Waterford snap up Kevin O'Connor on loan from Preston North End

Alan Reynolds’ Waterford have unveiled the loan signing of full-back Kevin O’Connor from Championship side Preston North End.

O’Connor spent last season on loan at Cork City after struggling to make an imprint on the Preston first-team squad.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a spell at Waterford previously, making 43 appearances for the club over a two-year period in 2013 and 2014.   

“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,” O’Connor said.  

“I started out my senior career here when I was 17, so for me, it’s massive to get to  

“It was great to get the call off Rennie (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 any more 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. 

Blues boss Alan Reynolds added; “I’m delighted to have gotten Kev in on loan. He’s a great player and he knows what this club is all about.

“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.”