‘I’m expecting a huge performance’ – O’Connor
James Joxer O'Connor celebrates with his backroom after winning the All-Ireland minor title. Could he deliver Under 20 gold in 2026?
Having conquered all in their wake at minor level in 2025, James O’Connor and many of those players make the step up to under-20 level, a grade which in truth has provided the Déise with little to no joy in the last nine years.
Waterford make the trip to Sixmilebridge for their Munster Championship opener, coming up against a Clare side potentially at the peak of their powers, given their side were minor kingpins three years ago.
“A lot of our lads are coming off the back of the All-Ireland, which is brilliant”, O’Connor told the Waterford News & Star.
“They play with a lot of confidence. I have a lot of faith in them this year, but we have to be realistic at the same time. Ten from the starting fifteen will be underage again next year, which is a huge amount, and seven or eight of them will be minors from last year.
“It’s great for the future, and whatever we do this year, we’ll do a whole lot more next year. First and foremost, you have to look at this year. We are young, but we’re hurling fiercely well. It’s amazing how some of the younger lads have taken to the under-20 like a duck to water, being honest. I expect a huge performance out of the lads on Wednesday evening.”
At any grade in any campaign, a result on the road can be a catalyst for a memorable season. O’Connor knows full well that a result in Sixmilebridge could be lift-off for a potential year to remember.
“It’s not ideal going up with a very young team for your first game - but the way I see it, if we could go up there and get a result, I would love to be heading back to Fraher Field a week later to play Tipperary.
“That’s the way we’re looking at it. We’re going into this fully loaded and looking for a result. It is a very tall task, but we have great faith in the lads, and the lads are playing well at the moment.
“We’ve played challenge matches, and I’ve been pleased, and I’ve no reason to expect anything, only a huge performance on Wednesday.”
As aforementioned, this grade hasn’t been kind to Waterford since the 2016 All-Ireland title, but O’Connor is insistent that counts for nothing once the first sliotar is pucked.
“Especially with this bunch”, said O’Connor. “You’ve a lot of lads here - they’ve won All-Ireland minor medals last year. Some lads have won an All-Ireland club medal with Ballygunner. Other lads have gone on to win school and college titles.
“To be honest with you, they’re not looking at the lads from the last few years; they’re looking at their own performance and their own record. That won’t phase them at all. If anything, it weighs less on them because there’s less pressure on their shoulders in terms of what’s expected.
“The general public thinks we shouldn’t be winning anything this year, but the lads don’t think that, and neither do the management.” What will be the success for Waterford this year? Time will tell.
“The task is to go out and win as much as we can. After Wednesday, I’ll know a lot more about the team and where we are. There’ll be a bit of pressure on Clare to get a result but we’ll let our hurling do the talking.
“We have guys who are well able to hurl and they are full of confidence right now. I’m really looking forward to it.”
