Elaine O'Connor is an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 female football midfielder. O'Connor played for Arsenal Ladies

Arsenal L.F.C.

Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...

 and Long Island Lady Riders and represented the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland women's national football team

The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...

 at senior international level.

Club career

O'Connor took up football aged seven and played for five years at Killinarden Community School. She came to prominence at Dublin Women's Senior League (DWSL) club Lourdes Celtic, winning the Dublin Cup at Under–14, 16 and 18 level. Spells at other Dublin clubs Shelbourne and St Catherine's followed for O'Connor.

In 1999 an American soccer coach named JoAnne Wagner spotted O'Connor and signed her to Hofstra University

Hofstra University

Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...

. O'Connor remained for five seasons, redshirt

Redshirt (college sports)

Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...

ing in 2002, and majoring in Physical Education. She also featured in the W-League

W-League

The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....

 for Long Island Lady Riders.

In 2004 O'Connor signed for Arsenal Ladies

Arsenal L.F.C.

Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...

, making her debut in an FA Women's Community Shield

FA Women's Community Shield

The FA Women's Community Shield is the female football equivalent of the FA Community Shield in the male football. It is the first competitive match of the football season, although it is seen by most fans as a showpiece event...

 defeat to Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic L.F.C.

Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...

. By 2005 O'Connor was back in America playing for Long Island Lady Riders. The following season she switched to Women's Premier Soccer League

Women's Premier Soccer League

The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....

 (WPSL) outfit Long Island Fury

Long Island Fury

Long Island Fury is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2005. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the East Conference.The team plays its home games at the...

.

International career

O'Connor represented Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland women's national football team

The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...

 at youth level, then played for the senior team in the qualifying campaigns for the 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women's World Cups. She also played in the Euro 2009 qualifiers.

O'Connor was named Women's Senior International Player of the Year at the 2004 FAI International Football Awards

FAI International Football Awards

The FAI International Football Awards is an awards evening held to honour the best Irish international football players of the year.-Senior International Player of the Year:-International Goal of the Year:-Young International Player of the Year:...

.