 On 17 July 1996, O'Connell made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team in a 2–18 to 1–12 defeat of Tipperary.He won a Munster Championship medal on 24 July after scoring four points from right wing-forward in a 3–16 to 2–07 defeat of Clare in the final.O'Connell won a second consecutive Munster Championship medal on 30 July after scoring six points in a 1–11 to 0–13 defeat of Tipperary in the final.