William O’Connor targets play-off marks with UCD

William O’Connor says the unique challenges of being UCD manager is the perfect stage for him.

The Buncrana man is now in his second season at the helm of the First Division play-off hopefuls.

UCD’s scholarship system, which came into being in the late 1970s when the club was taken into the League of Ireland, was based on the United Stages model.

While other clubs are eyeing up the summer transfer window, UCD’s dealings are rather different.

“The only players we might take in during the summer are those who will start in the university,” O’Connor says. 

“Their mocks (results) would need to have a high level of points so we can be fairly sure that they are coming into the college. It’s university-based and it’s a unique job. 

“We have a list of those who will have applied for scholarships so we have a block of players that will be offered scholarships. It’s an incredible place for any young player. 

“They live on campus and train six days a week; it’s really like full-time football, although they are at college they do two gym sessions and four pitch sessions.”

UCD lost to Bray Wanderers over two legs in last season’s First Division play-off.

At the moment, the Students are sixth in the standings and firmly in the play-off mix, but the top three teams - Dundalk, Cobh Ramblers and Bray - have opened a bit of a gap at the top.

O’Connor said: “It’s nearly three thirds at the minute, the table. We’re in the middle third at the moment and the target is to catch those teams above us. We are fairly confident, if we play how we are capable of, that we can make those play-offs. It’s down to us and how we perform. 

“Our target is to get into the play-offs.”

O’Connor was a coach under Ollie Horgan at Finn Harps before a spell as U19 manager at Shelbourne. 

Just before relegation was confirmed in 2023, O’Connor was confirmed as the successor to Andy Myler as UCD manager.

A UEFA ProLicence holder, the former Cockhill Celtic defender has also had top experience with the Republic of Ireland Schools squad; a role that has proved a major help in his role as UCD boss.

He said: “A key part of any player’s development is playing games and that’s the difference here. You get a chance to develop and improve the mistakes. The whole package makes it a really good place for any young player.

“I love it. Jesus, there’s times when results go against you and you take it bad, but I really enjoy it. The boys are brilliant here and they’re enthusiastic and willing to improve. It’s a really good place to work. From my point of view in my first job managing, I couldn’t be at a better club.”

Last weekend, O’Connor was back in the Finn Park dugout, as UCD overcame Harps 2-1, thanks to a controversial penalty by Michael Raggett in injury time after Adam McDaid’s late equaliser cancelled out Ciaran Behan’s free-kick.

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O’Connor, whose side face struggling Athlone on Friday at Belfield, said: “It was a great way to win it. The character of the lads turned around and got that last-minute winner. 

“We had good possession and good control of the game without really having the killer instinct or end product. We needed to be braver to get in behind them, but I think we deserved the lead at half-time.

“We were really disappointed with the equaliser, but at least we bounced back in a quick turnaround to get the winner.”