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“We’re such a small town. Obviously, it’s been the same faces that have been in the crowd ever since I was under 10s. It means everything. I kind of broke down, my voice is gone … If I get into it now, I’ll probably start crying again, so I won’t do that on camera.”
The Cats, who have always been receptive to supporting their players’ lives outside of football, saw this latest chance to represent Dingle in the club’s historic appearance in the All-Ireland Senior Club Final as one he should not be denied.
Dingle are the first club from County Kerry to feature in the final since Dr Crokes in 2019 and O’Connor played a crucial role in the unexpected semi-final victory, with the final score of the game in extra time as they won 1-26 to 1-24.
His Dingle teammates had been nervously awaiting news on whether he would be able to line up alongside them in the final after their dramatic semi-final win.
“We need him. He is a massive player for us,” Dingle boss Padraig Corcoran told the 42.ie.
“It was great to have him for the few games in the county championship. We didn’t think we would have him for Munster and then he stayed back and it was a huge bonus for us. It gave the lads a great lift when he did come in for the [semi-final].”
Corcoran also complimented Geelong for allowing O’Connor to even take part in the semi-final.
“We’re just very grateful to Geelong for accommodating him,” he said.
Geelong have a strong connection to Ireland in their men’s and women’s programs with Zach Tuohy playing alongside O’Connor in the 2022 premiership, and O’Connor and Oisin Mullin playing for the Cats in last year’s grand final loss to the Lions. Cillian Burke is also at the Cats. There were 12 AFL players and 39 AFLW players from Ireland on lists across the leagues in 2025.
The All-Ireland Senior Club Championship is a different competition to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship which Sydney premiership defender Tadhg Kennelly won in 2009 for Kerry after playing in the 2005 flag for the Swans.
The competition Kennelly played in was between counties whereas the January 18 final is between clubs.
Mark O’Connor was involved in one of the most controversial moments of last year’s finals series during the qualifying final. Credit: AFL Photos
Both competitions are considered the most prestigious and significant competitions in Gaelic football with Dingle appearing in the All-Ireland Senior Club final for the first time in their history.
Dingle were considered outsiders to win the semi-final against Ballyboden St Enda’s but will now have a town bedecked in red and white fervently hoping they can defeat St Brigid’s for the Andy Merrigan Cup, with O’Connor’s availability a significant boost.
As Dingle captain Paul Geaney told The Irish Times: “With Mark, it’s just every time he lines out, it’s a bonus.
“The job isn’t obviously done. We want to win the All-Ireland, but the first goal was to get to Croke Park. Now we have to win it.”
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