There was always a mystique about Don

Don Connellan always had an aura, even from before he made his Roscommon senior debut in 1993 right through to his eye-catching exploits as Moycullen manager. The most apt word is mystique — there was always something special about him.

Grief, sadness and shock have enveloped Kilmore and Moycullen, Roscommon and Galway, and far beyond, since the announcement of Don’s sudden death early last week.

His adopted club posted a wonderful tribute — as did all the other branches of the GAA with which he was associated. Nonetheless, one Moycullen quip brought much-needed light relief: “He avoided reporters like they were opponents,” it read.

I admit I laughed out loud.

A former colleague who used to also work on the Roscommon football beat back in the long-ago day also noticed the line and we realised neither of us could remember interviewing Don. The loss was ours.

The torrent of tributes and obituaries from those who knew and cherished him all emphasised not just how special Don Connellan was a footballer but, more importantly, as a person.

The place I know as UCG has had nearly as many name changes as the United Rugby Championship. As with everywhere else he went, Don left an indelible imprint on the college by the Corrib. The post from their football club was heartfelt and moving. Three footballers who played under him gave an insight into his personality.

Each player spoke of Don as “a friend”, “a father figure”, someone who was “exceptionally kind and warm”. It was a comment from Owen Gallagher, who was coached by Don in both NUIG and Moycullen, which resonated deeply: “He taught me how to be a man”. It is rare to leave that sort of legacy.

The sentiments of those young men echoed comments that were made about the great John O’Mahony when he died last year. Johnno and Don were the opposing managers in the 2022 Galway football final — it’s hard to believe both of them have now passed away.

The same poignancy attaches itself to the 2001 Roscommon team who won that year’s Connacht title. Three members of that squad — Don, Conor Connelly and Ger Micheal Grogan – have all departed this world far too soon.

That sensational Connacht final victory was Don’s only provincial championship medal. He came on as a sub and during his time on the field made a telling contribution by instigating the move which led to Gerry Lohan’s first goal.

However, medals alone don’t define the career of special footballers. It’s been bothering me how to describe him to those who didn’t see him play or for whom his name is spoken of in awed admiration by their parents?

Again, I refer to the Galway University tribute. Don first came to prominence outside Roscommon by being one of the stars of UCG’s Sigerson Cup triumph in 1992.

They used two adjectives — skilful and uncompromising.

Those of us who saw him remember the luminous skill, the soaring fetches, the way he always seemed to have time on the ball. Yet, he also bore the hallmark of all great Kilmore footballers — he was tough. The cause was never lost when Don Connellan was around.

Going back to 1992, a year that was probably pivotal in his football career. It was the year when the Roscommon team that contested five successive Connacht finals broke up. The Rossies reached the provincial final again in 1993 — Don’s debut season — but it was a markedly different team.

The team that won Connacht titles in 1990/1991 were well regarded at the time. However, the passage of time has lent that team a retrospective glow. Its reputation will continue to burnish until another Roscommon team wins successive Connacht titles or reaches an All-Ireland semi-final.

The perspective of time has shown that many excellent players, including a few Hall of Famers, left the scene in the space of two years and decline was inevitable — which is exactly what happened.

Subsequently, much of the spotlight fell on Don — the Roscommon football fans turned their eyes to him, pinning their hopes on his broad but young shoulders.

He had the ability to justify his “golden boy” status but not yet the experience and, more importantly, not the team around him. One of great “what ifs” of Roscommon football is how different things might have been for Don and for that team, especially in 1991, if he had emerged in 1989/90 rather than 1993/94.

One common thread among the obituaries was Don’s love of football. He was never going to say “no” to any team who wanted his services. Thirty years later, attitudes have changed (or are supposed to have, at least) and young players aren’t overplayed to the extent they were back then. Injuries became a theme.

When Connellan was fit in 1998, he was one of the mainstays of a Roscommon team that came tantalisingly close to beating Galway in two epic Connacht finals. Again, the benefit of time tells us that Galway side were the best Connacht team of the last 60 years — and Don was not out of place in their company.

Of course, nobody in Galway needs to be told about the stature of Don Connellan as a football figure. As has been well documented, he famously managed Moycullen to breakthrough Galway and Connacht titles. In 2022 he was linked with the then-vacant Roscommon manager’s post.

However, by the following year, he stepped away from the Moycullen job due to health concerns. I remember hearing last year that he was in good form. Then came the shocking news on Monday night.

It has rocked Roscommon, but the sadness in his native county fades compared to the heartbreak of his family and those who were proud to call him a friend. May Don Connellan rest in peace.