Naughton hails O’Connor as best he’s ever seen

Cork star Cathal Naughton yesterday described Ben O’Connor as the greatest hurler he has seen.

O’Connor retired from intercounty hurling earlier this month after a glittering career with the Rebels and Naughton admitted the squad are ‘gutted’ by the departure of his Newtownshandrum team mate.

Naughton said: “Ben has been unbelievable for Cork and for Newtown. He is definitely the best hurler I’ll ever see. The bigger game, the harder the battle, the tougher the challenge, the more the game was in the melting pot, the more and more Ben O’Connor would be to the fore.”