John O'Connor (Cork hurler)
Encyclopedia
John O'Connor was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1892 until 1894. O'Connor, together with his team-mate John Cashman
, became the first players to win three All-Ireland winners' medals on the field of play.
clun and enjoyed much success throughout the first decade of club activity in Cork. Over the course of twelve championship seasons Blackrock qualified for nine county finals, with victory coming on eight occasions. O'Connor was a key member of the team for all of these successes, beginning in 1887 when he captured his first county senior championship
title. A second county title quickly followed in 1889. Blackrock were unlucky not to capture a five-in-a-row in the 1890s, however, defeat in 1892 broke the chain. In spite of this O'Connor added to his medals tally with victories in 1891, 1893, 1894 and 1895. He finished off his career with Blackrock by winning a two-in-a-row in 1897 and 1898.
providing the opposition. An exciting game developed, however, at full-time Cork were the champions by 5-3 to 2-5. It was O'Connor's first Munster
title. Cork's next game was an All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin
. The game was a controversial one as referee Dan Fraher changed his mind after initially awarding a goal to Cork. He eventually decided that the GAA
's Central Council should decide the matter. Dublin, however, had walked off the field and, because of this, Cork were awarded the title. It was O'Connor's first All-Ireland
title.
O'Connor was a member of the Cork hurling team again in 1893. That year he added a second Munster title to his collection following a 5-3 to 0-0 defeat of Limerick
. It was O'Connor's first Munster
title. Kilkenny
provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Cork won the game on probably the most unsuitable playing field in hurling history. After someone had neglected to get the grass cut at Ashtown, both teams moved to the Phoenix Park
were the game took place. A 6-8 to 0-2 victory gave O'Connor a second All-Ireland title.
For a third consecutive year O'Connor was selected for championship duty with Cork once again. An easy 3-4 to 1-2 defeat of Tipperary
in the provincial decider gave him a third consecutive Munster winners' title. For the second time in three years Dublin provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. The game turned into an absolute rout as Cork won easily by 5-20 to 2-0. O'Connor centered the record books as he collected his third All-Ireland winners' title. It was his last game with the Cork hurling team.
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 with his local club Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1892 until 1894. O'Connor, together with his team-mate John Cashman
John Cashman (hurler)
John Cashman was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1892 until 1894...
, became the first players to win three All-Ireland winners' medals on the field of play.
Club
O'Connor played his club hurling with the famous BlackrockBlackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
clun and enjoyed much success throughout the first decade of club activity in Cork. Over the course of twelve championship seasons Blackrock qualified for nine county finals, with victory coming on eight occasions. O'Connor was a key member of the team for all of these successes, beginning in 1887 when he captured his first county senior 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. A second county title quickly followed in 1889. Blackrock were unlucky not to capture a five-in-a-row in the 1890s, however, defeat in 1892 broke the chain. In spite of this O'Connor added to his medals tally with victories in 1891, 1893, 1894 and 1895. He finished off his career with Blackrock by winning a two-in-a-row in 1897 and 1898.
Inter-county
O'Connor first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork as part of the Blackrock selection in 1892. That year he lined out in his first provincial decider with All-Ireland champions KerryKerry GAA
The Kerry 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 Kerry...
providing the opposition. An exciting game developed, however, at full-time Cork were the champions by 5-3 to 2-5. It was O'Connor's first Munster
Munster 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....
title. Cork's next game was an All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. The game was a controversial one as referee Dan Fraher changed his mind after initially awarding a goal to Cork. He eventually decided that the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
's Central Council should decide the matter. Dublin, however, had walked off the field and, because of this, Cork were awarded the title. It was O'Connor's 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....
title.
O'Connor was a member of the Cork hurling team again in 1893. That year he added a second Munster title to his collection following a 5-3 to 0-0 defeat of Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. It was O'Connor's first Munster
Munster 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....
title. 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...
provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Cork won the game on probably the most unsuitable playing field in hurling history. After someone had neglected to get the grass cut at Ashtown, both teams moved to the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
were the game took place. A 6-8 to 0-2 victory gave O'Connor a second All-Ireland title.
For a third consecutive year O'Connor was selected for championship duty with Cork once again. An easy 3-4 to 1-2 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...
in the provincial decider gave him a third consecutive Munster winners' title. For the second time in three years Dublin provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. The game turned into an absolute rout as Cork won easily by 5-20 to 2-0. O'Connor centered the record books as he collected his third All-Ireland winners' title. It was his last game with the Cork hurling team.
Blackrock
- Cork Senior Hurling ChampionshipCork Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
: 3- Winner (8): 1887, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898
- Runner-up (1): 1892
Cork
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
: 3- Winner (3): 1892, 1893, 1894
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
: 3- Winner (3): 1892, 1893, 1894
Sources
- Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
- Cronin, Jim, A Rebel Hundred: Cork's 100 All-Ireland Titles.
- Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).