Paudie O'Connor delighted to be part of Limerick's newfound confidence
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Goal hero Paudie O’Connor says Limerick’s newfound confidence is allowing them to “express themselves more as a team”, after they made it three wins on the bounce by shocking title challengers Cork City in the Munster Derby on Friday night.
The Shannonsiders had gone through the first 21 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games without a victory, a record which left them ten points adrift at the bottom and staring down the barrel of relegation.
But their first win of the season over Sligo Rovers a fortnight ago gave them hope and they go into Monday’s visit of Longford Town to the Markets Field (kick-off 7.45pm) looking for a fourth straight success.
Centre-half O’Connor, 18, only received his Leaving Certificate results on Wednesday, and having accumulated the required points for his desired course in UL, it was the end of a perfect week as he netted his first senior goal at Turner’s Cross.
“It has been good, three victories on the bounce. You probably wouldn’t have expected it. Everyone is lifted, everyone is positive and the boys are starting to express themselves more as a team now,” Paudie told LimerickFC.ie, speaking about the mood in the camp.
“It’s a very good result; to come down to Cork and get the three points is always no mean feat. We were up against it for the 90 minutes so to pull through in the end with the three points is a good feeling.”
Asked what the message in the dressing-room was before the game, as they prepared to tackle the second-placed Leesiders, O’Connor revealed: “The Gaffer was saying to have no nerves and the older lads were saying there is no pressure on us, Cork are expected to win at home.
“They’re challenging for the title and we’re coming down here bottom of the league, so just go out and play your own game with no nerves and just be confident.
“Freddy (Hall) looked like he was fouled (for Cork’s second equaliser) but we took the blow and showed good character to come back up the field, get the free-kick and get the winner.”
Recalling his goal, the former Kilcornan youngster said: “Seány (Russell) just swung in a ball and I said I’d peel away to the back stick. There was no-one back there; the ball came in and I got a glance on it – it was a bit of a blur after that.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s a good team effort; I can’t put it on me. It was a good all-round team effort. It’s a great victory down here.
“We saw the Sligo result so we know we still have to keep the foot on the gas and not rest on our laurels.”
O’Connor returned to the starting lineup in Cork after sitting out the previous two games, and with Patrick Kanyuka back in contention for Monday following suspension, the youngster knows that manager Martin Russell has a difficult decision to make.
“I felt good; I was confident,” Paudie said. “I was doing alright in training and had a good few friendly games in training in the last few days, so I felt confident coming into the game.
“Whatever the Gaffer goes with I’ll support his decision. Patrick is a good defender as well. If I’m given the chance to play, I’ll try to do my best.”
