City signing coming back to his roots
SIGNING WITH CORK CITY, DAIRE O’CONNOR’S FATHER HAILS FROM BOHERBUE AND HIS MOM IS FROM BALLYVOURNEY
A TALENTED soccer player who is also a gaelgoir is back on Rebel soil and he also boasts strong Boherbue roots.
Soccer star Daire O’Connor is now a new addition to the Cork City FC squad for the 2019 season and he is returning to Rebel soil from Dublin.
Daire’s dad is Pat O’Connor of Maule and young Daire readily admitted that he spent a lot of time when he was younger in Boherbue. Daire’s mom, Eileen Roche, hails from Ballyvourney and is a secondary school teacher. The family live in Arklow.
Pat has two brothers, Diarmuid and Dan, and a sister Ita.
In a recent interview Daire said that once he moves back to Cork from Dublin, he is looking forward to “catching up with everyone” in both Boherbue and Ballyvourney.
“Growing up, I always would have had Cork in my blood. I would have gone to Cork GAA matches and I would have been to Turner’s Cross a few times as well. So, it’s not an unknown place for me, going back to Cork. It is a mini-homecoming, in that sense. I am looking forward to it,” he said.
Daire has spent the last four seasons with UCD – winning the First Division title, with Colie O’Neill’s gifted and talented side last term, in what was a great campaign for the students, who also reached the FAI Cup semi finals.
In an interview in the Evening Echo with reporter, John O’Shea, he said of Colie O’Neill that he owes him a lot. “He picked me up from the U19s and gave me my debut, against Cobh when I was 17 years old. So, he placed faith in me. I am 21 now, so he has been my main manager for four years. “he said.
“This season, he really gave me the jersey and said, ‘ listen, it is yours to lose,’ and I played my part in every single game in the league. So, I owe him a lot for that. The style of football he plays is all along the ground, and possession based, which as a number 10, was a dream. There was a lot of ball into my feet, rather than looking up at the sky at the ball. His philosophy worked well for me at UCD. But, believe me, he has the drive to win as well. It is not just possession without a purpose,” said Daire (21).
Players at Cork City are shown around and greeted by manager, John Caulfield and are instantly gripped by his infectious love of football and his sheer desire to do everything to ensure the best for Cork City FC.
Daire said in the interview that he is really looking forward to working with John Caulfield.
He said: “Instantly, the main vibe I got off him was that he does everything he can in his power to win games and if you are not up to his standards, I am sure, he will let you know. So, I am looking forward to the challenge of winning with him and battling for him. Chatting to him for an hour, I can see how players would run through a wall for him,” said Daire.
Daire also said that he knows that he is a young enough player coming into the team.
“But by no means will I want to be sitting on the bench for the whole season. I want to break into that team and contribute with goals and assists and keep my starting place there,” he said.