O’CONNOR IS SET FOR NEW CHALLENGE
MICHAEL O’CONNOR is ready to rip it up at Ross County – after fearing he had blown his big chance with Burnley.
The young Irishman completed his move from Waterford to the Staggies last weekend and is looking to make his debut against Rangers.
O’Connor was set for a move to the Premier League from Shamrock Rovers in 2017 but his gambling addiction derailed his switch to Turf Moor.
The striker then moved to Linfield but had return to Waterford to get the help he needed to address his issues. O’Connor said: “I’ve put that behind me, the past is in the past and this is a new chapter.
“I’ve been doing quite well. It did ruin a move to Burnley but everyone in life makes mistakes. I’m here to do well and put my head down, and that’s what I’m going to do.
“I returned to Waterford after leaving Linfield. In Linfield it was too easy for me to do things and then I asked the manager if I could become captain because then you’ve got responsibilities.
“You can’t be doing stuff off the pitch that’s going to affect the club and affect the team. I did that quite well, and as you can see it has paid off.
“Waterford now are about five games away from Europe, which is massive for the club. I wish I could be a part of it, but there are bigger things for me.
“In the past I’ve never had that luck, because off the field I was all over the place. I put my head down for a couple of months, and it has led me to a great opportunity here.”
County boss Stuart Kettlewell admitted he’d been tracking O’Connor for more than a year but initially didn’t think he was ready to make the move.
O’Connor believes that was probably a fair assessment and said: “I wasn’t ready, I would be lying if I said I was because I wasn’t.
“I rejoined Waterford, became the captain at 21 and put my head down for a couple of months.
“It’s taken me here, so I know what putting my head down does, and I’m going to take this opportunity. I feel ready now. I don’t see it being a problem for me.”