Leo O'Connor: ‘I'd love to manage at senior level’

JUNE has been a memorable month for Leo O'Connor after the Limerick man guided the Offaly U20's to an All-Ireland hurling title.

On June 2, Offaly defeated Tipperary 2-20 to 2-14 to win their first All-Ireland hurling title at this level.

The Faithful County's victory has brought a real buzz and feel good factor back into Offaly hurling.

Before the All-Ireland U20 hurling title, Offaly had suffered two defeats in the All-Ireland minor final to Tipperary in 2022 and in the All-Ireland U20 hurling final to Cork last year.

That victory is beginning to sink in for O'Connor and his players.

"It was just remarkable. I suppose the whole occasion, 200 people short of 26,000 people below in Nowlan Park. It was absolutely huge for Offaly. We've worked really hard and that memory of Tipperary in the All-Ireland minor final drove us on to put it right. I felt that we really inished it out this year.”

Supporters in Offaly got behind the team where we saw numerous pitch invasions throughout the year.

“It's very unique, it's just that energy and that buzz. That's part of the crowd that has supported this team. A lot of them are young kids and adults. It's a positive for Offaly and it's a positive for everyone. I actually think it's a major plus for hurling.”

Offaly's success has been one of the highlights for O'Connor during his managerial career.

O'Connor played a vital role in the development of Limerick hurling. The Claughaun clubman has managed Limerick hurling teams at every level up to U21, where he guided his native county to the Munster U21 title in 2011.

“There was a very unqiue occasion in 2011 when we won the Munster U21 hurling championship after extra time beating Cork in the Gaelic Grounds. That was a huge night as well. I specifically look back on 2011.”

“I had Declan Hannon, Graeme Mulcahy and guys like that and you look what they've gone on and achieved. In the case of Limerick, where I've been involved with so many teams and when you see these guys out on the field winning All-Ireland medals. Some of them now have seven or eight Munster Senior Hurling Championship medals and along with five All-Ireland medals and pushing on for the sixth one is absolutely massive.”

Leo O'Connor is unsure of what the future holds for him when it comes to management.

“I actually don't know, obviously I'm appointed for a three year term with the U20's. I'm officially Offaly U20 hurling manager next year. Our goal was when I sat down with Michael Duignan that we would win an All-Ireland. I certainly think it's a major challenge next year. I'd love to manage at senior level. It's something that I cannot say that I wouldn't want. That's for another to be quite honest and lets see what happens."

Leo O'Connor was delighted to see Limerick create history and become the first county in Munster to win six provincial titles in-a-row.

“It's huge, if you look back through the years. This is an amalgamation of three or four minor teams. John has bonded them together and made them the powerhouse of hurling that they're now. Without a shadow of a doubt, winning six Munster Championships in-a-row, they'll go down as one of the greatest hurling teams ever.

It's a credit to Limerick in the way that the players have been managed. It's also credit to the whole system that we have held on. Now they're back in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final. They're 170 minutes away from greatness. It's Limerick hurling at it's very best at the minute.”

Leo O'Connor sees Kilkenny as Limerick's biggest challengers this year.

“Derek Lyng and that Kilkenny team are very formidable. I think they're really going to challenge Limerick at the right time. I've been very impressed seeing Kilkenny live in the last two games."