Nov 05,2024
Barry O'Connor admitted to being overcome with emotion after helping St Martin's to their first Wexford SHC since 2019 on Sunday after seeing off St Anne’s at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
O'Connor, who embarked on an Aussie Rules career with the Sydney Swans in the last year St Martin's last tasted county success, scored the only goal of the game as his side triumphed by 1-22 to 0-19.
A Leinster quarter-final against Kildare champions Naas awaits the winners on 17 November, but O'Connor was keen to savour the moment and process his emotions after a victory made more memorable by being a family affair.
"I've been living in Australia the last five years and I thought I'd come home this year and give it a crack with the lads.
"I've four or five cousins out there.
"I'm still a little bit lost for words. It's a special day for everyone."
Released by the Sydney Swans after the Covid-19 pandemic, O'Connor attempted to reignite his career with the GWS Giants' second team in the VFL in 2023, but the lure of St Martin's proved too great to resist.
"It's not the same and it's never going to be the same," he said of his professional and amateur sporting endeavours.
"I always said if the professional thing came to an end or didn't quite work out, I'd love to come home and play with my club, St Martin's.
"I'm 26 now, not necessarily old, but the years aren't long going by and it's all been worthwhile."
Five O'Connors figured for St Martin's in Sunday's win, and he quipped: "Dad and his brothers didn't venture too far from outside the village!"
"We're all within a couple of kilometres of each other.
"It's a very special one to have with the lads, not just my cousins, there's a whole heap of guys in the group who I grew up with and played underage with."
