JOHNNY O'CONNOR was educated at St. Enda's and Garbally College. While at school he won both Junior and Senior Cup medals and in 1998, he was captain of the Corinthians side that won the Under-19 All-Ireland League. He played for his country five times at that age level and in November 2000, he made his debut for the Ireland Under-25 side when scoring a try in their defeat of Japan at Ravenhill. In February 2001, he made his Ireland 'A' debut against Italy but unfortunately due to injury, he missed playing in Wasps' Heineken Cup Final victory in 2004.
Fit again, he was called into the Ireland side to win his first cap in November '04 against South Africa and before the month was over he also played against Argentina. Johnny did not play in the opening 2005 6 Nations fixture against Italy but he was ever-present for the remainder of the tournament.
He won his seventh cap during the Ireland summer tour to Japan, and added further to that haul by starting the 2005 autumn internationals against New Zealand, Australia and Romania.
O'Connor's last appearence for Ireland was against England in 2006, though he has appeared at Ireland A level since.
His return to Connacht has seen a blistering run of form at Magners and European Challenge Cup level and earned him a recall to the senior squad in 2008.
