 It was O'Connell's last game in the grade.O'Connell joined the Cork senior team during the 1998 National League and made his first appearance for the team on 8 March in a 0–16 to 1–08 defeat of Kilkenny.On 17 May, he won a National Hurling League medal as a non-playing substitute following a 2–14 to 0–13 defeat of Waterford in the final.