Turlough O'Connor (footballer)

Turlough O'Connor (born 22 July 1946 in Athlone) was an Irish soccer player during the 1960s and 1970s. He is a member of the Bohemians' Hall of Fame.

His two brothers Padraig O'Connor and Michael O'Connor also played for Athlone Town.

Playing career

He has spells as player at Limerick F.C., Bohemians, Fulham, Bohemians again, Dundalk and Athlone Town. He made 191 league appearances (scoring 120 times) and 15 appearances in European competition for Bohs (scoring 1 goal). He was top scorer in the League of Ireland in 1973/74 and 1977/78. O'Connor netted 24 times in 29 league appearances in that latter season [Bohemian FC match programme, Vol. 52, no. 24] . He was Bohemian's top scorer in 7 different seasons, his first being in 1964/65 when he scored 8 goals in just 7 games [Bohemian FC match programme, Vol. 52, no. 19] .

As of the end of the 2007 season, O'Connor is third in the all time League of Ireland goalscoring chart with 178 league goals. [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html] - 120 with Bohemians (club record), 54 with Dundalk, 4 with Athlone. He also netted 15 goals in the FAI Cup (14 with Bohs, 1 with Dundalk) and 2 goals for the Irish full international team.

Managerial career

He was also a very successful manager and has managed Athlone Town, Dundalk and Bohemians. His best period as manager came during in his 5 year tenure at Athlone Town where the League Championship was won twice and the League Cup was won three times, with the Tyler All-Ireland Cup also making it's way to St. Mels Park. O'Connor then took over Dundalk in time for the 1985/86 season. He picked up more silverware during his time at Dundalk winning 2 League Championships, an FAI Cup and 2 League Cups until he left Oriel Park in October 1993. He was not out of football long as he returned to his spiritual home at Dalymount Park on December 14 1993.

Honours as player

*League of Ireland
** Bohemians - 1974/75, 1977/78

*FAI Cup
** Bohemians - 1976

*FAI League Cup
** Bohemians - 1975

Honours as manager

*League of Ireland: 4
** Athlone Town - 1980/81, 1982/83
** Dundalk - 1987/88, 1990/91

*FAI Cup: 1
** Dundalk - 1987/88

*FAI League Cup: 5
** Athlone Town - 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83
** Dundalk - 1986/87, 1989/90

*SWAI Personality of the Year
** Athlone Town - 1980/81

References