Carry On Conor

CONOR Hourihane, the Argyle midfielder who led the Pilgrims to Football League safety last season, is staying at Home Park.

Conor, 22, has signed a new deal following the expiry of his contract this summer.

“I am delighted and already looking forward to next season,” he said, after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract.

“I hope we can kick on after last season and be competing at the other end of the table. Everyone at the club deserves that after the troubles of the past few years, especially the fans.

“Look at how many were at Rochdale on the last day of the season when we were at the wrong end of the table – imagine what they’d be like if we were at the top.”

Irish Under-21 international Conor assumed the Argyle captaincy following the departure of Darren Purse to Port Vale in January, and led from the front as the Pilgrims climbed away from the bottom of League 2.


Under his leadership, Argyle won seven and drew four matches out of 19, claiming 25 vital points.

Three of Conor’s five goals last season came in that spell, including vital and impressive Home Park strikes in victories against Morecambe and Barnet.

Conor believes that wearing the captain’s armband has already added plenty to his game.

“Since I have had it, I think I’ve gone from a boy to a man,” he said.

His form last season and the fact that he was out of contract this summer had alerted other clubs as to his possible availability.

However, manager  John Sheridan has succeeded in persuading Conor, who has been capped eight times by Ireland at Under-21 level, that his future is Green.


“It has been fantastic for me since I have been at Plymouth,” he said.

“When I arrived here, it was really a case of sink or swim. I had to come to the table and show what I could do.

“It’s worked out really well for me and I can’t wait to get going again.”

Conor first became a Pilgrim in the summer of 2011 from Ipswich Town, after following former Sunderland manager Roy Keane from the Stadium of Light to Suffolk.

He made 42 appearances in all competitions in his first season, scoring twice, and improved on both those stats in 2012-13, playing 47 times and netting five goals.

Great to have you back on board, skipper!