[1][2] Born in Abbeyside, County Waterford, O'Connor first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Dungarvan CBS.
At club level he won several championship medals playing with Abbeyside, Clonea, UCD, Castletownroche and Avondhu.
In spite of a lack of success in the Harty Cup, he was picked on the Munster colleges inter-provincial team, claiming winners' medals in 1945 and 1946.
Two years later O'Connor was back in Waterford, playing with the Abbeyside team that reached the final of the junior championship.
[3] In the twilight of his club career, O'Connor's performances for Castletownroche earned him a place on the Avondhu divisional team.
[4] O'Connor made his senior debut for Waterford on 3 November 1946 in a 2–3 to 3–5 defeat by Kilkenny in the opening round of the National Hurling League.
In 1948 Waterford lined out in their first provincial decider in five years, with reigning champions Cork providing the opposition.
Goalkeeper Charlie Ware made some great saves while O'Connor stymied Cork's chief scorer Christy Ring to secure a 4–7 to 3–9 victory.
Two quick goals for "the Cats", together with a great point by captain Mickey Kelly reversed the trend and gave Kilkenny a 4–10 to 3–12 victory.
Born in Abbeyside, County Waterford, O'Connor was educated at the local national school before later attending Dungarvan CBS.
After a period spent in Canada, O'Connor returned to Ireland in 1959 where he took up the position of headmaster of the national school in Killavullen, County Cork.