How Ben O’Connor’s straight talking is already changing Hurling

Scroll through the comments under clips of his post match interviews and a clear theme emerges. Fans agree with him. Many have praised his honesty, his refusal to hide behind buzzwords, and his willingness to challenge how the game is being officiated and administered. In an era where press conferences often blend into one another, O’Connor is already standing out.

That was never clearer than after Cork’s heated clash with Tipperary, a match that delivered drama, intensity and a late first half melee that saw Shane Barrett and Jason Forde both sent off. While debate raged around the red cards, O’Connor cut straight to the point.

“Was there anyone hurt? No. Pushing and shoving is all I saw.”

He did not stop there, placing responsibility firmly elsewhere.

"I'm blaming the GAA officials"

O’Connor questioned where many of the modern interpretations are coming from, and his frustration echoed what many supporters have been saying for years.

"Red card, yellow card, technical areas, you can't go on to the field, can't get a message in. Where are we getting all this from? We're getting it from soccer"

For O’Connor, the heart of the issue is flow. He believes hurling should remain fast, physical and uninterrupted.

"We're playing the fastest field game in the world"

"Some of them aren't even a free, not to mind a yellow card. They're trying to cleanse the game"

"I'm looking for the game to be played the way it should be played"

"It's a man's game, let them get on with it"

Those comments landed strongly after a match that had a record crowd at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and delivered plenty of edge. Cork ran out 0 29 to 0 22 winners, making it three wins from three, but the flashpoint just before half time dominated discussion long after the final whistle.

O’Connor has also turned his attention to another bugbear for supporters, the slowing down of games through drawn out free taking routines. He argued that too much of the ball is out of play.

‘He’s taking two minutes to hit the ball’

‘You go home you watch the stats of the game, how long was the ball in play tonight?’

‘There should be a limit on it yeah, from the time the referees whistle is blown there should be a limit time the free’

‘In club games and inter-county games, a team are up a point, time up, they get a free, the fella at the farthest down corner, he’s walking on out, he’s blowing and panting, he’s left to take it, slowing down the game. There should be a time limit on that’

‘That’s the improvements that could be done to our game’

Whether people agree with every point or not, one thing is clear. Ben O’Connor is saying what many have been thinking, and hurling is more interesting for it.