Hurling legend laid to rest

They came from the four corners of the country and beyond on a bitingly cold, wet, and windy autumnal day to bid a final farewell to Abbeyside's Johnny O'Connor, a midfield hero on that historic senior hurling team of 1948 that brought the All-Ireland title to our country for the very first time.

Johnny, who was aged eighty two and was only one of two survivors of that heroic team of sixty two years ago, died peacefully at his home at Ballysheehan outside Mallow in the early hours of Sunday of last week.

A huge Waterford County Board representation was headed up by chairman Tom Cunningham, while many of the heroes of the 1959 All-Ireland winning team were also there having played with Johnny on the 1957 team that narrowly and tantalisingly lost to Kilkenny in the final of that year.

A lone piper led the cortege as it passed that O'Connor family home in Sexton Street in Abbeyside, with the coffin draped in the colours of Waterford and Abbeyside and flanked by members of the Abbeyside/Ballinacourty club in what was an impressive guard of honour.

At the graveside an oration was delivered in both Irish and English by Nicolas MacCraith, the former Western Board, County Board, and Munster Council chairman who, Like Johnny, was an honoured member of the teaching profession.

Nioclas spoke of Johnny's countless attributes, of his silken hurling skills, of his love of his home place, Abbeyside, his home county of Waterford, and his immense love too of the Irish language. It was poignantly impressive delivery by Nioclas and very fitting way to bring the curtain down on the life and career of a sporting legend.

Since his passing the tributes to Johnny have been many, and richly deserved. His place in the annals of Waterford hurling greatness is assured, and those of us fortunate to enough to have known him will always retain the fondest memories of a great sportsman and an equally fine human being. May the sod of St. Laurence's Cemetery, Ballinroad rest lightly upon him.

Courtesy of the Waterford news & Star 9/11/10 Tweet

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