After scoring 13 Championship goals for H&W Welders last season, Tiarnan O’Connor has picked up where he left off at the start of the new campaign by netting another five in his last three matches to help Paul Kee’s side sit top of the second-tier table – form which hasn’t gone unnoticed by Premiership clubs.

Kee has known O’Connor since he was a youngster with the striker coming through the ranks at Maiden City where the current Welders chief played a key role in developing the next generation, including his own son Josh Kee and Jamie Robinson, who are also both part of the squad at Blanchflower Park.

That trio spent time at Chesterfield before returning home in 2022 and since arriving at the Welders, O’Connor has taken his game to a new level – progression which shows no sign of slowing down after netting consecutive braces against Annagh United and Armagh City.

In total, O’Connor has contributed 18 goals in 40 league games for Kee’s side, a fine collection which contains an array of different strikes, and top-flight clubs have already signalled their interest in acquiring his services.

placeholder image — Tiarnan O'Connor in Irish Cup action against Larne last season. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

"Tiarnan is a player evolving, so much so that there's quite a bit of interest in him,” admitted Kee. “He's on the radar of a lot of clubs...I'm not going to lie, there were about four or five Premiership clubs that wanted him just before the window closed.

"He's happy here and he knows he has parts of his games that he needs to work on, which he is, so there's interest in him and people are aware of him.

"He'll play at the highest level there's no question, he could even probably could go further. He scores all types of goals, inside the box, outside the box and the brilliant thing about Tiarnan is he'll make goals as well because he's so good in wide areas. He's a real good asset for us."

O’Connor has developed an outstanding attacking partnership with ex-Derry City ace David Parkhouse – another player Kee previously coached before linking up again at the Welders – with the pair combining for 11 of the 24 goals scored so far this term.

That team tally is the league’s best, firing in seven against Ballyclare Comrades, five in victory over Armagh last weekend and they put four past Ballinamallard United at the start of this season.

O’Connor’s form has helped lessen the impact felt by Matthew Ferguson’s summer departure and Kee believes his young charge will only continue to improve.

"Tiarnan is 21 and has the world at his feet,” he added. “I've known him since a kid when he came through a programme we were involved in and the problem with Tiarnan is he doesn't know how good he can be.

"He's a very modest young man with outstanding abilities. You wouldn't know what foot he kicks with because both feet are magnificent.

"He still has a lot of work to do on his game and isn't anywhere near the finished article, but his two goals on Saturday were outstanding which backed up two the week before. We're really pleased with him and understand he's going to be a player of interest in the future."