Edward O’Connor (born 2 October 1964) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who played for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Glenmore.
[1] For the third time in five seasons, Glenmore and Ballyhale Shamrocks clashed in the final of the Kilkenny Senior Championship when they faced each other on 1 October 1989.
O'Connor lined out in his customary position of left corner-back but ended the game on the losing side for the second time in his career after the 2–11 to 1–13 defeat.
He won his first Leinster Minor Championship medal, albeit as a non-playing substitute, on 12 July 1981 after Kilkenny's 3–10 to 3–09 defeat of Wexford in the final.
He claimed a second Leinster Minor Championship medal as a non-playing substitute on 25 July 1982 after Kilkenny's 3–16 to 3–04 victory over Offaly in the final.
On 21 July 1985, O'Connor claimed a second successive Leinster Under-21 Championship medal after once again lining out at full-back in the 4–18 to 1–04 defeat of Wexford in the final.
Glenmore's run of success to the 1991 All-Ireland Club Championship title saw O'Connor being drafted onto the Kilkenny senior team for the latter stages of the 19901-91 National League.
He made his first appearance for the team on 30 June 1991 when he was introduced as a 15th-minute substitute for Liam Walsh in a 2–09 to 0–13 defeat of Wexford in the Leinster Championship.
[5] On 5 July 1992, O'Connor won a second successive Leinster Championship medal after lining out at right corner-back in the 3–16 to 2–09 victory over Wexford in the final.
He later claimed a third successive Leinster Championship medal on 18 July 1993 after captaining the team from right corner-back to a 2–12 to 0–11 defeat of Wexford in the final replay.
[7] In accepting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, O'Connor caused something of a minor controversy when he used his speech to suggest that it was time for the GAA to formally fund a holiday for the All-Ireland finalists.
On 7 May 1995, O'Connor won a National Hurling League medal when he lined out at right corner-back in Kilkenny's 2–12 to 0–09 defeat of Clare in the final.