KEVIN O’CONNOR’S MOVE from Cork City to Preston North End has been confirmed this afternoon by the two clubs.
The left-back will join the English Championship outfit from the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders on 24 July on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
O’Connor will link up with Cork City team-mate Sean Maguire at Deepdale, as well as former City midfielder Alan Browne and ex-Dundalk duo Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle. Greg Cunningham and Eoin Doyle are also part of Preston’s sizeable Irish contingent.
“I’m delighted to sign. It’s a massive opportunity. I’m just looking forward to getting started now and I couldn’t be happier to sign,” the 22-year-old Wexford native told Preston North End’s official website.
“From the first minute the club showed an interest in me they were keen to sign me and they were the ones who pursued it. It’s a great club, a big club and there’s a big fan base here so I’m just excited to get started.
“I know a few of the boys already — obviously with Sean [Maguire] moving over and Alan [Browne], that will help me settle in quicker, but I wasn’t really thinking of that. I was just delighted to be joining, but that is always helpful when you know a couple of the boys.
“I played against a couple of the boys last year in Boyle and Horgan so I’m just looking forward to seeing all the lads now and getting sorted. I can’t wait now. As a kid growing up you would be following it and now to actually get the chance to play in it is just exciting and I can’t wait to get started.”
O’Connor has impressed since leaving Waterford in 2015 to join Cork City. An attacking full-back, the former Irish U21 international also provides a significant threat from free-kicks.
Cork City manager John Caulfield said: “While we never want a player to move on during the season, it shows how far the club has come and it is a fantastic deal for Kevin which puts him at a higher level. It also increases his chances of coming into the reckoning for an international call-up as well.
“Over last two and a half years, our supporters can see how Kevin has developed in the team and how he has progressed. While he has had other opportunities to move previously, he saw the bigger picture and waited for the right move. When and if players move on, we want it to be to a higher level, both financially and football-wise.”
“With Kevin going, it now opens the opportunity for other players in the squad to stake a claim and that is great in a competitive squad like ours.
“Kevin is typical of the kind of player that we love at this club; he is hard-working, dedicated and does everything every day to be the best he can. He has taken the opportunities in front of him to put himself in this position, and that is something we admire as a club. The opportunity is there at this club for all players to get into the first team and be the best they can be.”
Preston, who are currently without a manager following yesterday’s departure of Simon Grayson for Sunderland, have now added four new players since the end of last season in their bid for promotion to the Premier League.
As well as Maguire and O’Connor, goalkeeper Declan Rudd and attacker Josh Harrop have joined the club from Norwich City and Manchester United respectively.
