Neil O'Donoghue

Cornelis Joseph Connor Dennis "Neil" O'Donoghue (born June 18, 1953) is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (from 1977-1985).

Growing up in Clondalkin, sporting achievement was in his genes as his father Michael played for the Ireland national field hockey team. Con had short spells with Shamrock Rovers F.C. and Drumcondra F.C..

Shamrock Rovers
Con made his League of Ireland debut as a replacement for Damien Richardson at Sligo Rovers on the 17 October 1971. In his second League game he scored his first goal at Glenmalure Park against Limerick on the 31st October. He made a total of 16 appearances including 2 each in the Texaco Cup and the FAI Cup scoring 3 goals.

United States
Neil first came to the United States to play soccer for Saint Bernard College. When the school closed its soccer program he went on to play football for Auburn University.

He played for the Buffalo Bills at the same time as OJ Simpson. In February 1978 he returned home at the end of the American Football season to play for Shelbourne F.C..

In 1980 he replaced former University of Arkansas All American kicker Steve Little for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is most famous for having missed a game winning kick against the Washington Redskins in the last game of the 1984 season that would have sent his St. Louis Cardinals to the playoffs, and also for missing three field goal attempts in overtime of a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants during the 1983 season, resulting in a 20-20 tie.

In his entire NFL career, O'Donoghue had a kicking success rate of 59%.