DUBLINER Dan Connor feels the luck of the Irish has gone against him this season.

The Hereford United goalkeeper has been driven mad by a freak injury just weeks after arriving at Edgar Street.

“We were playing Rotherham at home in August and I did a full workout beforehand and again at half time with no problem,”

said the 30-year-old, who was on the bench for the game.

“Then, driving home to north Herefordshire, I felt a bit stiff although that’s nothing unusual.

“But when I got out of the car I felt an awful pop and a pain in my hip.

“The tissue inside the hip joint had become inflamed because some of the cartilage had come away from it.

"The injury was a disaster, it just seemed so innocuous.

"The lads gave me a bit of stick, particularly because of the nature of it with me getting out of the car.”

Connor said he’d sustained a hip injury about three years earlier but hadn’t foreseen this season’s setback.

“It came out of the blue. I hadn’t missed training until that point.”

He’s since had an operation and been to a rehabilitation clinic at Lilleshall.

Despite being on the treatment table, he has still been involved in what is turning out to be a compelling season, on and off the field.

“Whatever people think of Simon Davey - he made great strides off the pitch,” said Dan, who joined the Bulls from Irish league side St Patrick’s Athletic.

“He was behind our training being moved to Hereford City Sports Club which was a great step up.

“But on the pitch, for one reason or another, it didn’t click.”

Connor is full of praise for Davey’s replacement, Jamie Pitman, who was promoted from physio to manager.

“People can relate to Jamie.

He played for Hereford and they can see his passion for the club.

“Hopefully we can hold our own and finish the season with a bit of a flurry.”

The keeper says his passion, away from football, is his family with whom he enjoys spending time at their Herefordshire home.

“We have two small boys and Herefordshire is a lovely place to bring up a family, particularly at this time of year when you can hear the lambs nearby.

“But I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Heather.

She’s been so understanding.”

He added: "In my mind I want to be fit for the team at the end of this season if the need arises."