– PRESS RELEASE –
Joe O’Connor, Kerry Senior Team Captain 2022
The Rock’s wonderful winter continued last night with the County Board’s ratification of our own Joe O’Connor to be this year’s Kerry Captain. Club Chairman Shane Lynch remarked that “there is no greater privilege for a club than to nominate one of its own to be the Kerry Captain. This is a very special moment for all in Austin Stacks and of course most especially for Joe, his parents Jim & Helen and family. Joe has developed into a natural leader on the pitch in the way he drives the team forward at critical moments and everyone on the Rock can’t wait to see Joe lead out the men in Green & Gold and drive the Kingdom on to glory this season. On behalf of all in the club, I would like to wish him, Dylan, Greg and Jack and all involved with the Kerry Senior Team the very best for the season ahead.”
Joe rose to prominence in the club during his minor football days in 2016 and 2017, playing 9 games in both seasons. In 2016 he lined out five times at full forward and four times at midfield, scoring 2-8 in total during the season – all from play. In 2017, he came on as a sub in the first three games and started at midfield for the remaining six games, scoring a total of 1-5 during the course of the season. During this time, Joe was also playing rugby with Munster and a career in the oval-ball game beckoned. But thankfully for the Stacks and Kerry faithful, Joe chose the round ball and went on to make his Senior football debut with the club in 2017, coming on as a sub in a Co. League game against Dr. Crokes (24th June). He has been a regular on the Senior team for the past four seasons, making his county championship debut on 1st September 2018 in a first-round game against Kenmare District which we won by 2-22 to 0-6. Joe’s rapid progression saw him go on to win Club Player of the Year in 2019 and cap a great personal campaign last year in being awarded Man of the Match for both the Club and County Championship Finals.
Martin Collins,
PRO,
Austin Stacks GAA Club.