Jack O'Connor (Wexford hurler) explained

Jack O'Connor
Irish:Seán Ó Conchubhair
Occupation:Product manager
Birth Date:1995
Birth Place:Piercestown, County Wexford, Ireland
Sport:Hurling
Code:Hurling
County:Wexford
Province:Leinster
Club:St Martin's
Clcounty:2
Colleges:University College Dublin
Fitz:0
Colyears:2013-2017
Counties:Wexford
Icyears:2014-present
Icposition:Left wing-forward
Icapps(Points):18 (2-16)
Icprovince:1
Icallireland:0
Nhl:0
Allstars:0
Icupdate: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

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

University College Dublin

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.

St Martin's

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

Minor and under-21

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

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

St Martin's
Wexford

Notes and References

  1. News: Jack O'Connor is embracing his destiny. 28 June 2017. GAA website. 10 January 2019.
  2. Web site: Rory O'Connor is living up to great expectations. 13 November 2017. GAA website. 20 May 2018. John. Harrington.
  3. Web site: St Martin's upset the formbook in Wexford decider. 23 October 2017. Irish Examiner. 2 July 2019. Brendan. Furlong.
  4. Web site: Wexford SFC final: St. Martin's denied double by Starlights. 29 October 2017. Hogan Stand. 2 July 2019.
  5. Web site: Leinster MHC final: Dublin retain provincial crown. 9 July 2012. Hogan Stand. 7 June 2017.
  6. Web site: GAA minor wrap: Laois shock Wexford, Tyrone beat Down to progress to final. 23 June 2013. The 42. 7 June 2017. Fintan. O'Toole.
  7. Web site: Late blast underlines Wexford superiority. 5 June 2014. Irish Examiner. 7 June 2017. John. Knox.
  8. Web site: Superb McDonald goal helps Wexford claim Leinster U21 hurling title against Dublin. 9 July 2014. The 42. 1 July 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  9. Web site: Kelly on fire as Clare young guns shoot down Wexford for a third title in a row. 14 September 2014. Irish Independent. 1 July 2019. Jackie. Cahill.
  10. Web site: Leinster U21 HC final: Magical Model maul Cats for three-in-a-row. 8 July 2015. Hogan Stand. 1 July 2019.
  11. Web site: Limerick ease past Wexford to claim U21 hurling title. 12 December 2015. Irish Examiner. 1 July 2019. Eoghan. Cormican.
  12. Web site: Dublin produce sparkling performance to end Wexford's bid for four-in-a-row. 1 June 2016. The 42. 5 August 2018. Ryan. Bailey.
  13. News: 'There probably was a bit of destiny there': Jack O'Connor more than happy to follow a well-worn path. 28 June 2017. The 42. 10 January 2019. Kevin. O'Brien.
  14. News: Second-half Limerick goals kill off Wexford's comeback hopes. 13 February 2016. The 42. 10 January 2019. John. Fallon.
  15. News: Dublin hurlers cruise past dismal Wexford to book Leinster semi-final clash with Kilkenny. 21 May 2016. The 42. 10 January 2019. Jackie. Cahill.
  16. Web site: Conor Cooney masterclass leads Galway past Wexford to their first Leinster title since 2012. The 42. 2 July 2017. 23 February 2019. Kevin. O'Brien .
  17. Web site: Fanning hits winner in historic shoot-out. Gorey Guardian. 27 January 2018. 23 February 2019. Alan. Aherne .
  18. Web site: Wexford land first Leinster title in 15 years with thrilling victory over Kilkenny. The 42. 30 June 2019. 1 July 2019. Kevin. O'Brien.