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Matt Connor
One of Offaly's Greatest Forwards
Matt Connor of Offally was one of the greatest forwards Gaelic Football has ever seen. In May 2001, he traveled to Kerry to join us and talk about his amazing career and the accident that tragically ended his future in football by leaving him in a wheelchair. He is truly a superb sportsman. This is one of Irish sport's great heroes.

 

 

Matt O' Connor has a comparatively short inter-county senior career with Offaly but made a tremendous impact in the scoring returns. Called up to the Offaly senior team in the Spring of 1978, he became the first man in hurling or football to reach 200 points (goals and points combined) in a full annual programme of matches, embracing league, championship, challenge and Railway Cup games.

 

The great Offaly forward hit a majestic 22 goals and 135 points in 29 games in 1980. Matt went on to put up other impressive scoring returns in 1981-83-84 before his career was ended prematurely as a result of a serious accident when his car crashed on Christmas Day 1984.

 

The great Kerry trainer Mick O' Dwyer said recently that the one good thing about Kerry's loss to that Seamus Darby goal in 1982 was that Matt O' Connor won his all-Ireland senior medal.

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Part 1>> A poem for Matt; He discusses his childhood & training; Paudie O' Se rings in.
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Part 2>> Friends & neighbours ring in to discuss Matt's genius on the field.
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Part 3>> Kerry supporters' testimonies, Micheal O Muircheartaigh rings in, Matt's footballing memories.
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Part 4>> Tim O' Sullivan rings in, Matt discusses managerial skills, more testimonies.
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Part 5>> John Egan rings in, a group of tributes, Matt's 7-a-side memories.
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Part 6>> Eugene McGee rings in, Matt discusses the effects of the accident on his life; and we hear one of Matt's favourite songs.
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