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Syls Hurler Shane O'Connor on Irish Winter Olympics Team

Shane has been picked to represent Ireland in the men's alpine slalom at the Winter Olympics. Although he has represented Ireland in five World Championships, this is Shane's first Olympics . The O'Connors are a busy lot with Colm, Shane and Niall all hurling with Syls and part of our recent successes, Colm coaching our Minors this year, Danny just completed a three stint as Dublin GAA Vice Chair and Gwen a great supporter and organiser with Malahide Hockey Club. Congratulations lads from all at Sylvesters, we wish Shane the very best at Whistler and maybe we'll have one of those big home comings in a few weeks time, here's hoping.

Video of Shane's second run in the 2009 World Championships

Article in Fingal Independent.

As a juvenile, Shane O Connor was a “dual player” in effect with ski-ing at Kilternan every weekend in winter and hurling with some football in the summer. He came to notice when he was selected for the first Irish team to enter the world Championships in Morioka, Japan early in 1993. *  Knee problems, hurling and study intervened (in that order) in the 90’s and he played under 21 hurling championship for Dublin against Wexford in 1994. That Wexford team didn’t seem out of the ordinary but at least three players, Damien fitzhenry, Adrian Fenlon and Rory Mc Carthy went on to win all Ireland medals in Wexford’s triumph of 1996. 

By now Shane was playing  mainly midfield for Syls and Keogh Cup (intermediate League) runners up medals followed in 1998 and 2000 against Lucan and St Olaf’s. He also played Dublin Intermediate in a few different years.  

Returning to the ski story, he went to the East Coast of USA for a season in 2001 and got his points rating (handicap) down low enough to qualify for what looked like a last world championship appearance in 2003. It is probably since then that he has trained hardest and spent more time on snow and he has competed in the World championships for Ireland in 2005,2007 and 2009. 

Shane has been coaching junior racers for the last five or so years and from that start in 1993 when no Irish Skier was at the Olympic qualifying standard, there are now four other (younger) skiers who have achieved the ‘B’ Olympic standard. One such is Shane McShira, also from Malahide who has also represented St Sylvesters at juvenile and minor level.

Alpine Slalom is one of two so-called "technical" disciplines (the other being giant slalom). It tests the skier in short radius turns, requiring balance, agility and quick reactions. Alternate blue and red gates are set between 4 and 6 metres wide

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