John Connolly (born 14 June 1948) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a full-forward for the Galway senior team.
Born in Leitir Móir, County Galway, Connolly first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St. Mary's College, Galway. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Galway minor team, before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut in the 1967 championship. Connolly went on to play a key role for Galway for more than a decade, and won one All-Ireland medal and one National Hurling League medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.
As a member of the Connacht inter-provincial team at various times, Connolly won one Railway Cup medal in 1980. At club level he is a one-time All-Ireland medallist with Castlegar. In addition to this he also won four Connacht medals and six championship medals.
Throughout his career Connolly made 26 championship appearances for Galway. His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1981 championship.
Connolly is widely regarded as one of Galway's greatest-ever hurlers. He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at left full-forward on the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium.
As the eldest of the Connolly dynasty, many of his brothers, Pádraic, Joe, Michael, Tom, Gerry and Murt, played with distinction for Castlegar and Galway.
In retirement from playing, Connolly became involved in team management and coaching. He has served as a coach and selector with the Galway senior team, while at club level he also served as manager of the Castlegar senior team.
Playing career
Club
Connolly first enjoyed success with Castlegar in the underage grades. He won a minor championship medal in 1965, before later adding an under-21 championship medal to his collection two years later.
In 1967 Connolly was a key member of the Castlegar senior team that reached the final of the county championship. A narrow 3–9 to 4–4 defeat of Padraig Pearse's/Oran-Maree gave him a Galway Senior Hurling Championship medal.
Castlegar surrendered their championship crown in 1968, however, the team qualified for the decider again in 1969. A massive 4–14 to 2–6 defeat of Ardrahan gave Connolly a second championship medal.
After a few years out of the spotlight, Castlegar bounced back in 1972. Turloughmore were the opponents in the county decider, however, a 5–5 to 0–8 victory allowed Connolly to add a third championship medal to his collection. Castlegar subsequently contested the provincial club championship for the first time. A massive 7–12 to 2–7 trouncing of Tremane gave Connolly a first Connacht medal.
Castlegar dominated the county championship once again in 1973, however, the decider against Ballinasloe ended in a draw. The replay was also a close affair, however, Connolly picked up a fourth championship medal following a 4–11 to 3–10 victory. Both Castlegar and Tremane contested the subsequent provincial decider for the second year in succession, with Connolly picking up a second Connacht medal following a 7–8 to 1–7 victory.
Three-in-a-row proved beyond Castlegar, and it would be 1979 before the team reached the championship final again. First-time finalists Kinvara faced an uphill battle against roll of honour leaders Castlegar. A 2–13 to 0–6 victory gave Connolly his fifth championship medal. Old rivals Tremane provided the opposition in the subsequent provincial decider, however, a 4–12 to 0–5 victory gave Connolly a third Connacht medal. Castlegar later became the first team from Connacht to qualify for the All-Ireland decider. Antrim and Ulster champions Ballycastle provided the opposition, as Connolly and his four brothers faced six Donnelly brothers on the opposing team. Olcan McLaverty scored a goal in the first half, however, this failed to ignite the Ballycastle attack. Five minutes into the second half Liam Mulryan turned a Joe Connolly pass into the net to take the lead. Ballycastle cut this lead to just a point, however, two points from brothers Gerry and Joe Connolly set up a 1–11 to 1–8 victory and an All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship medal for Connolly.