Willie O'Connor

Willie O’Connor (born 14 March 1967) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a left corner-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

O'Connor played his club hurling with Glenmore and enjoyed much success as the club became a new force in hurling throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

O’Connor played with the Kilkenny minor and under-21 hurling teams throughout the 1980s, however, he enjoyed little success.

In 1987 Glenmore reached the final of the county senior championship with Ballyhale Shamrocks providing the opposition.

An exciting game developed over the hour, and a 4–10 to 3–9 victory gave O'Connor his first county winners' medal.

O'Connor made his first appearance for the team during the 1988–89 National League and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement prior to the 2001 championship.

During that time he has won three All-Ireland winners' medals, five Leinster winners' medals, one National League winners' medal and four All-Star awards.

After surrendering their title in 1988 and losing the championship decider to Ballyhale Shamrocks the following year, O'Connor's side reached the final again in 1990.

Glenmore faced Clara on that occasion, however, O'Connor's side had a comfortable 3–15 to 2–6 victory.

The club subsequently represented Kilkenny in the provincial series of games and even reached the final.

Camross provided the opposition, however, O'Connor collected a Leinster club winners' medal following a 0–15 to 1–9 victory.

An All-Ireland final showdown with Patrickswell of Limerick.

The game was an exciting one, however, Patrickswell only held the lead on one occasion when Leonard Enright opened the scoring.

A 1–13 to 0–12 score line gave Glenmore the title and gave O'Connor an All-Ireland club winners' medal.

He subsequently joined the county's senior team, making his debut against Waterford in a National Hurling League game in late 1988.

O'Connor made his championship debut the following summer as Kilkenny reached the Leinster final.

Offaly retained the provincial title for the second year in succession with a 3–15 to 4–9 victory.

O'Connor remained on the fringes of the team for the next few years as Kilkenny prepared for a return to the big time.

He missed Kilkenny's Leinster final triumph in 1991, however, he was named in the starting fifteen for the subsequent All-Ireland final meeting with Tipperary, the first such clash in twenty years.

The opening thirty-five minutes saw both sides trade score-for-score, however, a controversial 20-metre free, miss-hit by Michael Cleary, landed in the net and gave Tipp a lead which they never surrendered.

The final score of 1–16 to 0–15 resulted in a loss for Kilkenny.

Glenmore lost their county, provincial and All-Ireland titles the following year, however, in 1992 O'Connor picked up a third county winners' medal following a 1–14 to 2–6 defeat of club kingpins Tullaroan.

Once again Glenmore failed to retain their title the following year.

In 1992 Kilkenny bounced back from the All-Ireland defeat and O'Connor collected his first Leinster winners' medal following a comprehensive 3–16 to 2–9 defeat of Wexford.

The subsequent All-Ireland final saw 'the Cats' take on Cork for the first time in nearly a decade.

The game was well balanced for the first-half, however, D. J. Carey scored a goal four minutes before the break.

This seemed to give Kilkenny the impetus to go on and win the game.

Two more goals by John Power and Michael Phelan in the second-half secured a win for Kilkenny and a first All-Ireland winners' medal for O'Connor.

He was later honoured with his first All-Star award

In 1993 O'Connor's brother Eddie was captain as Kilkenny remained on top of the hurling world.

It was 1995 before O'Connor's side reached the county championship decider once again.

Fenians provided the opposition in a high-scoring hour of hurling.

Glenmore were never really troubled as a 3–19 to 1–14 score line gave O'Connor a fourth county championship title.

Many believed that this Glenmore team had reached the end of their life-cycle, however, in 1999 the club bounced back to reach the county final once again.

Graigue-Ballycallan were the opponents and a close game developed.

A 1–14 to 2–8 victory gave O'Connor a fifth and final county championship winners' medal.

In 2000 O'Connor captained the team to the All-Ireland title.

At club level O'Connor is a one-time All-Ireland medalist with Glenmore.

In addition to this he has also won one Leinster winners' medal and five county championship winners' medals.

O'Connor's brother, Eddie, is also an All-Ireland-winning captain with Kilkenny.