Vincent O'Connor

At club level he lined out with Dingle and West Kerry. He won back to back Kerry Senior Football Championship titles in 1984/85 with West Kerry.

With Dingle he won back to back Kerry Intermediate Football Championship titles in 1988/89.

O'Connor lined out with Kerry at minor level in 1975. A semi-final win over Tipperary on a 6-23 to 0-05 scoreline and a Munster final win over Cork on a 3-07 to 1-11 scoreline seen him pick up a Munster Minor Football Championship medal.[2]

He missed the sides semi-final win over Roscommon but was back for the final. He was at Left Corner Back in a 1-10 to 0-04 win over Tyrone to pick up an All-Ireland Minor Football Championship medal.[3]

O'Connor joined the Under 21 team straight out of minor.

In 1976 wins over Tipperary and Cork seen him pick up a Munster Under 21 Football Championship medal.[4] A semi-final win over Mayo seen Kerry qualify for the All-Ireland final. He was Right Half Back during a 0-14 to 1-03 win to pick up an All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship medal.[5]

In 1977 wins over Clare and Cork seen him pick up his second Munster title.[6] An All-Ireland semi-final win over Leitrim seen him qualify for another final. In the final Kerry faced Down. A 1-11 to 1-05 win seen him pick up his second All-Ireland U21 title.[7]

In 1978 wins over Tipperary,Clare and Cork seen O'Connor pick up his third Munster title in a row. A semi-final win over Louth seen O'Connor qualified for a third All-Ireland final in a row. There was to be no three in a row as Kerry cam up short on a 1-09 to 1-08 scoreline to Rocommon.[8]

O'Connor first joined the Kerry senior team during the 1976/77 National League where he played four games.[9] He played no part in the subsequent championship.

He played three games during the 1977/78 League.[10] He was part of the championship panel that went on to win that years All-Ireland.

He played another four games in the 1978/79 league.[11] He made his championship debut in a game later known as the Miltown Massacre. He was midfield, and scored 1-02, as powered to a 9-21 to 1-09 win over Clare.[12] He was again midfield for the Munster final with Cork. A 2-14 to 2-04 win seen him pick up his first Munster Senior Football Championship title.[13] He was again at midfield, and score a point, in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Monaghan. He lost his place for the All-Ireland final with Dublin. he did however come on in a 3-13 to 1-08 win to pick up his first All-Ireland on the field.[14]

He played in all eight of Kerry's 1979/80 National League games, including the final loss to Cork.[15] His only championship game came in the Munster final with Cork. A 3-13 to 0-12 win seen him pick up his second Munster title.[13]

1981/82 seen him line out in another league final against Cork. The sides finished level; however, he missed out on the replay.[16] He made his first championship start since 1979 when he lined out against Clare in the Munster semi-final. He was back among the subs, but appeared as he picked up his third Munster title after overcoming Cork in the final after a replay.[13]

In 1983 he lined out in yet another Munster final with Cork. But for the second year in a row Kerry were undone by a late goal. This time by Tadhg Murphy as Cork took the Munster title for the first time since 1974.[17]

In the 1983/84 National League he lined out in seven of Kerry's games. This including the final win over Galway.[18] Despite his role in the league win his only championship appearance was also against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.[19]

His final appearance with Kerry came in the 1987 Munster final replay loss to Cork.[20]

Despite a successful underage and National League career O'Connor could never hold down a place in the championship team. In all he made 12 Championship appearances between 1979 and 1987.

• O'Connor issues rallying cry to Clare wannabes - HoganStand