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Cork All Ireland winner Kieran O'Connor dies aged 41

Kieran O'Connor - a member of Cork's 2010 All Ireland football-winning panel - has died at the age o...


Cork All Ireland winner Kieran...

Cork All Ireland winner Kieran O'Connor dies aged 41


Kieran O'Connor - a member of Cork's 2010 All Ireland football-winning panel - has died at the age of 41. 

The Aghada clubman was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer - Ewing's sarcoma - in 2017.

As part of the Rebels side under Billy Morgan, and subsequently Con Counihan, O'Connor won Munster Senior Football medals with Cork in 2006 , 2008 and 2009.

He's survived by his wife Sinéad, their three children, Isabelle, Ava and James, and also to his parents Pat and Mary, sister Aisling and brothers Patrick and John Paul.

Cork County chairperson Tracey Kennedy said of O'Connor's passing, "It was with great sadness that we learned of Kieran’s death today.

"He was a tower of strength on the field of play, and showed that same strength of character and courage in dealing with his illness over the past few years.

"He will be an unimaginable loss to his family."

Friends and family had raised in excess of €300,000 over the last three years as O'Connor battled against his disease.

Off The Ball's Kieran Donaghy raised the issue on OTB AM in May of 2019, shortly after Davy Russell emotionally dedicated his Grand National victory to O'Connor.

His clubmates at Aghada described O'Connor as one of their "greatest clubmen".

In a statement, they added, "The courage, determination, spirit, and bravery of Kieran as a player was seen at its finest over the last 3 years as he battled his illness with dignity and respect.

"Today is one of the saddest occasions our club has ever known.

"There are no words that will capture just what Kieran O’Connor meant to Aghada GAA. We know that Aghada was embedded in Kieran's heart and his club meant so so much to him also.

"We are truly proud of him and his achievements in the Aghada and Cork jerseys.

"We are honoured to be able to call him an Aghada man."



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