Jerry O'Connor (born 25 January 1979) is an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Cork senior team. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. O'Connor made his first appearance for the team during the 2000 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement following the conclusion of the 2011 championship. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals, four Munster medals and three All-Star awards. At club level O'Connor is an All-Ireland medalist with Newtownshandrum. In addition to this he has also won three Munster medals and four county championship medals. His twin brother Ben O'Connor and his younger sister Paula O'Connor also won All-Ireland medals with Cork in hurling and camogie respectively. His father Bernie O'Connor also played underage hurling with Cork. Playing career Club O'Connor plays his club hurling with Newtownshandrum and has enjoyed much success. Beginning at underage levels he has won practically every hurling competition from under-12 upwards. After enjoying little success in the minor grade, O'Connor subsequently enjoyed a very productive period with the club's under-21 hurling team. Between 1998 and 2000 he picked up three consecutive winners' medals in the county under-21 championship. In 1996 O'Connor was barely seventeen years-old when he lined out in the final of the county intermediate championship, with Cloyne providing the opposition. A 2–7 to 1–10 draw was followed by a tense replay. The final whistle in that game saw Newtown claim a 0–12 to 0–9 victory, giving O'Connor a county intermediate championship winners' medal. In 2000 O'Connor's side lined out in their first county senior championship final. Erin's Own provided the opposition on this occasion, however, a 0–14 to 0–11 score line gave Newtown the win. It was his first county senior championship winners' medal and an historic first for the club. After surrendering their title in 2001 and losing the final to Blackrock in 2002, Newtown continued their dominance of the club championship and reached the final for a third time in four years in 2003. For the second year in-a-row Blackrock provided the opposition. 'The Rockies', however, were now in decline and Newtown recorded a significant 0–17 to 0–9 victory. This victory allowed Netown to represent Cork in the provincial club championship, with O'Connor's side even reaching the final. Patrickswell of Limerick provided the opposition on that occasion, however, history was made as