After missing last month's Wexford SHC final victory over St Anne's through suspension, Rory O'Connor is looking forward to getting back on the field against Ballyhale Shamrocks in tomorrow's Leinster club SHC semi-final.

The St Martin's attacker told Sky Sports: "We've won the county final, two of the last three years. As good as it was winning the county final, there's a bit more in us in what we're kind of wanting [to go further].

"Obviously it's Ballyhale in the semi-final. I was saying to the club lads - why wouldn't you want to go out to a field and play against lads that won two All-Stars, one Young Player of the Year? Put yourself up against these lads and give them a nice rattle.

"We're not going up to make numbers up in Nowlan Park. We're going up there to cause an upset hopefully and we're not going to shy away from the challenge that faces us."

The Young Hurler of the Year nominee failed to have his suspension overturned after being sent off in St Martin's county semi-final win over Ferns St Aidan's for an off-the-ball incident, and admits he had only himself to blame for missing the final.

"Ultimately I shouldn't be in those situations, getting things appealed," he continued.

"I'm big enough and bold enough now to stay out of incidents like that. So it's my own fault to be missing out on a county final."

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