Ben out for win despite ‘unfair’ club format

HE has played in two finals, winning one (back in 2004), will be facing Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields this Sunday in Thurles in yet another campaign, but Newtownshandrum’s Ben O’Connor is not in favour of the All-Ireland club hurling championships as currently constituted.

“No,” he says, firmly and unapologetically, “I’m not a fan of them being played in February and March, I think they should be played off in the calendar year. It’s not fair on any club to have to play right up to March, and then have to start off in their own championships again.

“We started training at the start of January this year, and we’re still training; whoever wins the Munster championship this year might get a bit of a break over Christmas but you’re straight back into it again then in January, and you’re not just getting started, either, tipping away, you’re trying to prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final.” In making this argument, Ben isn’t thinking just of himself and his twin Jerry, both of whom are regulars on the inter-county scene with Cork.

“No, we’re used to it, but it’s very unfair on the club players. It’s probably never going to happen, and that’s a pity, because it would give everyone a real break.”

For Newtown to reach the All-Ireland semi-final they will have to overcome three major obstacles – meanwhile the Galway champions have a clear run, while Dunloy had to overcome only Ballycran in Ulster.

Little wonder then that neither Ben nor Jerry place anything like the same emphasis on Munster or the All-Ireland as they do on ‘The little All-Ireland’ as the Cork championship is known.

“At the beginning of the year if you asked me was I thinking of the Munster or All-Ireland I’d have said no, it was the farthest thing from my mind,” insists Jerry. “The county was what we wanted to win; now that we’ve done that you want to win the next game in front of you again but the county was the main aim this year.”

“It’s a huge thing for us – look at the programme on the day of the final and Newtownshandrum will be there now with four titles,” says Ben. “But there’s no mention in that programme about what you did outside the county. The county was the one we wanted. We were getting a lot of criticism, people saying we were gone, we didn’t have the legs anymore, only a few people able to play this game, but I think we showed this year what can be done when everyone is pulling together, everyone singing from the same hymn-sheet”

In that final Newtown were magnificent, shredded reigning champions Sars in a comprehensive 3-22 to 1-12 win. Notable in the performance was that well and all as the twins played, on this team – and along with the towering Pat Mulcahy at centre-back – they are no longer expected to carry the major burden, the load much more evenly spread throughout the park.

“We had eight people on the scoreboard,” says Ben. “Which is better, to go out and score 11 or 12 points yourself, or score two points, and have five or six others also scoring two or more and win the match?”

One of those forwards this year is Jerry, lining out at centre-forward, instead of his more recognised role of midfield; doing the business there also, five points in that county final win, many more created. Still, not a position many would have seen him as being suited to.

“Not a position I’d have seen myself playing either!” he laughs, “But at least it’s better than the wing. I played there earlier in the year, didn’t like it at all; you’re away from the play too much, whereas at centre-forward you’re more involved, under the ball a lot more.”

Sounds like he misses midfield. “I do! For most of my life, since I started off hurling, that’s where I played, midfield, and if I had my way, that’s where I’d be playing still. I was in the dressing-room one day, handed a jersey, number 11, that was it!”

Testimony – if ever it was really needed – about the modesty of these two guys, the absence of ego, the total commitment to club. They epitomise the idea of club as family. Younger brothers John and Eamonn made an appearance in the county final win, first-cousins Jerry, Gerdy and Willie O’Mahony (from the extended clan on their mother’s side – Gerdy and Willie are brothers) are also on the scene, younger brothers David (captain) and Kevin were on the minor team that recently won the Cork Premier 2 county title, youngest brother Stephen behind them again. Do they ever see the day when all seven brothers will be on the same team? “How long do you think we’re going to keep playing?” says Jerry, aghast – “We’re 30 now, and Stephen is still U-14! No, I don’t think so!”