Jerry O'Connor (born 25 January 1979) is an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Cork senior team.
[4] In 1996 O'Connor was barely seventeen years-old when he lined out in the final of the county intermediate championship, with Cloyne providing the opposition.
The final whistle in that game saw Newtown claim a 0–12 to 0–9 victory, giving O'Connor a county intermediate championship winners' medal.
[7] This victory allowed Netown to represent Cork in the provincial club championship, with O'Connor's side even reaching the final.
Patrickswell of Limerick provided the opposition on that occasion, however, history was made as Newtown claimed a 2–18 to 2–9 victory.
Ben O'Connor scored ten points of Newtown's tally of 0–17 and single-handedly beat the Antrim men who only recorded 1–6.
It was an historic day for the North Cork parish of only eight hundred people and O'Connor collected an All-Ireland club winners' medal.
It was a clash of the past masters and the reigning champions as Sarsfield's attempted to retain their title.
The final score of 3–22 to 1–12 gave O'Connor a fourth county winners' medal and cemented Newtownshandrum's reputation as the Cork club side of the decade.
Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players' strike just before Christmas in 2002.
Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated as professional athletes.
In 2003 Cork's players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years.
[15] 2004 saw Cork reach the Munster final once again and, for the second consecutive year, Waterford provided the opposition.
After manoeuvring through the qualifiers Cork reached a second consecutive All-Ireland final and, once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition.
While it was expected that Cork and Kilkenny would do battle again in a third consecutive All-Ireland final Galway were the surprise winners of the second semi-final.
For the second year in-a-row Cork were the All-Ireland champions and O'Connor collected his second winners' medal.
[19] Both Jerry and his brother Ben finished off the year by becoming the first set of twins to be presented with All-Star awards.
[20] Subsequent victories over Limerick and Waterford saw Cork qualify for their fourth consecutive All-Ireland final and for the third time Kilkenny were the opponents.
Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead, however, Kilkenny had a vital goal from Aidan Fogarty.