Daire O'Connor: 'It was important to get back playing after the last couple of months at Cork'

23-year-old attacking midfielder Daire O’Connor had a challenging 2020 after a breakthrough 2019 season with Cork City. The Co. Wicklow native left City after a turbulent year at the Cross in October, who were managed by Neale Fenn at the time.

Fenn would, however, leave the club just two weeks after dismissing O’Connor, as City fell further into the relegation mire – without a win in six games. They were eventually relegated on October 24^th.

Three days before the Leesiders were relegated, O’Connor signed a contract with Northern Irish side Cliftonville – putting an end to speculation on where he would end up following his time at Turners Cross – with clubs in the UK vying for his signature.

Currently, O’Connor is locked in a European qualification hunt with his new club, while his former side are preparing for life in the First Division on March 26th – a far cry from their league and cup winning exploits of 2017. 

“My time at Cliftonville has been good so far,” O’Connor tells extratime.com over a Zoom call.

“I’m happy to be playing every week, considering what is going on. When I came up at the time, it was a thing of trying to fill the gap in terms of playing, but I have loved it since joining.

While he had strong links to his former employer Cork City through his mother and father being from Cork – he is also a Glasgow Celtic supporter since a young age – a club that his current side have strong ties with. 

“I would have been aware of Cliftonville before signing. I think everyone growing up in Ireland would hear of them at times,” he adds.

“Would I have followed them religiously? No, not at all. I loved the idea of playing with the club with the Shamrock on the crest and everything.” 

His time at Cork City was by no means a disaster. During his early days at Turners Cross in 2019, the UCD graduate earned notable praise from the then Republic of Ireland boss, Mick McCarthy. 

He was also dubbed ‘the Irish Messi’ by Pat Dolan during a manic two-week period for the youngster who had only finished his undergraduate degree in Belfield a few months previous: “It was a two-week period of madness,” he recalls.

“I had an OK pre-season with Cork; I was not stand out. I got my chance leading up to the Presidents Cup game against Dundalk, and I played well and kept my place for the following week. Mick McCarthy (was then) speaking about me, saying that he would keep an eye on me.

“The following week, I met him at the FAI awards outside a toilet cubicle in Donnybrook, and he wished me well.

“That month period was a world away from what I was used to at UCD, but football can change very quickly, and things took a turn for the worst. You can’t dwell on things too much, but it’s nice to look back on.

Despite the early promise at Turners Cross, the manager who recruited O’Connor – John Caulfield – was relieved of his duties later that season as City struggled for form in league and European competition.

Under Fenn – who arrived from First Division side Longford to replace Caulfield – the Irish Colleges and Universities international struggled for game-time before departing the club in October 2020, with the club teetering on the brink of relegation. 

“I think if we had a better start during the first couple of months, they (Cork) would not be in the position they are in today in the First Division.

“It’s a massive shame, and I don’t think anyone in the country would have had money on that happening when I signed two years ago. 

“But I have no regrets. I loved my time at Cork, particularly my first three or four months there.

“As a club things went south from there both on and off the pitch, and as hard as it was to leave at the time in the circumstances, it wasn't the way I wanted it to end, but it was important to get back playing quickly to erase the last couple of months I had there.

"It has gone a long way to healing 2020.” 

Now in a European qualification battle with his new club, O’Connor finishes: “I have no hesitation in saying that Europe is the aim.

“If we can make Europe and have a good cup run, I think Cliftonville fans would be happy with that.”