Luke Connolly

Luke Connolly
Personal information
Irish name	Lúcas Ó Conghaile
Sport	Gaelic Football
Position	Right corner-forward
Born	2 November 1992 (age 32); Cork, Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Club(s)*
Years	Club
2011-2024	Nemo Rangers
Club titles
Cork titles	5
Munster titles	2
All-Ireland Titles	0
Colleges(s)
Years	College
2011-2016	University College Cork
College titles
Sigerson titles	1
Inter-county(ies)**
Years	County
2015-2021	Cork
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NFL	0
All Stars	0
	* club appearances and scores correct as of 22:14, 27 September 2021.; **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 17:48, 16 January 2024.

Luke Connolly (born 2 November 1992) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. He played for club side nemo Rangers and was a member of the Cork senior football team from 2015 to 2021.^[1]^[2] Connolly usually lined out as a forward.

Playing career

Coláiste Chríost Rí

Connolly first came to football prominence as a student in Coláiste Chríost Rí in Cork. In his final year with the school he won a Corn Uí Mhuirí medal after a "prolific" performance at full-forward in a 1-12 to 1-07 win over Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in the final.^[3]

University College Cork

During his studies at University College Cork, Connolly was selected for the college's senior football team. On 22 February 2014, he won a Sigerson Cup medal after lining out at centre-forward in the 0-10 to 0-09 win over Ulster University in the final.^[4]

Nemo Rangers

Connolly joined the nemo Rangers club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He first enjoyed success with the club's under-21 team, claiming a Cork County U21AFC after top-scoring with 1-04 in the 2-13 to 0-05 win over Bantry Blues in the 2012 final.^[5] By this stage Connolly had already joined the Nemo Rangers senior team, having made his debut in a 0-12 to 1-07 win over Ballincollig in the first round of the 2011 Cork County Championship.

On 25 October 2015, Connolly won his first County Senior Championship medal after lining out at full-forward in the 1-10 to 0-11 defeat of Castlehaven in the final replay.^[6]^[7] He again lined out in the forwards when Nemo suffered a 1-07 to 0-09 defeat by Clonmel Commercials in the 2015 Munster club final.^[8]

Connolly won a second county championship winners' medal after scoring 1-01 from right corner-forward in the 4-12 to 3-13 win over St. Finbarr's in the 2017 county final.^[9] He later claimed his first Munster Club Championship medal after top-scoring with ten points in the 0-16 to 0-11 defeat of Dr. Crokes in the 2017 Munster club final.^[10] On 17 March 2018, Connolly again top scored for Nemo when they suffered a 2-19 to 0-10 defeat by Corofin in the 2018 All-Ireland club final.^[11]

On 27 October 2019, Connolly claimed a third county championship winners' medal after a 2-08 to 0-10 win over Duhallow in the county final.^[12] He later won a second Munster Club Championship medal after top-scoring for Nemo in the 0-15 to 0-06 win over Clonmel Commercials in the 2019 Munster club final.^[13]

Cork

Connolly first played for Cork when he was added to the minor panel in advance of the 2010 Munster Minor Championship. After winning a Munster Minor Championship medal as a non-playing substitute after a 1-08 to 1-07 win over Kerry, Connolly made his only appearance in the grade when he came on as a substitute in the 1-13 to 1-12 defeat by Tyrone in the 2010 All-Ireland minor final.^[14]^[15]

After progressing onto the Cork under-21, Connolly won a Munster Championship title in that grade after a 2-14 to 1-17 extra-time defeat of Kerry in the 2012 Munster under-21 final.^[16] He collected a second successive provincial winners' medal after a 1-17 to 0-09 win over Tipperary in the 2013 decider.^[17] On 14 May 2013, Connolly was held scoreless from left corner-forward when Cork suffered a 1-14 to 1-11 defeat by Galway in the 2013 All-Ireland under-21 final.^[18]

Connolly was added to the Cork senior training panel prior to the start of the 2015 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 1 February 2015 when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Colm O'Driscoll in a 1-15 to 0-16 win over Dublin.^[19]

On 2 July 2017, Connolly made his first Munster final appearance when he was selected at full-forward against Kerry. He scored two points, including one from a free, but ended the game on the losing side after a 1-23 to 0-15 defeat.^[20]

Career statistics

Club

Team	Season	Cork		Munster		All-Ireland		Total
Team	Season	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Nemo Rangers	2011-12	3	0-03	—		—		3	0-03
	2012-13	4	2-18	—		—		4	2-18
	2013-14	6	1-13	—		—		6	1-13
	2014-15	3	1-07	—		—		3	1-07
	2015-16	5	0-13	2	0-05	—		7	0-18
	2016-17	5	3-21	—		—		5	3-21
	2017-18	7	4-30	2	1-13	2	2-11	11	7-54
	2018-19	3	2-18	—		—		3	2-18
	2019-20	4	2-15	3	0-13	1	0-02	8	2-30
	2020-21	6	7-22	—		—		6	7-22
	2021-22	3	2-10	—		—		3	2-10
	2022-23	6	4-24	1	0-06	—		7	4-30
	2023-24	5	2-11	—		—		5	2-11
Career total		60	30-205	8	1-37	3	2-13	71	33-255

Inter-county

Team	Year	National League			Munster		All-Ireland		Total
Team	Year	Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Cork	2015	Division 1	1	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00	1	0-00
	2016	Division 1	6	1-10	0	0-00	1	0-01	7	1-11
	2017	Division 2	4	1-06	2	1-04	1	1-01	7	3-11
	2018		0	0-00	2	1-12	1	0-09	3	1-21
	2019		6	0-18	2	2-00	4	3-09	12	5-27
	2020	Division 3	4	2-10	2	0-07	—		6	2-17
	2021	Division 2	3	1-09	2	0-01	—		5	1-10
Total			24	5-53	10	4-24	7	4-20	41	13-97

Honours

Coláiste Chríost Rí

Corn Uí Mhuirí: 2011

University College Cork

Sigerson Cup: 2014

Nemo Rangers

Cork

References

^ "O'Driscoll strike helps turn tide for Nemo". Irish Independent. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
^ "Ricken confirms Connolly's departure from Cork squad". Hogan Stand. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ "Connolly class gets Chriost Ri over line". Irish Independent. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
^ "Dorman seals dramatic Sigerson Cup win for UCC". Irish Times. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^ Hurley, Denis (23 July 2012). "Nation leads Nemo to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^ "Castlehaven frustrated after Mark Collins 'point' denied". Irish Examiner. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
^ "19th Cork title for Nemo Rangers is one of the sweetest". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
^ "Incredible drama as Clonmel win first Munster title with stoppage-time goal". The 42. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ "Nemo nous steers them to thrilling 20th Cork title". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
^ "0-10 for Connolly as Nemo lift Munster football title and stun All-Ireland holders Dr Crokes". The 42. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ "Corofin cut loose with breathtaking attacking display to land third All-Ireland title". The 42. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ Cormican, Eoghan (27 October 2019). "Brace form Luke Connolly the difference as Nemo Rangers overcome Duhallow in Cork SFC". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ Cormican, Eoghan (1 December 2019). "Nemo Rangers gain revenge over Clonmel to take 17th Munster title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ "Hurley strikes late to snatch title for Cork". Irish Times. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^ Cummiskey, Gavin (20 September 2010). "Tyrone hold out in face of fierce Cork finale". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^ "Munster U21FC final: Rebels prevail after extra-time". Hogan Stand. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ "Cork ease past Tipp to take Munster under-21 crown". Irish Independent. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ "Galway crowned All Ireland U21 champions against Cork". The 42. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^ Keys, Colm (1 February 2015). "True grit from Rebels extends home comforts". The 42. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^ "Masterful Kerry brush Cork aside in Munster final". The 42. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

External links

Luke Connolly profile at the Cork GAA website

[1] "O'Driscoll strike helps turn tide for Nemo". Irish Independent. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017.

[2] "Ricken confirms Connolly's departure from Cork squad". Hogan Stand. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[3] "Connolly class gets Chriost Ri over line". Irish Independent. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2015.

[4] "Dorman seals dramatic Sigerson Cup win for UCC". Irish Times. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

[5] Hurley, Denis (23 July 2012). "Nation leads Nemo to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

[6] "Castlehaven frustrated after Mark Collins 'point' denied". Irish Examiner. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.

[7] "19th Cork title for Nemo Rangers is one of the sweetest". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.

[8] "Incredible drama as Clonmel win first Munster title with stoppage-time goal". The 42. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[9] "Nemo nous steers them to thrilling 20th Cork title". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.

[10] "0-10 for Connolly as Nemo lift Munster football title and stun All-Ireland holders Dr Crokes". The 42. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[11] "Corofin cut loose with breathtaking attacking display to land third All-Ireland title". The 42. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[12] Cormican, Eoghan (27 October 2019). "Brace form Luke Connolly the difference as Nemo Rangers overcome Duhallow in Cork SFC". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2019.

[13] Cormican, Eoghan (1 December 2019). "Nemo Rangers gain revenge over Clonmel to take 17th Munster title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[14] "Hurley strikes late to snatch title for Cork". Irish Times. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

[15] Cummiskey, Gavin (20 September 2010). "Tyrone hold out in face of fierce Cork finale". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

[16] "Munster U21FC final: Rebels prevail after extra-time". Hogan Stand. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[17] "Cork ease past Tipp to take Munster under-21 crown". Irish Independent. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.

[18] "Galway crowned All Ireland U21 champions against Cork". The 42. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

[19] Keys, Colm (1 February 2015). "True grit from Rebels extends home comforts". The 42. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

[20] "Masterful Kerry brush Cork aside in Munster final". The 42. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

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