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Ireland

Ireland Under-21 star on the lucky break that has earned him an FA Cup shot against Liverpool

Accrington Stanley defender Connor O’Brien is one of the newest recruits to Jim Crawford’s Ireland Under-21 side


  • Jan 10 2025
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Ireland Under-21 star on the lucky break that has earned him an FA Cup shot against Liverpool
Ireland Under-21 star on the l

A couple of injuries and suddenly Connor O’Brien was back at Accrington Stanley, recalled from a loan spell at National League North side Farsley Celtic.

He took that opportunity with both hands and now, just over 12 months later, the Ireland Under-21 defender is preparing to face whichever superstar attackers Liverpool boss Arne Slot opts to select on Saturday in the FA Cup.

O’Brien (20) grew up in Accrington supporting the Reds, as well as League of Ireland side Drogheda United.

READ MORE: Arne Slot’s Caoimhin Kelleher explanation casts doubts over Ireland goalkeeper’s FA Cup prospects

READ MORE: Sport on TV: Where to watch Aston Villa v West Ham in the FA Cup and the rest of Friday’s live sport

His Drogheda-born dad often took him to see the Boynesiders in action whenever they holidayed on this side of the Irish Sea.

The Drogs upset the odds last season to win the FAI Cup, and while few would back Accrington Stanley to make it to Wembley this May, facing Liverpool is as big as it gets for O’Brien and his teammates at the League Two outfit.

“When the draw was made we were all cheering, my phone and the group chats were popping off,” he told fai.ie.

“It’s Liverpool, it’s a team I’ve followed since I was a boy so to have an opportunity to come up against some of the best players in the world in your position, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, it would be incredible.

“Hopefully I can get in the team. I’m only back from suspension but if I am selected to play it’s another opportunity to show what we can do as a team and what I can do as a player.

“They’re an amazing team [Liverpool] there’s quality all over the pitch. It’s been a year where so much has happened so to play at Anfield would just add to the dream.”

O’Brien rose through the ranks at his hometown club and made his first-team debut in February 2023, before going on loan first to Radcliffe and then to Farsley Celtic.

“I went out on loan to Farsley Celtic and played a few times but I was recalled by Accrington Stanley in December (2023) because there were a few injuries,” he said.

“It was a bit of luck but I’d been waiting for my chance to play first team football so when it came about I knew I had to take my chance.

“Once I came into the team I played every minute for the rest of the season and then I ended up signing a new contract with the club, it happened very quickly.”

As for his Irish heritage, he told the FAI: “I wanted to make it clear that I wanted to play for Ireland, I’ve always had a strong connection with Ireland and about two or three years ago we notified the FAI of my eligibility.

“I got into the Accrington first team and was playing every week and one day I was told that someone from the FAI was going to be watching my game.

“It was a case of ‘right, I need to play well today’.”

He won his first Under-21 call last June and made his debut in a 3-2 friendly win away to Croatia. O’Brien started the next game, a 2-2 draw against England, while his competitive debut came away to Italy in October.

He then captained the side against Sweden and said: “It was an incredible feeling, I was buzzing.

“We had a team meeting and Jim told me I’d be captain. I was thinking, ‘Oh my God’.

“I remember thinking how quickly I’d progressed from having a bit part in the last campaign to being captain, it was so good.”

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