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Breaking a sterile 57 years since Liam MacCarthy returned to Galway, Joe Connolly led the Tribesmen to a memorable final victory in Ireland in 1980. His acceptance speech would be one of the best.
In emotional scenes at Croke Park, the Tribesmen made up for the final defeats in 1975 and 1979 to finally advance a year later.
At just 24 years old and the youngest of three brothers on the team, manager Cyril Farrell stated that the Castlegar man was named captain because of his leadership qualities, evident even at such a young age.
Connolly helped himself to four points in a 2-15 to 3-9 victory over the men of the Treaty, but it was the raw emotion and sincerity in his speech at Hogan’s Stand that made him one of the most remembered with Honey in GAA history.
Speaking in Irish, he made reference not only to the loyal county supporters on these shores, but to those around the world who might mourn for the sporting achievement. He ended the speech with a reference to Pope John Paul II, who had said similar words at Galway Racecourse the previous year: “Galway people, we love you!”
Speaking on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, Connolly admits that the speech is regularly mentioned to him to this day.
“I’m excited to hear it,” he said.
“It was a wonderful occasion. You have to put it into perspective of decades of famine in Galway to be successful. Bring to that Ireland that we lost in ’75 and ’79. There were some people who thought we would never win.”
“It still evokes great emotions and memories for the Galway people.”
Listen to the full discussion here
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