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Michael O'Connor (footballer, born 1998)

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Michael O'Connor
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-07-31) 31 July 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Dundalk, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Glenavon
Number 22
Youth career
–2010 Rangers
2010–2013 St Kevin's Boys
2013–2014 Bristol City
2014–2015 Dundalk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Dundalk 3 (1)
2017–2018 Shamrock Rovers 21 (3)
2018 → Finn Harps (loan) 15 (3)
2018–2020 Linfield 29 (9)
2019 → Waterford (loan) 13 (4)
2020 → Waterford (loan) 4 (0)
2020 Waterford 7 (3)
2020 Ross County 0 (0)
2021 Shelbourne 25 (7)
2021–2022 Glentoran 15 (2)
2022–2023 Dungannon Swifts 32 (3)
2023 Ytterhogdals IK
2024 Gottne IF
2024– Glenavon 10 (1)
International career‡
Republic of Ireland U19 6 (1)
2019 Republic of Ireland U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:11, 9 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:29, 9 December 2020 (UTC)

Michael O'Connor (born 31 July 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Glenavon. He previously played for Scottish Premiership club Ross County, League of Ireland clubs Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Finn Harps, Waterford and Shelbourne, NIFL Premiership sides Linfield, Glentoran and Dungannon Swifts, and in Sweden for Ytterhogdals IK and Gottne IF.

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

O'Connor started his career with his local club Rangers in Dundalk.[2] He moved to famous youth club St Kevin's Boys in Dublin in 2010.[3] He finished top goalscorer in his first two seasons which in 2012 saw him chosen for the league representative side of the Dublin & District Schoolboys League for their Kennedy Cup campaign where they became All-Ireland champions.[2] His performances at the Kennedy Cup earned him a move to Bristol City.[4] He returned to his hometown club Dundalk in September 2014, initially playing with their under 19 side in the League of Ireland U19 Division before gradually breaking into the first team squad.[5]

Dundalk

[edit]

2015 season

[edit]

Dundalk first team manager Stephen Kenny offered O'Connor his first professional contract which he signed on 22 February 2015, aged just 16 years old.[6] O'Connor made his competitive debut in senior football on 7 April 2015, starting alongside his brother Ciarán O'Connor in a 1–0 win over Shelbourne in the League Cup.[7] He went on to make two more first team appearances in the 2015 season, both in the Leinster Senior Cup, including starting the final which was a 3–1 over Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park.[8] As well as the Leinster Senior Cup, his first season in senior football saw the club win the President's Cup and a League of Ireland Premier Division and FAI Cup double.[9]

2016 season

[edit]

The first goals of O'Connor's senior career came on 4 April 2016 in a 4–3 Leinster Senior Cup loss away to Bohemians, with O'Connor scoring twice.[10] He made his League of Ireland Premier Division debut against the same opposition, replacing David McMillan late on as his side left Dalymount Park victorious this time, winning 2–0.[11] On 26 August 2016 he made his European debut, coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw with Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.[12] O'Connor scored his career first league goal in a 5–2 loss to St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park on 25 October 2016.[13] The season turned out to be a historic one for the club as they reached the UEFA Europa League Group Stage for the first time.[14] This run as well as good runs in the other cups resulted in Dundalk playing 55 games over the course of the season but O'Connor only managed to appear in 10 of those games (scoring 4 goals) and began to look elsewhere for playing time with his contract up at the end of the season.[1]

Shamrock Rovers

[edit]

He signed for Dublin side Shamrock Rovers on 7 January 2017.[15][16] O'Connor started off life at Rovers in the best possible way, scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 win over Bohemians in the Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium on 3 March 2017.[17] He made 2 appearances during Rovers UEFA Europa League Qualifying campaign against Stjarnan of Iceland but found most of his appearances coming from the bench as he made 21 league appearances over the season with just 3 starts,[1] he had to drop down to the club's under 19 side for game time on occasion throughout the season.[4] During the season O'Connor faced Burnley in a friendly and impressed manager Sean Dyche enough to be on the verge of signing him for the Premier League side.[18][19][20] Despite O'Connor training with Burnley's first team and doing well, the move broke down, with O'Connor later claiming this was as a result of Dyche being unimpressed with his off-field behaviour after doing background checks on him.[21]

Finn Harps

[edit]

A move to Rotherham United was on the cards for O'Connor and he trained with the EFL League One side and was expected to move to the club before the deal fell through on transfer deadline day, with Rotherham manager Paul Warne stating that he would be open to signing him in the future.[22] With O'Connor still in contract until the end of the season with Shamrock Rovers, they opted to send him on a 6 month loan to Finn Harps who were chasing promotion from the League of Ireland First Division, in order to find more playing time.[23] His debut came in the opening game of the season at home to Shelbourne, starting up front alongside his brother Ciáran O'Connor and scored his sides only goal in a 1–1 draw.[24] [25] By the end of his loan spell, he had played 15 league games (14 starts) and scored 3 goals.[1]

Linfield

[edit]

On 19 July 2018, it was announced that O'Connor had signed a one-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Linfield after scoring twice as a trialist for the club in a 2–1 win over Waterford in a friendly.[26] As he had done with Shamrock Rovers, O'Connor endeared himself to the fans early, by scoring a crucial goal in the derby when he equalised in the 86th minute away to Cliftonville to salvage a point for his 10 man Linfield side.[27] In October 2018 he was given a one-year contract extension by manager David Healy.[28] O'Connor came off the bench as his side won the 2018–19 Northern Ireland Football League Cup by beating Ballymena United on 16 February 2019.[29] O'Connor finished the season with 9 league goals in 29 league appearances despite just 12 of those being starts,[1] as his side became NIFL Premiership champions.[30] In July 2019 he was linked with a transfer away from Linfield, with Dundee among the clubs reportedly interested in his signature.[31] In 2021, it emerged via Glentoran manager Mick McDermott that his club had bid £10,000 for O'Connor but were rejected by their Belfast rivals just months before he eventually left the club for free.[32]

Waterford

[edit]

2019 season

[edit]

O'Connor signed a loan deal with League of Ireland Premier Division side Waterford on 13 July 2019 until the end of the 2019 season.[33][4][34] His first goal for the club came in a 1–1 draw with Derry City on 30 August 2019.[35] He finished the season with 6 goals in 18 games as his side finished in 6th place.[1] In October 2019 he underwent a trial with Scottish club Hibernian,[36] and in January 2020 he was linked with a transfer to Glentoran.[37]

2020 season

[edit]

Despite the interest from abroad, he returned to the club on another loan deal ahead of the 2020 season, signing a 6 month loan deal.[38] He was named as club captain before the first game of the season against St Patrick's Athletic by manager Alan Reynolds.[21] O'Connor and his side were just 4 games into the season when it was halted in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[39] This saw his loan spell at the club end and he returned to parent club Linfield during the lockdown.[40] On 29 July 2020, it was announced that O'Connor had signed a permanent contract to stay at Waterford until the end of the 2020 season, which was shortened from 36 games to just 18.[41][42] His first goal of the season came on 18 August 2020, as he opened the scoring away to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.[43] On 21 September 2020 he scored a consolation goal in a 6–1 loss away to his old club Shamrock Rovers in what turned out to be his last appearance for Waterford.[44]

Ross County

[edit]

O'Connor signed for Scottish Premiership side Ross County on a two-year deal on 26 September 2020.[45][46][47][48][49] O'Connor made his Ross County debut on 10 November 2020, coming off the bench for Harry Paton in a 4–1 away win against Elgin City in the Scottish League Cup.[50][51] He left Ross County having "resigned from his position to return to Ireland" in December 2020,[52] having made just one appearance for the club.[53]

Shelbourne

[edit]

On 4 December 2020, he signed for recently relegated club Shelbourne ahead of their 2021 campaign.[54] O'Connor scored 7 goals in 25 league games for the club as they won the 2021 League of Ireland First Division title to earn promotion.[55] He departed the club at the end of the season with Glentoran manager Mick McDermott publicly stating that he was interested in signing him having previously tried to do so while he was a Linfield player before their transfer bid was declined.[32]

Glentoran

[edit]

On 24 November 2021 O'Connor returned to the NIFL Premiership, signing for Glentoran, for whom his brother Ciaran O'Connor also plays.[56][57]

Dungannon Swifts

[edit]

He signed for Dungannon Swifts in August 2022.[58] In what proved to be O'Connor's final game for the club, he scored the goal that preserved Dungannon's status as a top flight club, scoring the second goal in the second leg of the relegation/promotion play-off against Annagh United to record a 2–0 victory and therefore 3–2 aggregate win.[59]

Sweden

[edit]

It was announced on 14 July 2023 that O'Connor had joined Swedish fourth division side Ytterhogdals IK.[60]

He signed for Gottne IF for the 2024 season.[61]

Glenavon

[edit]

O'Connor returned to the NIFL Premiership with Glenavon, signing a one-year deal on 13 June 2024.[62]

International career

[edit]

O'Connor has played up to Republic of Ireland up to Under 21 level.[63] He is also eligible to play for Northern Ireland through his Belfast born grandmother and in December 2018 stated that he would be switching allegiance to hopefully play for them.[64][5][65] In April 2019 however, after being involved with the Republic of Ireland U21 team he stated that ″I was never going to change, I played underage all the way up and I was never going to change my mind, I'm from the Republic and that's who I want to represent.″[66]

He made his Republic of Ireland U19 debut on 15 November 2015 in a 3–0 win over Latvia U19 at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway.[67] He scored the winner in a friendly against Austria U19 on 4 September 2016 in a 1–0 win at Tallaght Stadium.[68][69]

On 24 January 2019, O'Connor received his first Republic of Ireland U21 callup in what was his former Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny's first squad as manager of the under 21 side.[70] He made his debut coming off the bench for Aaron Drinan in the 52nd minute of a 1–0 win over the Republic of Ireland Ametuer squad at Whitehall Stadium.[71] He made his first competitive appearance at under 21 level on 24 March 2019 at Tallaght Stadium, replacing Zack Elbouzedi from the bench in a 3–0 win over Luxembourg U21.[72]

Personal life

[edit]

In February 2020 O'Connor opened up about a gambling addiction he has suffered from.[21]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 2 October 2024[1]
Club Season League National cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundalk 2015 LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 0[c] 0 2[d] 0 3 0
2016 3 1 3 1 1 0 1[c] 0 2[d] 2 10 4
Total 3 1 3 1 2 0 1 0 4 2 13 4
Shamrock Rovers 2017 LOI Premier Division 21 3 4 1 3 0 2[e] 0 0[d] 0 30 4
Finn Harps (loan) 2018 LOI First Division 15 3 — 2 1 — — 17 4
Linfield 2018–19 NIFL Premiership 29 9 2 0 6 2 — 1[f] 0 38 11
Waterford (loan) 2019 LOI Premier Division 13 4 3 1 1 0 — 1[g] 1 18 6
Waterford (loan) 2020 4 0 — — — — 4 0
Waterford 7 3 1 0 — — — 8 3
Ross County 2020–21[53] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
Shelbourne 2021 LOI First Division 25 7 1 0 — — — 26 7
Glentoran 2021–22 NIFL Premiership 15 2 3 1 0 0 — 0 0 18 3
Dungannon Swifts 2022–23 NIFL Premiership 32 3 1 0 2 0 — 2[h] 1 37 4
Glenavon 2024–25 NIFL Premiership 10 1 0 0 1 1 — 1[i] 1 12 3
Career total 174 36 18 4 18 4 3 0 9 5 222 49
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup, Irish Cup & Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup, Northern Ireland Football League Cup & Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in County Antrim Shield
  7. ^ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  8. ^ Appearances in NIFL Premiership play-off
  9. ^ Appearances in Mid-Ulster Cup

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Michael O'Connor at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Hotshot O'connor helps DDSL regain Kennedy Cup". independent.
  3. ^ "ST KEVINS BOYS CLUB YOUR CLUB -". www.skbfc.yourclub.ie.
  4. ^ a b c "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Michael O'Connor". www.extratime.com.
  5. ^ a b Gallagher, Aaron. "'It is the right decision for me': Dundalk-born striker O'Connor declares for Northern Ireland". The42.
  6. ^ "O'Connor pleased to sign – Dundalk Football Club". www.dundalkfc.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2015 League Cup Second Round – Dundalk -v- Shelbourne". www.extratime.com.
  8. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2015 Leinster Senior Cup Final – Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers". www.extratime.com.
  9. ^ Leahy, Ed (8 November 2015). "Dundalk do the double with extra-time FAI Cup win" – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2016 Leinster Senior Cup Quarter Finals – Bohemians -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.com.
  11. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division – Bohemians -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.com.
  12. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2016/17 Champions League Playoff – Legia Warsaw -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.com.
  13. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division – St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Dundalk". www.extratime.com.
  14. ^ "Dundalk's part-timers ready to make Champions League history | Alan Smith". The Guardian. 13 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Shamrock Rovers sign Michael O'Connor from Dundalk". 7 January 2017 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ "Michael O'Connor signs deal with Shamrock Rovers". 7 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division – Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians". www.extratime.com.
  18. ^ Browne, P. J. "Young Shamrock Rovers Striker Linked With Premier League Move". Balls.ie.
  19. ^ McCadden, Mark. "Burnley target Shamrock Rovers striker". Buzz.ie.
  20. ^ O'Hehir, Paul (4 August 2017). "Another Shamrock Rovers youngster linked with Premier League move". DublinLive.
  21. ^ a b c O'Hehir, Paul (21 February 2020). "Michael O'Connor opens up on gambling addiction & why it's now 'time to man up'". Irish Mirror.
  22. ^ O'Hehir, Paul (3 February 2018). "Promising Shamrock Rovers youngster set for loan switch". DublinLive.
  23. ^ "Michael O'Connor signs for Finn Harps on loan". 6 February 2018.
  24. ^ McNulty, Chris. "Michael O'Connor aims to build on debut goal to aid Finn Harps promotion hopes – Donegal Daily".
  25. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2018 League of Ireland First Division – Finn Harps -v- Shelbourne". www.extratime.com.
  26. ^ "Linfield sign teenage striker O'Connor". BBC Sport.
  27. ^ "Ten-man Linfield draw at Cliftonville". BBC Sport.
  28. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (10 October 2018). "Linfield boss David Healy rewards player with new contract". BelfastLive.
  29. ^ FC, Linfield. "Match Report: LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2018/19". The Official Website of Linfield FC.
  30. ^ "Linfield clinch Irish Premiership title". BBC Sport.
  31. ^ "Michael O'Connor set to seal Linfield exit amid Scotland links". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  32. ^ a b "Glentoran would be keen on signing former Linfield ace Michael O'Connor, admits Mick McDermott". Belfasttelegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  33. ^ "Former Shamrock Rovers striker Michael O'Connor joins Waterford on loan from Linfield". ExtraTime.ie.
  34. ^ O'Callaghan, Will. ""My time at the club has come to an end" – O'Connor returns to Linfield". Newstalk.
  35. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division – Waterford -v- Derry City". www.extratime.com.
  36. ^ "Michael O'Connor handed Hibs trial as Linfield striker aims to win Easter Road deal". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 28 October 2019.
  37. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (3 January 2020). "Mick McDermott provides update on Michael O'Connor speculation". BelfastLive.
  38. ^ "Waterford FC". Waterford FC. 10 January 2020.
  39. ^ "FAI postpones all football activity with immediate effect | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  40. ^ "Waterford FC". Waterford FC. 10 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Michael O'Connor returns for the Blues". 29 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Michael O'Connor signs for Waterford". ExtraTime.ie.
  43. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division – Sligo Rovers -v- Waterford". www.extratime.com.
  44. ^ "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – Live Updates – 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division – Shamrock Rovers -v- Waterford". www.extratime.com.
  45. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  46. ^ "Ross County sign Irish striker O'Connor". BBC Sport.
  47. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (23 September 2020). "Former Linfield striker Michael O'Connor joins Ross County". BelfastLive.
  48. ^ Duffy, Emma. "Former Ireland underage striker swaps Waterford for Scottish Premiership". The42.
  49. ^ "Waterford striker O'Connor transfers to Ross County". 23 September 2020 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  50. ^ "Elgin City v Ross County". BBC Sport.
  51. ^ "Elgin City vs. Ross County – 10 November 2020 – Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  52. ^ "Michael O'Connor departs". Ross County FC. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Michael O'Connor in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  54. ^ "Shiels sign striker Michael O'Connor". Shelbourne FC. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  55. ^ "Republic of Ireland – M. O'Connor – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  56. ^ "Welcome Michael O'Connor | Glentoran FC". www.glentoran.com.
  57. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (24 November 2021). "O'Connor says 'January can't come quick enough' after Glens move". BelfastLive.
  58. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (11 August 2022). "Dungannon Swifts receive triple boost ahead of season opener". BelfastLive.
  59. ^ "Michael O'Connor secures Dungannon Swifts' Premiership status with winner against Annagh United". Belfast Telegraph. 1 June 2023.
  60. ^ "Dungannon Swifts forward joins Swedish side coached by former Irish League striker". Newsletter. 14 July 2023.
  61. ^ "Ny forward till Gottne". Allehanda.se. 6 December 2023.
  62. ^ "Michael O'Connor signs". glenavonfc.com. 13 June 2024.
  63. ^ "Michael O'Connor | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  64. ^ "I'm switching from Republic to Northern Ireland, reveals Linfield striker Michael O'Connor" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  65. ^ "Michael O'Connor Confirms He Will Switch Allegiance To Northern Ireland". 9 December 2018.
  66. ^ Reilly, Caoimhin. "'It was just blown up to say that I wanted to declare for Northern Ireland'". The42.
  67. ^ "Republic of Ireland U19 vs. Latvia U19 – 15 November 2015 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  68. ^ [2][dead link‍]
  69. ^ "U19 International Report: Republic of Ireland U19 1 – 0 Austria U19". ExtraTime.ie.
  70. ^ "Ireland U21: Kenny announces squad and coaching staff | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  71. ^ "Ireland U21: Kavanagh strike seals Amateur win | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  72. ^ "Republic of Ireland 3 – 0 Luxembourg | 2021 – U21 Mens Friendlies | 2026497 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
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