The 25-year-old was one of five Irishmen who arrived in Dunedin as new Southern United signings in 2016.
Three of that group remain - Stephen Last and Danny Ledwith are the others - and are in the midst of their third season.
Tomorrow, they face the Hamilton Wanderers in Hamilton.
O'Keeffe has been a key man on defence since his arrival and has taken the captaincy role both this season and last.
On top of that he continues to work as a development officer for Football South.
However, unlike many overseas players, these live in Dunedin year-round.
It is a long way from home - 19,159km to be exact - and, while he loves Dunedin, there are times he misses Ireland.
He returned for three weeks earlier in the year, something which was a good refresher.
"It was a bit emotional, to be honest,'' O'Keeffe said.
"Just seeing family again after being so many miles away.
"It's difficult at times. You miss out on certain occasions, but you just have to tell yourself why you're here and the love of the game, I guess, is why you're away.
"But it's great to go home because you get to catch up with some friends you haven't seen in years and have a few nights out, which is good.''
It had not been enough to pull him back though.
O'Keeffe's focus remains firmly in New Zealand.
Southern has made plenty of progress over the past three seasons and he hopes to carry that on.
While the top four was a goal, he knew that would be tough and backing up last year's fifth place would also be a success.
He felt the influence of coach Paul O'Reilly had been a large reason for that success, as had been the retention of key players and the recruitment of quality new ones.
The team has had a tough start to the season, although impressed in the 47 minutes before its game against Auckland City was abandoned on Sunday.
That had been disappointing, although O'Keeffe said it was important the side took confidence from it and did not dwell on the frustration.
It faces a big challenge against the Hamilton Wanderers tomorrow.
Hamilton has beaten Waitakere United and Tasman United in its first two games.
However, it is the type of game from which Southern needs to get a result if it is going to contend.
O'Keeffe was clear on that as he sought to continue building on the progress made.
With "another couple of years'' left on his visa and everything tracking in a positive direction, he was in no hurry to leave.
He hoped to keep working to leave things in both the club and federation better than he found them.
It is almost the talk of a Kiwi - although O'Keeffe was not so sure.
"That's a tough question. I have to be careful what I say,'' he laughed.
"My roots are definitely still Irish, but I suppose if you want to call me an adopted Kiwi, I wouldn't mind.
"It'll be a few years yet. I've not got citizenship or residential, so I'm definitely still an Irishman.''
