End of an era for Cork hurling as Ben O’Connor retires

The announcement last night that Ben O’Connor has retired from inter-county fare marks the end of an era for Cork hurling, the time of the twins.

For the past 12 years Ben and his brother Jerry were members of the Cork senior hurling panel and in that time became central to a new and contentious style of play.

With their club, Newtownshandrum, under the guidance of their father Bernie, ‘the twins’ (as they came to be universally known) were lynchpins of a possession game which depended hugely on accuracy of passing and unremitting support play.