Photo: Stephen McCarthy/SportsfileO’Connor reflects on Prague goal as Ireland play-off loomsMemories of a November night in Prague came flooding back to former Athlone Town player and manager Turlough O’Connor when the World Cup qualifier draw was made in December. Without that goal happening, I might not have had such a rewarding career, said Turlough, adding that it was a memorable moment "to score a winning goal in those circumstances”. We had little expectancy of winning the game, as the Czechs had three or four star quality players in their team,” O’Connor added. However, he is wary of the game’s outcome with many of the view that “we are already at the World Cup”. Hopefully, he can do so again on Thursday night,” O’Connor said.

Source: Irish Independent March 25, 2026 15:30 UTC