 His two seasons with the minor team ended without success.O'Connell subsequently joined the Limerick under-21 hurling team and won a Munster Championship medal in his first season after a 0-22 to 0-19 win over Clare in the final.On 12 September 2015, he was at centre-back when Limerick defeated Wexford by 0-26 to 1-07 in the All-Ireland final.