Willie O’Connor hopes ‘good season’ can propel UCD to playoff success

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Willie O’Connor believes his UCD side are ready for the playoffs but will not look beyond the challenge of Bray Wanderers.

The Students face Bray in the first leg of their two-legged showdown on Thursday evening at the Carlisle Grounds before the return leg takes place on Monday in Belfield.

And UCD will be expected to advance having come second in the league this term with the Seagulls fifth. The Students are also unbeaten against their N11 rivals this term.

But that counts for nothing according to O’Connor who led his young guns to a fine league campaign after relegation from the Premier Division last year.

“It has been quite a good season,” the former Finn Harps coach said. “We've got a while to go yet but we are happy with such a young squad to finish second.

“That's an achievement on its own.

“But that's done and it’s full focus for the playoffs. In the last six or seven games, we've probably had six or seven players out for each game.”

One of those recent absentees is experienced League of Ireland campaigner Ronan Finn who returned to the club at the start of the season from Shamrock Rovers.

And after serving a three-match ban, the 36-year-old is set to return in for Thursday’s first-leg.   

“Ronan played with the University team on Tuesday last week and he played with the Under-20s a couple of weeks ago at home against Drogheda,” O’Connor revealed. 



“We're building up his minutes as well and hopefully he'll be raring to go now on Thursday, which I've no doubt he will.”

UCD have been virtually assured of a playoff place since the beginning of last month following a strong run of results during the summer.

And while they fell short in their bid to catch runaway First Division champions Cork City, the long build-up to the season finale has given them time to prepare for a sprint finish. 

“I think we knew a good while ago that we were in the playoffs,” O’Connor added.

“We took the decision to manage players and make sure they've all played good minutes and whoever is needed in the playoffs, they're ready to go. 

“Some players had niggles and we might have pushed if we weren’t (safe). But it gave us that bit of comfort to make sure all the boys are fully rested and prepared.”



Though the odds are stacked against whichever First Division side faces Premier Division Drogheda United in the promotion/relegation final next month.

UCD must see off Bray and then the winners of the tie between Athlone Town and Wexford in a one-off clash before they can even think of playing the Boynesiders.

And O’Connor - who would not get drawn into talk of a possible playoff decider - admits the First Division who comes through the series must be ‘perfect’ to go up.

He explained: “We're not thinking too much of who we're going to play.

“It’s Bray first and we have no idea who it is going to be after that. But the level of the Premier Division is extremely high and we saw that last year.

“The Premier Division team will be going in as massive favourites but if the First Division team can be perfect, that'll give them a chance. But they'll have to be perfect.”

UCD will likely be without Sean Brennan for the remainder of the season through injury - though he might return in time if the Students advance to the latter stages.

And having come through recent playoffs against Waterford in 2021 and 2022, O’Connor is hoping that Brennan will return at some stage with Ciaran Behan nearly at full fitness.

“It's full focus on Bray,” O’Connor said. “That's the focus now because that's going to be a really, really tough game. Bray pose a big threat.”

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