Eddie Brennan | Joe Canning | Ollie Canning | DJ Carey | Eugene Cloonan
Martin Comerford | Lar Corbett | Brendan Cummins | Ronan Curran
Ger Farragher | James 'cha' Fitzpatrick | Damien Fitzhenry | Paul Flynn
John Gardiner | Niall Gilligan | Damian Hayes | Conal Keaney | Michael Kavanagh
Eoin Kennedy | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Larkin | Derek Lyng
Fergus McMahon | Seanie McMahon | Johnny McIntosh | Andrew Mitchell
Stephen Molumpy | Pat Mulcahy | John Mullane | Sean Óg Ó Hailpin
Andrew O'Shaughnessy | Ben O'Connor | Seamus Prendergast
Keith Raymond | Eoin Quigley | Joe Rabbite | Keith Rossiter | Dan Shanahan
Henry Shefflin | James Skehill | Tommy Walsh | Brian Whelehan | James Young
Brian Phelan | David O'Callaghan | JJ Delaney | Pádraic Maher | Shane McGrath
Ben O'Connor knows his way around a hurley. Now all the great players in the game do, but how many design them? The Cork ace, along with his father Bernie, earns a living from designing the tools for the game he loves. Surely it makes him, unofficially, the first full-time hurler. It's O'Connor's genius with the stick that has ensured Newtownshandrum will be contesting the All-Ireland club final come St Patrick's Day.
In the semi-finals, in February, the journey looked to be coming to an end when Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels took a one-point lead into injurytime. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Up stepped O’Connor to strike a 50-yard free high between the sticks, thus earning a replay, which the Cork men duly won.
With defeat to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final still fresh in the memory and the subsequent loss of Setanta Ó hAilpín to Australia the victory was a timely tonic for the Rebel County.
O'Connor will now need to be the main inspiration if they are to go one step further than their county brethren and win the ultimate prize. Expect a tough battle from Antrim's Dunloy, but with O'Connor now playing to the pinnacle of his powers, he is certain to make a big impact on this year’s All-Ireland Club title.
What have been your greatest moments in sport?
The Under-21 county final in 2000 was pretty special because it was our third title in a row. Also the senior team won the county championship
that year so it was a double bonus. Winning the All-Ireland in 1999 was also a great moment.
Who are the toughest team you have ever faced?
Kilkenny.
Who was your toughest ever opponent?
Better start with the home lads! Ian Kelleher and Alan O'Connor. After that, Ollie Kenny and Wayne Sherlock are both class.
What advice would you give to young players coming through the ranks?
Keep training and listen to your mentors. But most importantly keep training no matter what. It is the most important thing.
Who were your childhood heroes?
DJ Carey. Outside of hurling, Ian Wright. That's right, I'm an Arsenal fan!
How do you balance work and hurling?
Well I'm okay because I'm self employed. It is difficult to mix the two but the main thing is that you have to do your days work. It's tough but it has to be done.
Cúl Fact
Ben's twin brother Jerry is also a key member of the Newtownshandrum side and their other sibling John is a member of the panel. Their father Bernie has been a part of the set-up for many a year.
© March 2004
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