Anthony O’Connor’s Plymouth gamble paying off

When so many young players spend more effort chasing fortunes instead of footballs, it is refreshing to discover that Anthony O’Connor does exactly the opposite.

Armed with a fresh three-year deal at Blackburn Rovers, the Cork native could have slipped into a comfort zone of being a back-up accepting a life of playing the odd game.

For a 22-year-old, that dilemma should never even be considered as their career status is still at the ‘hoping to impress’ stage. But the money afforded to players, especially in England, has altered that mindset.