Matthew Connor
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 April 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kerry | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2013 | Tramore AFC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Waterford United | 23 | (0) |
| 2016 | Wexford Youths | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | Cork City | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Waterford | 64 | (0) |
| 2020 | Galway United | 3 | (0) |
| 2021 | Waterford | 3 | (0) |
| 2022 | Galway United | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Waterford | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Bray Wanderers (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2025 | Athlone Town | 17 | (0) |
| 2025– | Kerry | 23 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2014 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2014 | Republic of Ireland U18 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 August 2026 (UTC) | |||
Matthew Connor (born 8 April 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for League of Ireland First Division club Kerry.
Connor played youth football with Tramore AFC before starting his professional career with Waterford United. He has gone on to play in the League of Ireland for Wexford Youths, Cork City, Galway United, Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town.
Club career
[edit]Waterford United
[edit]On 16 May 2014, Connor made his debut for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford United in a 3–1 win away against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.[1][2]
Connor was Waterford's first-choice keeper in the 2015 season, making 18 appearances in the season when he was only a teenager.[1]
Wexford Youths
[edit]On 11 January 2016, Connor signed for newly promoted League of Ireland Premier Division side Wexford Youths.[3]
Cork City
[edit]On 9 July 2016, Connor joined Cork City midway through the 2016 season. His first game for the club came in a friendly against EFL Championship side Fulham.[4] Connor featured on the bench for Cork in their Europa League qualifiers and in the 2016 FAI Cup final where Cork beat Dundalk 1–0 at the Aviva Stadium.[5][6]
Waterford
[edit]Ahead of the 2017 season, Connor re-joined Waterford.[7] He went on to be the club's number 1 following an injury to Ian McLoughlin.[8] In his first season back with the club, Waterford won the First Division for the first time in 15 years and were back in the Premier Division for the first time in a decade.[9]
Connor re-signed for the 2018 season where Waterford finished 4th but didn't pass UEFA's "three-year rule".[8][10] In the 2019 season, Connor played 34 games in the league keeping 11 clean sheets.[11]
Galway United
[edit]On 6 August 2020, Connor signed for League of Ireland First Division club Galway United as a replacement for the injured Micheál Schlingermann.[12] After less than two moths Connor left the club after Schlingermann had returned from his injury.[13]
Waterford
[edit]On 13 January 2021, Connor returned to Waterford after a year away.[14] In the 2021 season Waterford were relegated after losing to UCD in the play-offs.[15]
Galway United
[edit]On 2 March 2022, Connor signed for Galway United for a second time, reuniting with his former Cork City manager John Caulfield, where he would be the second choice keeper behind Conor Kearns.[16]
Waterford
[edit]On 3 January 2023, Connor joined his hometown club Waterford for the fourth time in his career.[17] In his first season back with the club, Waterford got promoted back to the Premier Division via the play-offs.[18]
Bray Wanderers (loan)
[edit]On 29 July 2023, Connor joined Bray Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the 2023 season.[19]
Return from loan
[edit]On 24 June 2024, Connor started in the Munster Senior Cup final, as Waterford defeated Kerry 2–1 at Turners Cross.[20]
Athlone Town
[edit]On 25 December 2024, Connor signed for League of Ireland First Division club Athlone Town.[21]
Kerry
[edit]On 29 July 2025, Connor signed for fellow First Division club Kerry, playing under his former Cork City teammate Colin Healy.[22] Connor was in goals as Kerry came back 0–3 down to defeat Premier Division side Sligo Rovers 4–3 in the FAI Cup quarter-finals.[23]
International career
[edit]Connor played for the Republic of Ireland at youth international level. On 31 March 2014, Connor started in a U17 Euros qualifier against Georgia.[24]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 15 August 2026[25]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Waterford United | 2014 | LOI First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0[c] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| Total | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Wexford Youths | 2016 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Cork City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[e] | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Waterford | 2017 | LOI First Division | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | LOI Premier Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 40 | 0 | |||
| Total | 64 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74 | 0 | ||
| Galway United | 2020 | LOI First Division | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Waterford | 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Galway United | 2022 | LOI First Division | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Waterford | 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2[c] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Bray Wanderers (loan) | 2023 | LOI First Division | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Athlone Town | 2025 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0[d] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||
| Kerry | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2026 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 145 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 173 | 0 | ||
- ↑ Includes FAI Cup
- ↑ Includes League of Ireland Cup
- 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Munster Senior Cup
- 1 2 Appearance(s) in Leinster Senior Cup
- ↑ Appearances in the Europa League
Honours
[edit]Cork City
Waterford
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Matthew Connor". extratime.com. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Win for Waterford as top of the table Shels can only draw in Airtricity First Division". the42.ie. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Wexford Youths sign Paul Murphy and Matthew Connor". rte.ie. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Matthew Connor signs for Cork City". extratime.com. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bailey strike edges Genk past impressive Cork City". rte.ie. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Cork City 1 - 0 After Extra Time Dundalk". soccerway.com. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Waterford FC sign 8 players ahead of new season". newstalk.com. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Goalkeeper Connor signs for 2018". waterfordfc.ie. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Waterford promoted to the top flight as champions". rte.ie. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ "Waterford lose place in Europa League after being denied licence". irishtimes.com. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "CONNOR STAYS: Matthew Connor Re-Signs for 2019 Season". waterfordfc.ie. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Galway United signs Mathew Connor as new goalkeeper". galwaydaily.com. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ @GalwayUnitedFC (October 19, 2020). "Matthew Connor, Kevin Farragher and Cian Mulryan have left the club" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Matthew Connor signs for 2021". waterfordfc.ie. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Promotion/Relegation Playoff Final Report: Waterford 1 - 2 UCD". extratime.com. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Mathew Connor returns for second stint at Galway United". galwaydaily.com. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Waterford FC Sign Matthew Connor". waterfordfc.ie. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Promotion/Relegation Playoff Report: Waterford 2 - 1 Cork City". extratime.com. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bray Wanderers confirm loan signing of goalkeeper Matthew Connor". extratime.com. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Kerry FC's bid for Munster Senior Cup honours undone by Costello's super strike to hand title to Waterford FC". independent.ie. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Connor and Williams join Athlone Town". extratime.com. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Goalkeeper Matthew Connor signs for Kerry FC". rte.ie. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Kerry FC rally to record remarkable Cup win over Sligo Rovers". rte.ie. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Georgia". uefa.com. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ https://www.soccerway.com/player/connor-matthew/jkhGVLyc/
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Association footballers from County Waterford
- Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
- Waterford F.C. players
- Wexford F.C. players
- Cork City F.C. players
- Galway United F.C. players
- Bray Wanderers F.C. players
- Athlone Town A.F.C. players
- Kerry F.C. (Ireland) players
- League of Ireland players
- People from Tramore
- 21st-century Irish sportsmen