SADNESS at DEATH OF LIMERICK and CLAUGHAUN GAA STALWART SEAN O’CONNOR
by Jerome O’Connell Limerick Leader Sport
THE Limerick GAA community is in mourning following the death of Claughaun stalwart Sean O’Connor.
O’Connor is a former top referee, player and administrator at club, county and inter-county level.
He refereed two All Ireland SHC finals – the 1969 clash of Cork and Kilkenny and the 1975 meeting of Galway and Kilkenny. He also handled the 1973 All Ireland minor final and a number of Oireachtas deciders.
He was the man in the middle for 22 Munster finals at varying levels and in both codes. He refereed every Limerick GAA County Final, bar the senior hurling decider.
On the playing fields, Sean O’Connor lined out with the Limerick senior hurlers from 1957-59 after he had played both minor hurling and football with the county. He progressed to serve as a Limerick selector.
With Claughaun he won four Limerick SHC titles (1957, ‘58, ‘68 and ‘71) and three county SFC titles (1955, ‘59 and ‘67).
The father of former Limerick senior hurler and 2011 Munster U-21 winning manager Leo O’Connor, Sean held most administration positions with Claughaun, including chairman. He was the current club President. He also served as assistant treasurer of Limerick City Divisional Board for a spell.
Sean, late of Lynwood Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick and of Aer Lingus in Shannon is survived by wife Marie, daughter Valerie (Compton) and son Leo.
Reposing at Griffin’s Funeral Home, John’s Gate on Wednesday, February 7 from 5pm with removal at 7pm to St Josephs Church, O’Connell Ave. Requiem Mass on Thursday February 8 at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery