Ben O'Connor (born 25 January 1979) is an Irish hurling coach and former player. He is the current coach of the Charleville intermediate team. O'Connor played for Cork Senior Championship club Newtownshandrum and was a member of the Cork senior hurling team for 14 seasons, during which time he usually lined out as a right wing-forward. Noted for his commanding presence and scoring ability on the wing, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.
O'Connor began his hurling career at club level with Newtownshandrum. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old in 1996 and enjoyed his first success that year when the club won the Cork Intermediate Championship title and promotion to the top flight of Cork hurling. O'Connor went on to make 79 championship appearances at senior level and was at centre-forward on Newtownshandrum's All-Ireland Club Championship-winning team in 2004. His club career ended in 2012, by which time he had also won three Munster Club Championship titles and four Cork Senior Championship titles.
At inter-county level, O'Connor was part of the successful Cork under-21 team that won the All-Ireland Championship in 1998. He joined the Cork senior team in 1999. From his debut, O'Connor was ever-present as a forward and made a combined total of 114 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 2012. During that time he was joined on the team by his twin brother Jerry and was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1999, as captain of the team in 2004 and 2005. O'Connor also secured five Munster Championship medals. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 15 March 2012.
O'Connor won his first All-Star in 2005, before claiming a further All-Star in 2008. He is currently Cork's fourth-highest championship scorer of all time, having scored 8–230 in 62 appearances. At inter-provincial level, O'Connor was selected to play in four championship campaigns with Munster, with his sole Railway Cup medal being won in 2005.
Playing career
Mannix College
During his secondary schooling at Mannix College in Charleville, O'Connor played in all grades of hurling before joining the college's senior hurling team. On 23 March 1996, he was at full-forward and scored 1-06 when Mannix College defeated St. Brogan's College from Bandon by 2–09 to 0–07 to win the Munster Vocational Schools' Championship.
On 12 March 1997, O'Connor won a second successive Munster Championship title after he scored 1-06 from left wing-forward in a 1–19 to 1–10 defeat of Roscrea Vocational School in the final. He was switched to full-forward for the All-Ireland final against Athenry Vocational School on 27 April 1997. O'Connor scored nine points, including eight frees, in the 2–13 to 0–09 victory.
Vocational Schools
O'Connor lined out with the Cork Vocational Schools team in the mid 90s. In 1996 he was captain of the team that won the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship by overcoming Galway in the final
He was again part of the team in 1997 and picked up a second winners medal after another win over Glaway.
Newtownshandrum
Minor and under-21
O'Connor joined the Newtownshandrum club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. On 19 October 1997, he was at right wing-forward when Newtownshandrum faced St. Finbarr's in the Premier County Minor Championship final. O'Connor top scored with 0-09, including six frees, in Newtown's 2–13 to 0–10 defeat. It was his last game in the grade.
O'Connor subsequently progressed onto the Newtownshandrum under-21 team. On 29 November 1998, he was at full-forward when Newtownshandrum faced Na Piarsaigh in the Cork Under-21 Championship final. O'Connor scored three points, including two in the final few minutes, in the 1–11 to 0–14 draw. The replay took place on 6 December, with Newtownshandrum winning by 1–12 to 0–07 to take their first title in 25 years. O'Connor's performance at full-forward was described as "brilliant" in the Cork Examiner.
On 12 December 1999, O'Connor was at midfield when Newtownshandrum lined out against Erin's Own in a second successive Cork Under-21 Championship final. He top scored with eight points, including five frees, and earned the man of the match award after the 1–13 to 1–07 victory.
O'Connor lined out in his last underage game with Newtownshandrum on 17 December 2000 when the club faced Glen Rovers in the Cork Under-21 Championship final. He scored 0-08 from full-forward in the 1–17 to 1–07 victory. It was O'Connor's third winners' medal in the under-21 grade.