O’Connors aiming for family double delight

CIAN O’CONNOR and his father, Mickey, will be on similar missions in Croke Park on Sunday.

A surprise choice at right half-back on the Cork team to play Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final, 19-year-old Cian will be hoping to make it to his first senior final.

And Mickey, a selector with the minor team, will be looking for a similar result against Galway in the curtain-raiser.

While Cian’s selection raised a few eyebrows among Cork followers, it has come as no surprise to those with a more intimate knowledge of his talents.

Cian has won every hurling honour at under-age level with Erins Own. He is also an accomplished footballer.

Erins Own secretary Martin Bowen said everybody in the club is thrilled for Cian.

“There isn’t a more committed player in the club than Cian. He was shaping up to be a good one from an early age and it has come as no surprise to me that he has finally made it to the top,” said Martin.

“It’s hard to believe that just 12 months ago he was playing with the county minors under the watchful eye of his dad. I know Mickey is extremely proud of Cian’s elevation so quickly. It will be some day in the O’Connor household should Cork pull off the double.

“I’m confident Cian will give a very good account of himself. He has been training since last winter for this opportunity and he won’t let the side down. He is only 19, but is a very solid youngster, totally committed to the game.”

Growing up, Cian was a huge admirer of his clubmate Brian Corcoran. When the former Allstar retired from the game for 2½ years, O’Connor felt he had lost the chance to play on the same team as his idol. That changed earlier this year when Brian made his comeback, but Cian could never have envisaged himself playing alongside Corcoran so soon on the county team.

“It’s great for Cian to have Brian there to keep a close eye on him on Sunday,” said Bowen. “Corcoran’s influence and experience will be a great help in calming the nerves in the dressing room .

“It’s a great achievement for the club to have four personnel involved in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-finals. Understandably, with the hype surrounding Cian’s selection on the senior team, you would be inclined to forget that another Erins Own player, Eoin Murphy, has made it on to the minor team,” said Bowen.

Meanwhile, Antrim PRO Terry Cormican has confirmed that they will definitely field a team for Saturday’s All-Ireland IHC semi-final against Cork in Parnell Park (3 p.m.).

“The team will be picked from those players not involved in club championship matches on Sunday which will weaken our challenge greatly,” he said.

“There was never any suggestion of not fielding a team, but unfortunately it won’t be our strongest 15.”