Talented O’Connor makes player of the year shortlist

FORMER Arklow Town and WDSL Kennedy Cup player Dáire O’Connor was one of three nominees for the prestigious Three FAI Universities International Player of the Year for 2017, an awards ceremony which was hosted by RTE on Sunday, March 18.

The other two nominees were Sean Mcgloughlin (UCC and Cork City FC, SSE Airtricity Premier League) and Ross Taheny (DCU and Ballinamallard United, IFA Danske Banke Premiership).

Dáire was nominated following his performances for the international team in the eight matches played in the 2017 season, six matches at the World University games which were held in Taiwan in August and two matches played prior to the Taiwan tournament where the team travelled away to play France and Scotland.

Dáire scored his first goal for Ireland in the 6-1 victory over Scotland at the Oriam stadium in Edinburgh).

Sean McGloughlin was the worthy winner of this FAI award, and Sean, coincidentally, is now forming the centre-back partnership at Cork City FC with another former Arklow Town player Aaron Barry, who transferred to the Leeside club this season following a number of seasons with Derry City FC.

The next World University Games are being hosted by Italy in 2019, and the preparations for that tournament begin in Oriel Park, Dundalk on Monday, April 9, when Ireland again face the Scottish Universities team in a 4 p.m. kick-off, with Dáire again being selected for the squad for this match.