Willie John O'Connell (1869-25 April 1897) was an Irish hurler who played as a quarter-back at senior level for the Cork county team.
O'Connell died following a freak accident in a trial game following a clash with teammate Denis Coughlan.
That year he lined out in his first provincial decider with All-Ireland champions Limerick providing the opposition.
After someone had neglected to get the grass cut at Ashtown, both teams moved to the Phoenix Park where the game took place.
An easy 3–4 to 1–2 defeat of Tipperary in the provincial decider gave him a third consecutive Munster winners' title.