Bernie O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Bernie O’Connor is a former Irish
hurling
manager
and former player. 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.
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
. With Meelin O’Connor won several divisional titles, however, a county title eluded him on two separate occasions.
minor title with his native county before later collecting an All-Ireland
medal following a victory over Wexford
. O’Connor later lined out for Cork at under-21 and senior levels also, however, he had little success at these grades.
. 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’. O’Connor remained on the sidelines of his club while his twin sons, Ben
and Jerry
, won a second county title in 2003. 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.
senior hurling team but had little success.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
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...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He played hurling with his local club Meelin
Meelin GAA
Meelin GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Meelin, Cork, Ireland which forms part of the parish of Rockchapel and Meelin. The club is affiliated to the Duhallow division of Cork GAA. The club has both a hurling and a Gaelic football teams...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s. O’Connor later served as manager of the Kerry
Kerry 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...
senior hurling team in the 2000s as well as being associated with the famous Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
club.
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 Meelin
Meelin GAA
Meelin GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Meelin, Cork, Ireland which forms part of the parish of Rockchapel and Meelin. The club is affiliated to the Duhallow division of Cork GAA. The club has both a hurling and a Gaelic football teams...
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
Duhallow GAA
Duhallow GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling division in the barony of Duhallow, County Cork, Ireland. This barony is situated in the northwest region of the county, and includes towns such as Kanturk, Millstreet, and Newmarket. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes...
divisional team in the senior county 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....
. With Meelin O’Connor won several divisional titles, however, a county title eluded him on two separate occasions.
Inter-county
O’Connor later became the first Meelin player to line out with Cork at all levels. He first came to prominence in 1967 as a member of the Cork minor team. That year he won a MunsterMunster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
minor title with his native county before later collecting an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal following a victory over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. 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 NewtownshandrumNewtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
. As coach of the senior side he guided the club to their first ever senior county title
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....
in 2000. Two years later O’Connor decided to take a step back and leave his coaching role with ‘Newtown’. O’Connor remained on the sidelines of his club while his twin sons, Ben
Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999. O'Connor is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.-Biography:Ben O’Connor was born in the village of...
and Jerry
Jerry O'Connor
Jerry O'Connor is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and with the Cork senior inter-county team.-Early & private life:...
, won a second county title in 2003. This was quickly followed by both Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
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. 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
Portumna GAA
Portumna GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Portumna in County Galway. The club is almost exclusively focused on hurling.-History:...
in the All-Ireland final. O’Connor quit as coach following that defeat.
Kerry
In 2001, O'Connor took over as manager of the 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...
senior hurling team but had little success.