John Keiron O'Connell (16 July 1902 – 20 May 1975) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p. 666.
Family The son of John Keiran O'Connell (1879-1927),Deaths: O'Connell, The Argus, (Friday, 29 July 1927), p.1. and Margaret Anne Frances O'Connell (1880-1955), née Hannon,Marriages: O'Connell—Hannon, The Argus, (Saturday, 26 October 1901), p 9.Deaths: O'Connell, The Argus, (Monday, 10 January 1955), p. 13. John Keiron O'Connell was born at Winchelsea, Victoria on 16 July 1902.Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria Births Registration no.22815/1902.
He married Elizabeth May Seymour (1902-1969) in 1923.Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria Marriages Registration no.868/1923. They had two children.
Athlete O'Connell was a successful professional sprinter, winning the 130 yards "£100 Sheffield Handicap" (running off 11 yards, and winning by half a yard) at the Geelong Highland Games on 30 December 1923.Highland Sports: Sheffield to O'Connell, The (Melbourne) Sun-News Pictorial, (Monday, 1 January 1923), p. 15.Sprinter of Note (photograph), The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 3 January 1923), p. 13.'Stride', "Amateur Jockey to Athlete: Geelong 'Gift' Winner preferred Turf", The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 6 January 1923), p. 4.
Football A wingman able to kick with both feet.Sharland, W.S., "Shelton, Mollison, and O'Connell are League Players Attracting Attention", The Sporting Globe (Saturday, 21 June 1924), p. 8.
Cleared by the VFA from North Melbourne to Williamstown in July 1921 (the North Melbourne club disbanded on 30 June 1921).North Melbourne Disbands, The Argus, (Saturday, 2 July 1921), p.17.Football: Permit Applications, The Argus, (Thursday, 7 July 1921), p. 10.
He played on the wing for Williamstown before moving to South Melbourne.
O'Connell coached Ararat in 1925.Many Permits Granted, The Age, (Thursday, 9 April 1925), p. 10.Gippsland League: Fight for Fourth Place, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 19 September 1925), p. 93.Ballarat League Team, The Argus, (Friday, 9 July 1926), p. 5.Sharland, W.S., "After a Coach: O'Connell's Mission for Hamilton, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 3 December 1929), p. 3.
Death He died at Box Hill, Victoria, as the result of an accident, on 20 May 1975.Deaths: O'Connell, The Age, (Wednesday, 21 May 1975), p. 26.
See also 1924 Hobart Carnival
Notes
References
External links
Jack O'Connell's playing statistics from The VFA Project.