Career
He played hurling with his local club Meelin and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s. O’Connor later served as manager of the Kerry senior hurling team in the 2000s as well as being associated with the famous Newtownshandrum club. Club
O’Connor played his club hurling with his local Meelin club.
Although not a senior club it was still considered a hurling stronghold. At the young age of thirteen his skill was apparent when he was chosen to line out on the Duhallow divisional team in the senior county championship. Inter-county
O’Connor later became the first Meelin player to line out with Cork at all levels.
O’Connor later lined out for Cork at under-21 and senior levels also, however, he had little success at these grades. Newtownshandrum
In retirement from playing O’Connor maintained a keen interest in the game. He became involved in coaching the local underage teams in his adopted club of Newtownshandrum.
As coach of the senior side he guided the club to their first ever senior county title in 2000. Two years later O’Connor decided to take a step back and leave his coaching role with ‘Newtown’. This was quickly followed by both Munster and All-Ireland club titles.
In 2005 he was back as coach with Newtownshandrum. That year he steered the club to a third county victory of the decade as well as a second Munster club victory. His side were later outclassed by Portumna in the All-Ireland final.
O’Connor quit as coach following that defeat. Kerry
In 2001, O'Connor took over as manager of the Kerry senior hurling team but had little success.
