▁made ▁his ▁first ▁appearance ▁for ▁the ▁team ▁on ▁ 8 ▁March ▁in ▁a ▁ 0 – 1 6 ▁to ▁ 1 – 0 8 ▁defeat ▁of ▁Kil ken ny . ▁On ▁ 1 7 ▁May , ▁he ▁won ▁a ▁National ▁Hur ling ▁League ▁medal ▁as ▁a ▁non - play ing ▁substitute ▁following ▁a ▁ 2 – 1 4 ▁to ▁ 0 – 1 3 ▁defeat ▁of ▁Water ford ▁in ▁the ▁final . ▁O ' Con nell ▁was ▁later ▁an ▁un used ▁substitute ▁for ▁C ork ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁Mun ster ▁Championship ▁and ▁was ▁subsequently ▁dropped ▁from ▁the ▁team . ▁ ▁Im press ive ▁form ▁at ▁club ▁level ▁earned ▁a ▁recall ▁for ▁O ' Con nell . ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁championship ▁debut ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁June ▁and ▁scored ▁eight ▁points ▁from ▁mid field ▁in ▁a ▁ 0 – 2 4 ▁to ▁ 1 – 1 5 ▁defeat ▁of ▁Water ford . ▁On ▁ 4 ▁July , ▁he ▁won ▁a ▁Mun ster ▁Championship ▁medal ▁after ▁scoring ▁five ▁points ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 – 1 5 ▁to ▁ 0 – 1 4 ▁defeat ▁of ▁reign ing ▁champions ▁Cla re ▁in ▁the ▁final . ▁On ▁ 1 1 ▁September , ▁O ' Con nell ▁was ▁at ▁mid field ▁for ▁the ▁All - I reland ▁final ▁against ▁Kil ken ny . ▁He ▁was ▁held ▁sc or eless ▁but ▁claimed ▁a ▁w inners ' ▁medal ▁following ▁the ▁ 0 – 1 2 ▁to ▁ 0 – 1 1 ▁victory . ▁ ▁On ▁ 3