It was a little over a year ago that Ireland Under-21 international Connor O’Brien was playing out on-loan for English National League North club Farsley Celtic, still with dreams of breaking into the team of his parent club Accrington Stanley.

Fast forward to January 2025 and the 20-year-old right back has signed a contract extension, made his international debut and captained his country only months after trotting out in the sixth tier of England’s football pyramid.

On Saturday, Connor, whose father hails from Drogheda, will experience another ‘pinch me’ moment when he’s expected to be part of the Accrington Stanley squad to come up against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.

But before considering a lifelong dream of stepping out at one of football’s great arenas, Connor reflects on a sliding doors moment back in December 2023 while playing non-league football in West Yorkshire.

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

Connor had harboured dreams of playing for Ireland from a very young age. He’d often make trips across the Irish Sea to visit family, take in a Drogheda United game with his dad or head to horse racing meetings.

He was keen to notify the FAI of his Irish heritage but admits when the time came being scouted for Ireland it took him by surprise, he said: “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’.”

Connor’s performances impressed Ireland Under-21 Head Coach Jim Crawford who gave the defender his first international call-up in June of last year. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Connor. “First thing I did was call-up my parents, my dad didn’t pick up so I called my mum and I asked her to pass my dad the phone, I was on Facetime and I said to him ‘you’re looking at an Ireland international’. I just can’t describe what that moment was like.”

He would make his debut in a 3-2 win over Croatia before making his first start days later in a 2-2 draw against England. Connor’s first competitive game would be in October when he came on as a half-time substitute away to Italy in Trieste. “I was disappointed not to be involved against Norway but I knew I was going to give my all in training to play against Italy. I got the call to come on at half-time and we threw everything at them [Italy]. We were so close, we performed so well and in the end we just missed out on history. But to have the experience of playing for Ireland, in Italy, I can’t tell you what it was like. It was a few days after I realised that I was one of the lucky ones who had the chance to play in another campaign and that I have to use that fuel to drive us forward in the next qualifiers.”

Almost a year to the day he was playing with Farsley Celtic, Connor’s dream year got better when he was handed the captaincy in a friendly against Sweden. “It was an incredible feeling, I was buzzing” explained Connor. “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.”

Now Connor has an opportunity to fulfil another dream. A boyhood Liverpool fan being drawn in the FA Cup against the team he supports. “When the draw the was made we were all cheering, my phone and the group chats were popping off. 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.”

Picture by Gerry Scully