Kerry All-Ireland winner Joe O'Connor impressed for Limerick's Young Munster RFC

Joe O'Connor has had a stellar season with Kerry, playing a crucial role in 'The Kingdom's' 39th All-Ireland success this season. 

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The Tralee native topped off a memorable campaign on Sunday with a goal in the dying moments of Kerry's 1-26 to 0-19 point win over Jim McGuinness' Donegal at Croke Park. 

O'Connor, who has Limerick ties through his father Jim, looked to be destined for a career in rugby, playing for Young Munster RFC before pursuing a career in the green and gold of Kerry. 

Darragh Jones, who has been the Team Manager of Young Munster RFC for the last 12 years, was involved in coaching Joe when he first arrived to the club. 

"I would've been involved when Joe came into the club, he followed in the footsteps of his brother James who was already with us when Joe moved up from Tralee."

O'Connor joined the club for the 2017/18 season, where he then went on to play under-20s rugby whilst also playing a part in five senior matches, starting two and coming off the bench in three.

Darragh states that Joe was always devoted to training and he also admits that he could see that rugby wasn't the 'first sport' of the 26-year-old in his time at Young Munster. 

"He was just a top fella and he was very committed. You could see the Gaelic footballer in him, his skills were always good, he was a big lad and he could fill out the jersey I can tell you that."

"There was no fear of him at all but like I was saying, rugby wasn't his first sport. Joe was an out and out footballer. His ball skills and his handling was top notch."

"He would've been centre with the under-20s and he would've been on the wing for the seniors. The two starts he had would've been on the wing because he was a big ball carrier for us."

O'Connor's success over the last number of years has come to no surprise to those at Young Munster. Darragh says he still stays in contact with Joe and his father Jim, a Kileedy native. 

"We're not surprised at all that Joe has been so successful."

"I'd still be in touch with him and his Dad. His Dad would always be up supporting the two lads when they were playing and I sent both himself and Joe a congratulatory text this week."

In his time at Young Munster, O'Connor shared the field with All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurler Alan Tynan. Darragh joked with O'Connor this week about the possibility of the Austin Stacks clubman making a return to Limerick.  

"I text Joe asking him would he come back if we managed to get Alan Tynan back at out-half, I said he could wear the number 12 jersey for us again and he didn't say no to me so maybe there's a chance yet!" 

O'Connor, who may well be in the running for Footballer of the Year, still holds a special place in his heart for Young Munster.

"He was very good after the match on Sunday. He met one of our supporters afterwards. The supporter was wearing a Young Munster's baseball cap and Joe took it off him for a photograph so he's still good to us and the grá is still there," Darragh said.

Darragh admits that it's a feeling of 'immense pride' watching past players go on to achieve things like winning All-Ireland titles. 

"It's immense pride really because when you're involved in rugby you see lads who maybe go to Munster or maybe they go abroad and have a career professionally elsewhere but when you see the likes of Joe or Alan (Tynan) winning football and hurling All-Irelands, it's just amazing."

"Considering they would've played together alongside the likes of Gavin Coombes and Calvin Nash. Those guys have obviously made it professionally in the world of rugby but to see Joe doing what he's doing is incredible."

It's been an incredible few weeks for the club with two former players reaching the pinnacle in both Gaelic football and hurling. 

"Everyone in the club is talking about it, it's just been a great year for us to see those two boys get success like that. It's the first time we would've seen any GAA players who would've played for us kick on and reach these heights."

"It's one thing reaching inter-county level and getting an inter-county jersey, it's another thing to go on and win the All-Ireland."

O'Connor was joint-captain with Seán O'Shea when Kerry last won the All-Ireland in 2022. Injury kept O'Connor from a significant role in that success but his former coach is delighted that he was able to play such an pivotal role this time around. 

"He was so unfortunate a few years ago when Kerry won it and he was injured as captain. It was great to see it come around again and for him to play such a crucial role in Kerry winning it , the whole club is just very excited by it," Darragh concluded.