a-row". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (28 June 2017). "'There probably was a bit of destiny there': Jack O'Connor more than happy to follow a well-worn path". The 42. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Fallon, John (13 February 2016). "Second-half Limerick goals kill off Wexford's comeback hopes". The 42. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (21 May 2016). "Dublin hurlers cruise past dismal Wexford to book Leinster semi-final clash with Kilkenny". The 42. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (2 July 2017). "Conor Cooney masterclass leads Galway past Wexford to their first Leinster title since 2012". The 42. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ Aherne, Alan (27 January 2018). "Fanning hits winner in historic shoot-out". Gorey Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (30 June 2019). "Wexford land first Leinster title in 15 years with thrilling victory over Kilkenny". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.