KEVIN O’CONNOR WILL be back in the League of Ireland this season after Waterford announced that the 24-year-old has joined the club on loan from Preston North End.
O’Connor, who moved to the English Championship outfit from Cork City in July 2017, returned to the Leesiders last year and spent the season on loan at Turner’s Cross. However, he’s now set to line out for their Munster rivals, who he left to join City in 2014.
O’Connor, who can play at left-back or in midfield, said: “I’m delighted to be back. Waterford is a massive club and I’m over the moon to be finally back playing in the RSC. I started out my senior career here when I was 17, so for me it’s massive to get to come back to play again.
“It was great to get the call off Rennie [manager Alan Reynolds]. He’s been a massive influence on my career, from development squads right up to senior football. He trusts and believes in me, and any footballer who says that isn’t a huge factor when signing for a club is lying.
“I’ve zero doubts in my mind that Rennie will build as strong a squad as he possibly can. I know him long enough now to know he doesn’t do things by halves. Even now there’s a nice mix of experience and youth in the team. I’m not a young lad anymore in terms of how long I’ve been playing in this league, so hopefully I’ll be able to help the younger boys to develop.”
The Wexford native, who’s a former Republic of Ireland U21 international, added: “On a personal level for myself, I really can’t wait to be back playing football. I can’t wait to be enjoying my football again.”
O’Connor made nine first-team appearances for Preston but ultimately fell out of favour. His last outing for the club came in December 2017. He then spent time on loan at Fleetwood Town and Crewe Alexandra, before returning to the League of Ireland last year.
“I’m delighted to have gotten Kev in on loan. He’s a great player and he knows what this club is all about,” said Waterford boss Alan Reynolds, who has also brought in two of O’Connor’s former Cork City team-mates — goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan and striker Graham Cummins — for the 2020 season.
“He’s been around the league for a good few years, and he’s still relatively young. I’ll be hoping he’ll be able to lead the younger players on the pitch, while still being able to run himself.”
O’Connor, whose Preston contract expires in the summer, will hope to be involved when Waterford begin their Premier Division campaign away to St Patrick’s Athletic on 14 February.
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What a waste of time. But im sure louth will have enjoyed the big day out in croke park eh
@Brian Dunne: The three provincial finals so far have been awful, hopefully Ulster is a bit better.
@Bert Carolan: Time to scrap them and run all-Ireland competitions a few weeks after the league end.
@Brian Dunne: ah now Brain nod say there’s a few of your i20’s lads would love a crack at Dublin for a Leinster title
@mainmsam: *id say
Gaelic football is a game that’s gone down the drain,between calling for a ‘mark’,handpassing,scoring by hand it’s just terrible to watch.not to take anything away from Dublin winning today,best of luck to them. I seen a few minutes of the game today and switched it off,I haven’t watched a game of Gaelic in years and won’t be watching anytime soon either.as a youngster watching on in the 80’s and 90’s it was a completely different game.can anything be done to save the game ?
@Jb Walshe: Yawn. Already been some brilliant games this year. That game was very 80s/90s esque as well. Stick to the hurling good man
@Jb Walshe: As you don’t watch gaelic football you probably didn’t watch the Ulster final today
Could have put those games on gaa go. See if anyone would watch them outside the 6 counties that played in those finals
What a competition
Utterly pointless game
Bit of silverware is a bit of silverware love to see it
Do people actually watch this?
@Donie Nagle: yes, probably a dub thing
@Donie Nagle: Yes
Them bloody Dubs are at it again…
Sam is homesick
Split Dublin in two
@KY22: and have an all Dublin Leinster final??
Louth goalkeeper was quoted by RTE commentator that he sees himself as outfield player first and a goalkeeper second well by golly that showed today. If your tge actual goalkeeper and perform like that you deserve everything you get. Maybe stick to been a keeper and you might actually be able to save something.
Levels.
Dublin will most likely reach an All Ireland quarter final and only have played one ( Roscommon) Division One team. I can see Dessie Farrell’s point, especially if Dublin come up against a more hardened team who have played competitive games.
I believe in a few years we will have the Provincial Championships in February before the League starts. They will become what the O’Byrne and McKenna Cups are now.
Also, the lopsided nature of Provincial Championships doesn’t allow the new format for the All Ireland series to be a true reflection of the top sixteen teams in the country.
@Gerry Thompson: no, they are too important to too many counties. Try telling Sligo, Clare, Louth or Armagh that they should be downgraded. Try telling Limerick from last year, tipp from a couple of years ago, Cavan etc. Even Roscommon, Meath, Derry, Monaghan, it’s their All Ireland ATM. It’s worth winning and more important than league or Tailteann Cup. Dublin and Kerry dominating their province is a necessary evil unfortunately but when someone does beat them in the Leinster final it will be huge for that county.
Time to put the Leinster and Munster football championships out to pasture. There hasn’t been a Connacht Hurling Championship since the mid 90s for the same reason. Dublin & Kerry pummelling all round them is a futile exercise.
@Colm: Tipp won Munster in 2020…..