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The Corkman IT'S a well-known fact throughout North Cork that the passion for hurling which looms large in Newtownshandrum, will be hard to come across in any other town. It's also well-known that the hurculean force behind this passion comes in the form of local man Bernie O'Connor. Bernie came into his own on October 8 last year, when Baile Nua Seandroma beat Erins Own in the historic TSB Cork County Senior Hurling Championship Final. As the team's hardworking trainer and coach, it was Bernie who fell to his knees in glee when the final whistle blew. Bernie is also respected for producing two of the most gifted young players to burst on to the hurling scene in decades, his sons Ben and Gerry. The lads share their father's passion, and now emulate the young Bernie who was an accomplished and gifted hurler in his own right. A native of Meelin in the Duhallow division, Bernie began his hurling career in the early 1960s, and was to become a key player with the club for the next twenty years. During that time he played an important role in Meelin's four-in-a-row teams, which won the Duhallow hurling championship in 1970,'71,'72 and '73. Unfortunately for Bernie, the coveted County Championship medal eluded his grasp, as Ballinhassig defeated Meelin in the 1973 decider. Meelin bounced back to win the divisional title in 1977, but by then, Bernie had emigrated to England where he worked for a number of years. On his return to Ireland a few years later, Bernie was once again a key figure for Meelin when they won the divisional title three years in a row, in 1980, '81 and '82. He also added another string to his bow by training the team during that glorious period. It was around this time that Bernie developed his interest in training, which was to stand him in good stead when his playing career finally ended, but not before he won his eight Duhallow championship medal in 1986. That year Meelin went all the way to the County Final again, but were forced to bow down to an excellent Ballymartle team on the day. Bernie's talents didn't go unrewarded and he won an All Ireland Minor Championship medal in 1967 when Cork defeated Wexford. Unfortunately, as Bernie admits himself, he didn't have the necessary commitment to take his inter-county career to a higher plane. Following his marriage to Kathleen O'Mahony, Bernie went to live in Newtown, where he embraced the love of the sport and worked hard with the local team. It was during those early days in Newtown, that Bernie truly brought his coaching skills to bear and took responsibility for the under age section of the club with phenomenal success. Today's senior Newtown team is the product of some outstanding under age teams of the recent past. The victory in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in October was heralded the length and breadth of the county as a fitting climax to a great career both on and off the field for the team's trainer and coach, Bernie O'Connor. It's hardly surprising that the team's captain on the day, Donal Mulcahy cited Bernie O'Connor as the biggest influence on his career. It would be most difficult to find a local player of that generation who does not look on Bernie as an enormous influence and a great source of confidence and support. Bernie's achievements throughout his career and particularly last year in bringing Newtownshandrum to glory in the Cork County Final, have resulted in his nomination for a special Corkman Sports Star Award. The awards ceremony will take place in the Duhallow Park Hotel in Kanturk on Friday, January 26. |
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