OISÍN O’Connor is a young man who takes everything in his stride.

On a recent Monday evening, the Kealkill teenager (18) picked up his West Cork Sports Star of the Month award, but it wasn’t his only notable event that day.

Before he made the trip from home to the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery, he had his Irish oral exam for his Leaving Cert, and also passed his driving test.

‘Busy enough, I suppose,’ he smiled, and there’s a charming modesty to Oisín that made this one of the most memorable award presentations.

His story is one of resilience, a teenager driven to achieve.

Oisín was only 14 years old when he suffered a serious spinal injury at a mountain bike event in September 2021.

It turned his life upside down.

But his drive and determination to be the best possible version of himself led him to the Celtic Ross Hotel for the first West Cork Sports Star presentation of the year.

Oisín, now 18, helped Rebel Wheelers win the club’s seventh IWA National Cup title in a row. It was his fourth cup win on the bounce.

Award winner Oisín O'Connor with his friend Aodhán Brennan. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

Even sweeter, the 62-47 success against South East Swifts in January saw Oisín and Co beat a team that had surprisingly defeated the Cork outfit in the league at the start of the season.

‘When they beat us it was a shock, but we knew we hadn’t played well. We didn’t work for each other. We knew we could improve, especially our scoring. We knuckled down and it paid off. Cup finals are special too – bigger crowds, you can feel the atmosphere. It’s brilliant,’ Oisín says.

He will get another chance to show his hardcourt skills when the Rebel Wheelers host the IWBF EuroCup Group 4 qualifiers later this month (April 23rd–26th). The Cork team will meet club teams from Greece, England, The Netherlands and Portugal, all looking to progress in the tournament.

‘It’s a round robin, so the team with the most points goes through to a Division 3 Cup in Europe. It’s run like a league, and the winners move up to Division 2. The higher you go, the better the standard,’ Oisín says.

He can’t wait to test himself at that level.

‘There are world-class players. We played against a Dutch player before – the best women’s player in the world – and she was unbelievable. Running rings around us, shooting, pushing the chair like mad. But that’s what you want – you see the level you’re up against.’

Oisín in action for the Rebel Wheelers.

Oisín is ambitious, and enjoys the challenge this brings.

‘I love watching the best teams – you learn what you need to do. You mightn’t be able to copy everything, but you can take bits. We’re all trying to do that with Rebel Wheelers, push to the next level,’ he says. His participation at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul last summer was another step on his journey.

‘The dream is to play for the Ireland senior team. The U23 level is a step towards that. If we keep improving, it’ll make that jump easier. Ireland were close in qualifiers recently, so we’re trying to push that on. If the international team improves, it lifts everything – the league, the clubs, all of it.’

It’s his resolve and grit that underline Oisín’s rise in wheelchair basketball, and why his trophy cabinet has a new addition.

‘It’s nice to be honoured at home here in West Cork,’ he says, quick to point out his family, coaches, and friends are all central to his story.

But right at the centre is a talented sportsman who wants to fulfil his potential. Days like Monday – oral exam, driving test, award presentation – don’t faze him. He just keeps moving forward.