Daire O'Connor

Daire O'Connor is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for NIFL Premiership side Carrick Rangers.

Club career UCD A native of Arklow, County Wicklow, O'Connor began playing football with his local side Arklow Town and Dublin club Home Farm before joining the Under 19 side of UCD in August 2014. He made his first team debut for the club on 7 March 2015, the opening day of the 2015 League of Ireland First Division season, replacing Dylan Watts in the 89th minute of a 3–0 win over Cobh Ramblers at St Colman's Park. In February 2018, he scored a 93rd minute winner in the final of the Collingwood Cup against QUB. He was part of the side that won the 2018 League of Ireland First Division title, which was confirmed with a 1–1 draw against Finn Harps at the UCD Bowl on 14 September 2018. O'Connor was voted by his fellow League of Ireland First Division players into the PFAI First Division Team of the Year for 2018. He made a total of 86 appearances in all competitions during his 4 seasons at the club, scoring 12 goals. March 2019 saw O'Connor named Colleges and Universities Player of the Year at the FAI International Football Awards for his performances for University College Dublin's Collingwood Cup side.

Cork City Deaspite leaving UCD at the end of the season, O'Connor still moved up to the League of Ireland Premier Division signing for Cork City ahead of the 2019 season. He made his Premier Division debut in the opening game of the season away to St Patrick's Athletic as his side lost 1–0 at Richmond Park but he did enough to impress the watching Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy who said 'Daire O'Connor, he was the one player who stood out for me, he played very very well I thought. Whether it was on the right or on the left, he went and played in behind the striker. He was the one that stood out.' On 6 October 2020, it was announced that he had left the club, just 5 games before the end of the season after being told he was surplus to requirements by manager Neale Fenn. In the days the announcement, O'Connor revealed that he was "baffled" at being told he was no longer required at the club following no falling out with his manager, stating "I didn't expect to go in Monday morning to training and not go back again." He scored 5 goals in 47 appearances over his 2 seasons at the club. In March 2021, Cliftonville manager Paddy McLaughlin called O'Connor 'unplayable' and backed him for a big future in the game. He scored 8 goals in 39 games for the club over the season. He made his debut for the club on 2 August 2021 in a 2–0 loss to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. O'Connor scored his first goal for the club on 14 September 2021, opening the scoring in a 3–0 Scottish Challenge Cup win away to Rangers B. He spent 2 seasons at the club, making a total of 59 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

Glentoran On 24 June 2023, O'Connor signed for NIFL Premiership club Glentoran. He made his debut for the club on 13 July 2023, scoring his first career European goal in a 2–2 draw away to Gżira United of Malta in a UEFA Europa Conference League tie. O'Connor scored 13 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions during his season with the club, as they came 5th in the league.

Hamilton Academical On 23 July 2024, O'Connor signed a two-year-contract with Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical. After making just 7 appearances in all competitions, the last of those coming in October 2024, he was sent out on loan in March 2025 in search of regular first team football.

East Kilbride loan On 10 March 2025, O'Connor joined Lowland Football League side East Kilbride on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut the following day in a 2–1 win away to Linlithgow Rose in the Semi Final of the Lowland League Cup. On 30 March 2025, he scored in a 3–1 win over Bo'ness United in the Final of the Lowland League Cup. On 2 April 2025, he was part of the side that won the 2024–25 Lowland Football League after a 2–1 win away to University of Stirling.

Ballymena United On 26 June 2025, O'Connor signed for NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United on a multi-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Carrick Rangers O'Connor signed for NIFL Premiership side Carrick Rangers ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Personal life O'Connor is close friends with fellow professional footballer Liam Scales, with the pair growing up together since the age of 5 and playing together at UCD, with O'Connor also choosing Scales as his best man at his wedding.

Career statistics

Honours Club UCD League of Ireland First Division: 2018

Individual PFAI First Division Team of the Year: 2018 FAI Colleges and Universities Player of the Year: 2018