Darach O'Connor

Darach 'Jigger' O'Connor (born 15 November 1995)[2] is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Buncrana and the Donegal county team. He has also played association football for teams such as Buncrana Hearts and the Republic of Ireland national schoolboy football team.[2] His father is former Roscommon star John 'Jigger' O'Connor, famed for scoring a goal past Kerry's Charlie Nelligan 35 seconds into the 1980 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[2]

Darach O'Connor
Personal information
Irish name Darach Ó Conchúir[1]
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right Corner Forward
Born (1995-11-15) 15 November 1995
San Francisco, United States
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Nickname Jigger
Occupation Student
Club(s)
Years Club
2013–
 Buncrana
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2014–201?
 Donegal
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 1

O'Connor didn't play inter-county at Under-16 or Under-17 level, but Stephen Friel called him up for the minors in 2013.[2] After leading Buncrana to glory in the 2013 Donegal Minor Championship, Jim McGuinness called him up to the senior inter-county squad for winter training in September 2013.[3] He scored a point on his senior championship debut as a late replacement against Derry in the 2014 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final on 25 May 2014, ahead of his Leaving Certificate.[4] Then, again as a late replacement, he scored a wonder goal for Donegal in the semi-final against Antrim. McGuinness said afterwards: “I was hoping for a point and then he turns back onto his right foot and hit a goal. It was a bit of class and he does have that wee trick up his sleeve which is nice in a forward. And I think he was well goosed by the time we took him off. Because he ran himself into the ground.”[5] O'Connor started the Ulster Final against Monaghan, which Donegal won.[6] He made substitute appearances against Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final and in the shock victory over Dublin in the semi-final.[7][8] He then started the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Kerry.[9]

Following his surprise start in the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, O'Connor (still eligible for the competition) played in the 2015 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship final loss to Tyrone, scoring two points.[10]

Honours

References
  1. "Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final". Donegal Daily. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  2. McNulty, Chris (29 June 2014). "Darach O'Connor leads Donegal's new generation – on and off the field". Donegal News. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. McNulty, Chris (29 September 2013). "Ciaran Bonner, Leon Thompson and Christy Toye among 'new' faces for Donegal". Donegal News. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  4. "Ulster SFC: McLoone goal downs Derry". Hogan Stand. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014. As is now customary, both managers made late changes to their starting XVs, with Paddy McGrath and teenage Leaving Cert student Darach O'Connor replacing midfielders Neil Gallagher and Martin McElhinney in the Donegal XV while Emmet Bradley came in for Benny Heron in the Oak Leaf attack. [...] Debutant O'Connor showed his pace as he skinned the Derry defence to smack over an opening point for the Tir Chonail men after eight minutes.
  5. Duggan, Keith (22 June 2014). "Darach O'Connor scores wonder goal as Donegal see off Antrim: Low-key afternoon in Clones is lit up by 18-year-old forward". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  6. "Monaghan 1-09 Donegal 0-15". RTÉ Sport. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  7. "Donegal edge Armagh in tense battle". RTÉ Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  8. "Masterful Donegal claim place in final". RTÉ Sport. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  9. "Surprise, surprise as Donegal make late changes". Hogan Stand. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  10. Bannon, Orla (8 April 2015). "Tyrone footballers crowned Ulster Under-21 champions". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018.
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