Ben aiming to match club success with county

EARLIER in the week, Ben O’Connor was back in Dublin, one of a number of captains who attended the formal launch of the 2004 Guinness hurling championship.

It was in Croke Park where, almost two months ago, he helped to inspire Newtownshandrum's success in the club championship final.

And he has been nearer to the Liam McCarthy Cup proudly held by Kilkenny's new captain Martin Comerford for the photo-call than he and his Cork team-mates were last September when they made a gallant bid to win the All-Ireland.