	Born in Lucan, Dublin, O'Connor arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later joining the under-21 and junior sides. He made his senior debut in the 2008 championship. O'Connor went on to play a key role on the team for five years, and won one All-Ireland medal, three Munster medals and three National Football League medals. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.