Pakistan was seemingly heading towards what would have been considered a challenging total for the time when O'Connor returned to the bowling crease and picked up four quick wickets to go with his earlier scalp.
He finished with five for 46 to help dismiss Pakistan for a more manageable 252. But, more importantly, his stint helped instil belief.
Nathan Astle (49), Roger Twose (87) and Craig McMillan (51) got the job done with the bat but O'Connor swung the match.
''My five-for wasn't exactly the result of me reverse swinging the ball or knocking the poles over and all that,'' O'Connor said.
''From memory, there was a few chips into the outfield which didn't quite get over the rope and were taken as a catch instead.
''But to have it turn like that and think, 'hang on a minute, we're right in here' was wonderful. And I'm sure that was a bit of a catalyst for the performance in the final as well.''
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns was nursing an injury and did not play in the semifinal. But he returned for the final against India four days later and played his most important one-day innings.
India reached 264 for six, but New Zealand overhauled the total thanks to a superb undefeated 102 from Cairns.
O'Connor's day did not start quite so well, though. Sourav Ganguly (117) and Sachin Tendulkar (69) put on 141 for the first wicket and O'Connor got punished.
''What I remember about that final was going from the top house to the bottom house.
''It was a real comeback to earth for me and for everybody. They were just such wonderful players and when they got going it was hard to stop it.
''It took something extremely special when Cairns was batting to get us in the hunt. We just had to bat around him.''
The ICC Champions Trophy gets under way in England tonight and O'Connor feels New Zealand is as capable of winning it as any other team.
''This New Zealand side has a group of guys who, on their day, can take a game away and win it for us.''
