Cork U20s beat out Limerick 1-19 to 0-21 last night at the Gaelic Grounds, in the Munster U20s Hurling Championship.
Lining out for Cork was midfielder Ben O'Connor, who is expected to join the Munster rugby academy next season.
A fullback in rugby, he played a starring role over the last two years for PBC in the Munster Schools Senior Cup, producing multiple clutch kicks and plays.
Last night was his first appearance of the year for the U20s, with his GAA involvement this year hampered by his rugby commitments to PBC and the Ireland U19s.
Despite the win for Cork, O'Connor did get red carded in the second half with the game still in the balance, after a rough challenge saw him receive his second yellow of the match.
Munster Prospect Ben O'Connor Sees Red For Cork
Cork U20 hurler and Ireland rugby prospect Ben O’Connor got sent off for this hit tonight🫣🟥 pic.twitter.com/5ibtHhi98a
— GAA Editz (@Gaa_editz) April 28, 2023
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Cork's manager, also named Ben O'Connor, cut a frustrated figure in his post-match interview, as he lamented the fact that GAA rules prohibit players from playing both U20s and senior.
Eoin Downey may be called up in the coming weeks by the senior side, meaning he will be unavailable for the U20s run in.
"It's just a pity now we could be without Eoin Downey for a final. I'm going to echo what all the other U20 managers have said I think it's a pure joke that a fella can't play at his own age group. After this year he's finished with U20... he should be able to play both.
"The common sense thing is if he's available and he wants to he should be left play in senior and 20.
"I'd like to know who voted on this? This vote was done in above and they changed the wording of it after to confuse the whole thing.
"If you take out the wording of it to read it, you read it 10 times and you still don't know what's going on.
"Leave U20s play U20 and senior if they're good enough. Don't be ruining a young fella's chance of playing in a Munster final."
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