Saint O’Connor out to right cup wrongs

The neutrals might be happy if Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final provides as much excitement as the last time St Pat’s and Derry City met in the decider — the final of 2006 when, after extra time, Derry won a pulsating game 4-3.

But Sean O’Connor, now back with the Inchicore side after a title-winning stint at Shamrock Rovers and a brief stop-off at Limerick, would happily settle for something altogether more dour, once Pat’s come out on top.

“A bittersweet day,” is how he sums up his involvement at Lansdowne Road six years ago. “Not starting was disappointing but coming on and scoring was great [to put Saints 3-2 up in extra time]. I was buzzing but it wasn’t to be as Derry came back and scored two late goals. So there’s a little bit of added spice that we’re against Derry again.”