Don made us proud to be from Roscommon

There was widespread shock and a deep sense of grief and loss when the sad news of Don Connellan’s untimely death filtered through the county on Monday week last.

Don, who was aged 51, died suddenly after a brief illness in his home at Moycullen, County Galway. Even people with little or no interest in football were shocked and saddened to hear the news of his death.

Don was a favourite son of Roscommon. Personally, I was devastated when I heard the news. News like that puts everything else into perspective.

I had known that Don had health issues in 2023 when he stepped down as manager of Moycullen but I thought that he had recovered.

When he was playing for Roscommon, Don was one of my heroes. He was a delight to watch. For heart, dedication and will to win that brought the best out of himself and his team-mates, there was no better player. I later came to admire him greatly as a person.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get to his funeral Mass in Moycullen but I got the live streaming of the entire funeral on the internet. I offered Mass for him in St. Paul’s Church, Kilmurry, on the day of his funeral.

When we reflect on Don's life, we think at the outset of him as a footballer in his prime, who achieved so much. We think of him as a versatile and accomplished player who was a brilliant high fielder. We think of the thrilling moments he brought to so many supporters of Kilmore, Roscommon, and later as a manager with Moycullen.

Everything about Don was encapsulated in his natural footballing ability, in his courageous play, and his determination and will to win. He was brave and knew no fear. He was an inspirational leader in the dressing room and on the field of play.

Don played minor, U-21 and senior football for Roscommon. He made 73 appearances for the senior team. He also played Railway Cup football for Connacht. He won a Sigerson Cup medal with UCG in 1992. He was later part of the management team with Maurice Sheridan when UCG won the title in 2022.

In 1993, he made his senior football championship debut for Roscommon during the 1-12 to 1-10 Connacht semi-final victory against Leitrim at Páirc Seán, Carrick-on-Shannon.

Don was a prominent member of the Kilmore club and he led them to county finals in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He missed the 1999 final because of injuries he received in a road traffic accident. Kilmore lost the three finals, losing to Roscommon Gaels on each occasion.

Injuries probably impacted his intercounty career and by the time Roscommon reached the Connacht final in 2001, Don was a substitute. Had he been fully fit, he would have been an automatic choice for selection on the first 15. He came on in the 55th minute and played well, but he had to retire with an injury 13 minutes later, and he was replaced by Alan Nolan.

Don would go on to manage Moycullen of Galway to their first ever Galway senior football championship in 2020, and would repeat the achievement in 2022 when the team claimed the club’s maiden Connacht senior club title.

As a player, I would rate him very highly. I would actually rate him in the top 20 players I have ever seen playing for Roscommon.

He was a brilliant fielder of the high ball. He could kick with either foot and he was the most fearless player I have ever seen playing the game. Don would put his head where other players wouldn’t risk putting their boots. He put getting the ball ahead of his personal safety. I know that he played at times carrying injuries that would sideline a lesser man for weeks.

For all these achievements, Don was very modest and unassuming. He shunned the limelight and he avoided giving interviews if he could. I met him on a few occasions and I always found him a true gentleman. He made you proud to be from Roscommon. A more humble man you couldn’t possibly meet.

The last time I met him was a few years ago in Castlerea. He was with a garda colleague and they were both in uniform. I gathered that they were on garda business so I didn’t interfere except that we exchanged a few brief words on Roscommon football.

I think he was shy by nature, and he stayed out of the limelight.

HOMILY

In his homily at Don’s funeral Mass in Moycullen church, the parish priest Fr. Martin Whelan chose as his theme, courage.

The last words the poet Seamus Heaney said to his wife before he died: “Noli timere” — “Do not be afraid”. It was fitting for Don, a player who never knew what fear was.

“Don was our hero, he made us heroes. Don raised hearts and minds to the heights and depths of what it means to be a human being,” he said.

EULOGY

Don’s brother-in-law, former Galway player Paul Clancy, delivered the eulogy.

He thanked the Roscommon priests and the people for their presence. Jokingly, he said that he never knew that there were so many members in the Kilmore club.

“They were there, between 5’-5” and 6’-5” and between the ages of 25 and 65, and they all played at midfield with Don,” he quipped.

He said that loyalty was Don’s great quality. He showed loyalty in sport, in work and in life. He was a great leader. He wore the number 8 jersey and he was a great fielder.

Paul described Don as “a true exponent” of high fielding who could kick frees and score from play with a “sweet right boot”.

“His athleticism and physicality were that of a warrior, and I was on the receiving end of it a few times myself,” he admitted.

He then said that Don was above all a family man. His wife Linda and two sons Eoin and Conor were his whole world. He described his relationship with his wife, Linda, as one of “humour, loyalty and love”.

“The pictures of Don, Linda and the boys in Drumaveg say it all. For a man who never smiled in any GAA photo, these photos show a man at his happiest,” he said.

“Linda, he loved you with all his heart. He was a devoted husband, and you were his rock.” He wished that his sons, Eoin and Conor, would carry their father’s strength and courage into life.

He concluded by saying that “Roscommon and Galway are united as one in honouring a fallen hero.”

CONDOLENCES

I am sure every reader of this column will join with me in extending sympathies to Don’s wife Linda, sons Eoin and Conor, mother Ellen (Nellie), brothers Adrian and David and the extended Connellan and Clancy families, and Don’s colleagues in An Garda Síochána.

Our thoughts are also with everyone in Kilmore and Moycullen GAA clubs, and all the communities of Clooncoose and Moycullen.

Rest in peace, Don. Your light will never fade from our memories. You’ll forever be part of the fabric of Kilmore and Roscommon football — a true inspiration to everyone who knew you.

2001 CONNACHT FINAL

Mention of the 2001 Connacht final between Roscommon and Mayo in 2001 aroused my interest in the game.

I trawled through the internet and I found it on a platform called GAANow on YouTube, something like the present GAA+. The entire game is available and you can watch it if you Google GAANow. Check it out, you will enjoy watching it.

It was an interesting, rather than a brilliant game. There were a lot of basic mistakes. Both teams missed good scoring chances, especially Mayo from frees.

It brings you back to football as it used to be played before the blanket defences, zonal marking, short kickouts and lateral hand passing. Backs and forwards for the most part stayed in their own half of the field and you had good old fashioned man to man marking.

After a low-scoring first half, Roscommon led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break. Roscommon were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when Clifford McDonald received a second yellow card. Mayo were leading by 1-12 to 1-10 deep into injury time.

Fergal O’Donnell brought off a brilliant block on Colm McManamon and the ball was moved down the field. Jonathan Dunning subsequently fielded a high ball under pressure from a lineball. The ball was worked to Gerry Lohan who buried it in the left corner of the net. Roscommon won by 2-10 to 1-12.

There were some fine displays from Roscommon players. Francie Grehan was immense at centre-back. The St. Aidan’s man was always a great player to get stuck in and dig deep for the dirty ball, which he won on several occasions in this game. He didn’t give much change to Mayo’s Ciarán McDonald. It is no surprise that he got an All-Star award that year.

Michael Ryan had a brilliant game at left corner-back and John Whyte also had an outstanding game at full-back. Paul Noone had a good game at left half-back, while Denis Gavin and Clifford McDonald were also prominent.

Team captain Fergal O’Donnell and Seamus O’Neill played well at midfield, the latter’s high fielding bringing back fond memories. The late Conor Connelly, Gerry and Stephen Lohan, John Hanley and Frankie Dolan were best of the forwards. Gary Cox played very well when he came on as a substitute in the second half. Gerry Lohan was Roscommon’s top scorer with 2-2 and received the Man of the Match award.

Sadly, Conor Connelly died suddenly in March 2020.

For the record, the Roscommon team that day was: Derek Thompson, Denis Gavin, John Whyte, Michael Ryan, Clifford McDonald, Francie Grehan, Paul Noone, Fergal O'Donnell (captain), Seamus O'Neill (0-2), Conor Connelly (0-1), John Hanley (0-1), Stephen Lohan (0-1), Nigel Dineen, Gerry Lohan (2-2, one free, one ’45), Frankie Dolan (0-3, one ’45). Subs: Gary Cox for Dineen (50 mins); Don Connellan for S. Lohan (55 mins); Jonathan Dunning for Hanley (64 mins); Alan Nolan for Connellan (injured, 68 mins).