Former Roscommon footballer Don Connellan, who was part of the Roscommon team that won the 2001 Connacht SFC title, has died at the age of 51.
We’d like to send our deepest condolences to his close family and friends at this time.
A statement on the Maigh Cuilinn website read: “It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of our great friend Don Connellan.
“Don was involved with our senior team as a selector and then a manager over the course of seven years.
“During his tenure as manager, Don led us to a historic first county final in 2020, in 2022 we won the county and Connacht tiles before a narrow loss in the All-Ireland semi-final.
“Under his guidance, he brought the team to the country final again in 2023 before stepping aside to concentrate on health issues.
“While the achievements and titles are widely recognised and remarkable for our club, it is the unseen and unselfish work that we will also remember. The nights at training, the countless phone calls and messages, organising players, pitches, matches, physios, etc, but Don went beyond that.
“He had a remarkable ability to manage a group while also looking after the individual. He took great satisfaction in seeing a youngster breaking through and was always on hand to support and guide.
“Never a man to give the media a soundbite, he avoided reporters like they were opponents on the field. Unassuming to the last, the odd shift change at work to accommodate training would not be mentioned, asking Don to say a few words at clubhouse celebrations after a county final win would be met with a glare and then delivering exactly what was asked for, ‘a few words’, nothing more.”