Aidan Harte is still having nightmares.
Jack O’Connor gave an exhibition on how to nail the toughest skill in hurling in Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon.
Plucking a high ball from the air in the midst of a sea of bodies – half of them trying to take the hand off you, the other half pulling and dragging out of your catching hand – is no mean feat.
Wexford’s half forward did exactly that on four occasions in the first 20 minutes of his county’s NHL Quarter final against Galway.
The Yellow Bellies’ number one Mark Fanning is well aware of the weapon his side possess at left half forward. He rained puck out after restart down on top of his willing teammate, who gleefully accepted every invitation. He put the big paw up in the firing line every time and brought the ball back down to his chest and the momentum back to Davy Fitz’s side.
Galway copped it after a while but even two men and some flaking couldn’t take the ball away from the St Martin’s man’s magnetic left hand.
His marker Aidan Harte tried everything. He couldn’t lay a finger on the soaring O’Connor.
Not only is clawing a sky scraping size 5 a tough task, but it’s also one of the most valuable contributions a player can make. A clean catch rises the crowd, it spurs a team on, it’s a momentum grabbing clutch moment that can change a game.
As well as requiring pinpoint hand-eye co-ordination, it takes a fair bit of bottle to throw that hand up knowing it might come down with a piece of ash stuck inside it. It takes a fair bit of bottle to keep your eye on the ball up until the last second with fierce opposition breathing down your neck.
O’Connor was at it from the word go.
Here he is in full flight, leaping, snapping and impacting just two minutes into the game.
He judged the flight of the ball superbly, timed his leap to perfection and from that moment onwards the ball and the momentum was his.
His technique is perfection. Watch how he brushes Harte aside with his right shoulder and hurl.
Two minutes later and the home side tried the same tactics. Harte had learned his lesson. He jumped into O’Connors back and let fly. Same result.
Just look at that hang time.
Videos via TG4’s excellent coverage.
That would happen on three more occasions in the game.
But we shouldn’t really be surprised. While the older of the O’Connor brothers may be unheralded in comparison to scoring sensation Rory, his contributions are just as valuable.
His prowess under the dropping ball has been evident on the club and county scene for quite a while now. He played a crucial part in St Martin’s march to the county title last year.
Different jersey. Same story.
That’s how you attack a ball.
Videos via Wexford GAA TV.
