Eddie O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Eddie O’Connor is retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Glenmore
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
-Wexford
border in 1964. He was educated locally and showed great skill as a youngster at the game of hurling. In time he would become a key player on the Kilkenny
senior hurling team of the 1990s.
with his local Glenmore
club. The club had just been promoted to senior grade when O’Connor, and his brother Willie
, came to prominence. They both had much success with their club, winning five county titles in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1999. O’Connor’s second county title was subsequently converted into both Leinster
and All-Ireland
club titles.
minor hurling team. He had little success at this grade and he later moved onto the county under-21 team. At this level he won a Leinster title in 1984 before collecting an All-Ireland
medal following a defeat of Tipperary
. O’Connor won a second Leinster medal with the under-21 hurlers in 1985, however, Tipp gained revenge for the previous year by defeating Kilkenny in the final.
O’Connor later joined the Kilkenny senior team, however, success was slow in coming. He won his first Leinster
title in 1991 and subsequently played in his first senior All-Ireland final. Unfortunately for O’Connor, Kilkenny were defeated by Tipperary on that occasion. The following year he won a second provincial medal. In a second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance Kilkenny were victorious over Cork and O’Connor captured his first senior All-Ireland
medal. In 1993 O’Connor was appointed captain of the county senior side. That year he led his men to a third consecutive Leinster title before leading the team out in Croke Park
for a third All-Ireland final appearance. Galway
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, O’Connor’s side were victorious by five points and he collected his second All-Ireland medal. He was later presented with an All-Star
award. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1994, however, in 1995 O’Connor won a National Hurling League
medal.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played 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...
with his local club Glenmore
Glenmore GAA
Glenmore is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and has achieved hurling success at county, provincial and national level. Glenmore has also provided the Kilkenny intercounty team with several top players...
and with the 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...
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
Early life
Eddie O’Connor was born in Glenmore on the KilkennyCounty Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
-Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
border in 1964. He was educated locally and showed great skill as a youngster at the game of hurling. In time he would become a key player on the 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...
senior hurling team of the 1990s.
Club
O’Connor played 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 Glenmore
Glenmore GAA
Glenmore is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and has achieved hurling success at county, provincial and national level. Glenmore has also provided the Kilkenny intercounty team with several top players...
club. The club had just been promoted to senior grade when O’Connor, and his brother Willie
Willie O'Connor
Willie O’Connor is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glenmore and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1988 until 2001...
, came to prominence. They both had much success with their club, winning five county titles in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1999. O’Connor’s second county title was subsequently converted into both Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
and 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 titles.
Inter-county
O’Connor first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny 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...
minor hurling team. He had little success at this grade and he later moved onto the county under-21 team. At this level he won a Leinster title in 1984 before collecting an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal following a defeat of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. O’Connor won a second Leinster medal with the under-21 hurlers in 1985, however, Tipp gained revenge for the previous year by defeating Kilkenny in the final.
O’Connor later joined the Kilkenny senior team, however, success was slow in coming. He won his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster 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 Leinster in Ireland....
title in 1991 and subsequently played in his first senior All-Ireland final. Unfortunately for O’Connor, Kilkenny were defeated by Tipperary on that occasion. The following year he won a second provincial medal. In a second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance Kilkenny were victorious over Cork and O’Connor captured his first senior 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 1993 O’Connor was appointed captain of the county senior side. That year he led his men to a third consecutive Leinster title before leading the team out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
for a third All-Ireland final appearance. 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,...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, O’Connor’s side were victorious by five points and he collected his second All-Ireland medal. He was later presented with an 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...
award. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1994, however, in 1995 O’Connor won a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal.