“Beat the holy man”
Rory O’Connor may be only 18, but the youngster from the St. Martin’s club in Wexford has already made quite a name for himself.
After some impressive minor, under-21 and school performances with St Peter’s college in recent years, the fleet-footed half forward received a call up to Wexford’s starting senior team to face Waterford in their All-Ireland senior hurling quarter final clash earlier in the year.
To many it was a shock, that Davy Fitzgerald was set to throw an 18-year-old into the cauldron that is Championship hurling.
By the time the game was over, it was no shock.
The 18-year-old thundered into the game with a fine early score, and his explosive running and freestyle skill was a thorn in the Waterford back line all day.
O’Connor is a famous hurling name in the sunny-south-east, and the DCU-bound star, where he will join his brother Harry, looks set to keep the family tradition going.
His father John, and uncle George were members of the famous 1996 All-Ireland winning team.
The lads have been through it all in Wexford hurling, and will be providing young Rory with all the advice and guidance he needs to develop into a real Yellow-belly star.
By the looks of how he’s performing for his club in their Under-21 campaign, keeping that head on the ground isn’t proving to be a problem.
St Martin’s were up against Naomh Eanna on Monday evening, in the Wexford under-21 hurling final, and their exuberant forward was on fire.
0-14 to 0-5, Rory points from an angle so acute mathematicians can't describe it!
— St Martin's GAA Club (@StMartinsGAA) September 4, 2017
O’Connor already a goal, and a couple of points to his name, before he rifled a shot to the top corner of the net from at least thirty yards out.
An absolute rasper.
He wasn’t going to take his point, there was only one thing on his mind, and the commentator summed up the thoughts of all those watching. “whhhhoooooooooo”
Rory’s parents didn’t make it to the game, as they were at older brother Jack’s graduation from UCD, but they’ll have been delighted when they heard tell of his performance.
Rory O'Connor hits the opening point, no parents here as at Jack's grad!!! 0-1 to 0-0
— St Martin's GAA Club (@StMartinsGAA) September 4, 2017
St Martin’s went on to win the game comprehensively, on a scoreline of 4-27 to 2-14, and this lead to claims from former Wexford footballer Adrian Flynn that they’re the best under-21 team in the whole universe.
Alright Adrian, maybe just a little bit over the top.
You'd do well to find a better u21 hurling team, not only in Ireland but the whole universe!!!! https://t.co/XXEn30isFy
— Adrian Flynn (@Panthero84) September 4, 2017
These St Martin’s boys look to have some future ahead of them in the maroon and white, and indeed in the purple and gold, with Rory’s brother Jack also a member of the county’s senior side, while Harry was the under-21 captain.
The yellow bellies are on the rise.
