Jamesie O'Connor

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Jamesie O'Connor (born 1972 in Ballinakill, County Galway) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield and with the Clare senior inter-county team from 1993 until 2004.

Biography

Jamesie or as he was better known, Jimmy Jams O'Connor was born in Ballinakill, County Galway in 1972. It was in Galway that his love for hurling blossomed and he was a keen supporter of the famed Galway senior hurling of the late 1970s and 1980s. The O'Connor family moved to Ennis when Jamesie was ten years-old. He was educated at St. Flannans College, a virtual academy for young hurling talent in the area. It was here that O'Connor's hurling skills were further developed and he was akey part of the college's Dr. Harty Cup winning team. Jamesie's brother Christy is a sports writer with The Sunday Times and quality goalkeeper with The Banner G.A.A Club with The Sunday Times and his the author of GAA Quiz Book 1 and GAA Quiz Book 2.

O'Connor now teaches business in St. Flannan's.

Playing career

Inter-county

Clare hurling was at a low-ebb in the early 1990s, however, in spite of this O'Connor lined out in his first Munster final in 1993. Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion, however, the game turned out to be a complete disaster for Clare. A final score line of 3-27 to 2-12, in favour of Tipp, resulted in a humiliating trouncing for Clare.^[1]

In 1994 Clare were back in the Munster final for a second consecutive year. Limerick provided the opposition in O'Connor's second provincial decider; however, the result was a familiar one. Clare were completely overwhelmed and were trounced yet again by 0-25 to 2-10.^[2]

In 1995 Ger Loughnane took over as manager of the Clare senior hurling team and made sweeping changes. New fitness regimes and new personalized diets and, above all, a new psychological approach, resulted in the fittest and most prepared Clare team ever taking to the field for a third consecutive Munster final in 1995. Limerick were the opponents for a second consecutive year and took an early lead. Clare never surrendered and, thanks to an inspirational penalty by goalkeeper Davy FitzGerald, fought back to win by 1-17 to 0-11. It was O'Connor's first Munster title and Clare’s first since 1932.^[3] A subsequent defeat of Galway allowed Clare to line out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final. Offaly provided the opposition on that occasion in what was the first ever meeting of these two sides in the championship. The game developed into a close affair with Offaly taking a half-time lead. Four minutes from the end substitute Éamonn Taaffe first timed a long range free straight into the net to give Clare a one-point lead. After a quick equalizer Daly sent over a 65-metre free to give his team the lead again. O'Connor pointed soon afterwards and at the full-time whistle Clare were the 1-13 to 2-8 winners.^[4] O'Connor had just won his first All-Ireland medal.

In 1996 Clare dramatically lost their Munster and All-Ireland titles in a first-round meeting with Limerick. The winning point by Ciarán Carey has been described as one of the greatest match-winners of all-time.^[5]

In 1997 Clare were back on form and reached the Munster final once again. Tipperary, a team regarded as one of the aristocrats of hurling, provided the opposition on that occasion. It was an occasion to savour for O'Connor as Clare won a close and exciting game by 1-18 to 0-18.^[6] The introduction of the new ‘back-door’ system resulted in both Clare and Tipperary meeting for the second time in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final. The game itself was one of the best of the decade. Clare were well on top for much of the game, however, Liam Cahill and Eugene O’Neill scored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes. John Leahy missed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide. At the full-time whistle Clare won by a single point – 0-20 to 2-13.^[7] In winning the 1997 All-Ireland final Clare defeated Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary - the big three of hurling. In doing so they became only the second team ever, along with Waterford, to achieve this.

In 1998 Clare were once again the favourites to take a third All-Ireland title in four years. All went to plan as O'Connor captured another Munster title.^[8] The victory over Waterford in a replay was an ill-tempered affair, with many citing it as the beginning of the end for Clare’s great run of success. O'Connor's next game with Clare was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly. Clare were the red-hot favourites, however, it took a late equalizer by O’Connor to secure a draw.^[9] The replay was a bizarre affair. With two minutes left to play Clare were 1-16 to 2-10 ahead and looked destined for victory, however, referee Jimmy Cooney blew the full-time whistle. The Offaly supporters launched a sit-down protest on the pitch at Croke Park and a second replay was granted. By this stage Clare were exhausted and lost the game by 0-16 to 0-13.^[10]

The following few seasons proved difficult for Daly and Clare. A young Cork team emerged in 1999, defeating Clare in the Munster final.^[11] Following the conclusion of the championship in 2000 Daly decided to retire from inter-county hurling.

The following few seasons proved difficult for O'Connor and Clare as Cork and Tipperary re-emerged as the kingpins of Munster. In 2002 Clare were defeated in the first-round of the provincial championship, however, by using the expanded qualifier system O'Connor's team qualified for the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, 'the Cats' won the day. O'Connor retired from inter-county hurling in 2004.

Post Playing Career

Following the demise of Clare hurling in the late 1990's many players suffered terribly but the 4 foot nothing Barefield man refused to bow down. Despite numorous business failures before his hurling career, inspired by his nickname Jamesie set up a pajayma business nortiorusly known as "Jamesie's Jimmy Jams" however it could not contend with the competition presented by "Ollie looks after Dogs" and as a result folded and the Barelield and Clare midfield partners have not yet spoken till this day.

Honours

St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield

• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1999
  • Runner-up (1): 2000
• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1998, 1999
• Clare Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1998, 1999
  • Runner-up (3): 1994, 1997, 2004

Clare

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1995, 1997
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (5): 1995, 1997, 1998
  • Runner-up (2): 1993, 1994, 1999
• National Hurling League:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (2): 1994-1995

Munster

• Railway Cup:
  • Winner (2): 1995, 1996

References