Latest news with #Moycullen
Irish Daily Mirror
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Galway's Moycullen GAA mourn passing of 'fiercely loyal' managerial legend
Moycullen GAA have paid tribute to the man who led them to their first ever county senior title, after his tragic passing. Former Roscommon Connacht Championship winner Don Connellan, who guided the Galway club to the 2022 county and provincial titles, passed away yesterday aged just 51. During a seven year spell as selector and manager Connellan - a Garda - had previously helped them to their first ever senior decider in 2020. Connellan brought Moycullen - Galway captain Sean Kelly's club - back to the County Final in 2023 before stepping aside due to health issues. He also helped NUI Galway to a Sigerson Cup title in 2021, alongside former Mayo player Maurice Sheridan. At club level, Connellan was a key player on the Kilmore teams that reached county Roscommon Senior Finals in 1998 and 2001, while he won a Sigerson Cup medal with University College Galway in 1992 as a player. In a statement the Moycullen club hailed a man 'who loved his football, but his family was his world.' They also praised Connellan as a man who shunned the limelight but was 'fiercely loyal' and 'a great competitor.' The Moycullen statement read: 'It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of our great friend Don Connellan. '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. 'Don wasn't for the limelight, but behind it he was all in - on and off the pitch - an excellent manager and coach who was fiercely loyal to his team, his friends, his club, a great competitor. He simply loved the game. 'Leading a group of ambitious players has its challenges. Don had the skillset to navigate whatever came his way in his own quiet manner. 'Away from the seniors, he would frequently offer support and guidance to the upcoming teams and players. 'Away from the football, Don was a family man to the core, he liked nothing more than his time with Linda and the boys, and took great enjoyment seeing them play. 'A native of Kilmore in County Roscommon, Don excelled at football for both club and county. Maigh Cuilinn was home for many years with Linda and the boys, Eoin and Conor. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the wider Clancy and Connellan Families. 'He loved his football, but his family was his world. Rest easy Don. You will be missed.'
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Stephen Cluxton and the importance of being nice
Sir, – Over 70 minutes after his team had defeated Galway last Saturday in Pearse Stadium, Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton was still signing autographs, shaking hands with supporters from both teams, giving his time to young children and smiling warmly for a never-ending queue of people looking for pictures with him. That a man with nine senior All-Ireland medals – most collected as team captain – and who has played with his county for over two decades was content to stand in the searing sun on a hard pitch after playing a championship game to facilitate GAA supporters is a credit to Stephen and also to the culture of generosity and selflessness in the Dublin football squad. Eventually a member of the Dublin back room team had to come over to the goals and give him the eye – which said, 'come on Stephen, we need to get going'. As the most decorated goalkeeper in history and the GOAT in most people's view walked away to the sanctuary of the dressingrooms, I recalled my national schoolteacher (Mrs Quinn) from 45 years ago telling her third class a really central rule for life: 'While it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice'. READ MORE It is clear Mr Cluxton lives by the same truism. – Yours, etc, RAY SILKE, Moycullen, Co Galway.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I'm ex-Ireland star who returned from childbirth and scored iconic goal vs France – now I'm making career in new sport
JULIE-ANN RUSSELL has gone from firing Ireland to three points on the football pitch, to shooting three-pointers on the basketball court. The 34-year-old Advertisement 4 Julie-Ann Russell retired from football back in January Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 4 She scored seven goals in 66 caps for the Republic of Ireland Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 4 She also played a starring role for Galway Utd Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 4 She is now playing basketball for Moycullen Credit: John O'Brien It also brought to an end her run with Galway United, with whom the Moycullen-native won the All-Island Cup in 2024. But Russell has not turned her back on sport altogether, and represented her hometown basketball club in the Galway Cup. The former striker explained to SunSport: "I actually was playing last year as well. "In Moycullen, they have a St. Stephen's Day Blitz which has been running for years and years. Advertisement Read More on Ireland WNT "It was the second year that they had a women 's Blitz and they'd asked me to play in it. I did at the time and absolutely loved it. "They were kind of like, 'will you play on our team for January to March?' It was the second-half of the season. "I was in pre-season with Galway at the time and I said, 'yeah I'll go whenever I can make it'. "I played last season for a couple of months and then I didn't play at the start of the season just there because I was in with Ireland . Advertisement Most read in Football "Once I finished up with Ireland I went back again in January, back playing with them." The Moycullen point-guard played basketball in her youth and in secondary school . Ireland hero Julie-Ann Russell's daughter Rosie takes RTE microphone during post-match interview She had to prioritise soccer over gaelic football and basketball when she turned 18. But Russell has not missed a beat since going back to the court , and showed her talents by putting Moycullen 8-0 up in their Galway Cup final defeat to Claregalway last month. Advertisement Although she admitted: "I only turned up to meet folks I hadn't seen in ages and it's a really good day out. "I didn't think I'd be able to shoot the ball because it's been so long but I ended up getting Player of the Tournament that year. "They were hounding me to play on the team for the rest of the season so I said I would." EURO TRIP Russell had mapped out her ideal retirement roadmap that did not end back in January. Advertisement The mum-of-one made a sensational return to the Girls in Green last summer after four years away. That break was initially enforced due to being in Australia when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020. But following her 2021 return to Galway, she remained out of 's plans. She was watching on with her newborn daughter Rosie when Advertisement It was a storybook return, as She scored her third international goal of the year in the 3-0 win over qualifiers as Ireland got to the play-offs. But the two-legged play-off loss to Wales was the end of the journey, both for Ireland and Russell. "It was definitely the best year of my life so far anyway." She said: "I probably started thinking about it if we didn't qualify for the Euros , so depending on how the match against Wales went was kind of the breaking point for me. Advertisement "If we'd won that game, I would have kept playing and tried to make the squad for the Euros this summer. "Unfortunately we lost the game, so I made the decision then and then I just kind of sat on it for about a month or so, just to kind of make sure I was making the right decision. "When the final whistle went, it was obviously devastating to lose but then, in my head, I was kind of like this is it for me. "It made it even that more painful than what it was." Advertisement 'AMAZING HUMAN' When Carla Ward replaced Eileen Gleeson after the play-off, there were attempts to keep Russell in the fold. The former She added: "When I spoke to Carla, she was kind of shocked, I think, a little bit at the decision. "She seemed like an amazing human to start with and so welcoming and was so looking forward to meeting Rosie and having her daughter meet her as well. Advertisement "I think it would have been a joy to work under her as well. "Unfortunately that didn't come to fruition but it's great to see her doing well now in the last couple of games." Bidding farewell was made easier by the memories made. The win over France - and her Player of the Match role in it - stands out for poignant reasons. Advertisement While her daughter was not at Carrow Road to see Russell score against the Lionesses, And the 34-year-old said: "My friends and family all there and Rosie witnessing me playing for Ireland, "She won't have a clue. She'll just look back when she's older. "It would have been amazing if she wasn't there, but I think the fact that she was born, and coming back from post-pregnancy, and getting back into top level sport again, and having her there was 10 times better. Advertisement "It was definitely the best year of my life so far anyway." BACK OF THE NET Basketball is one of a number of ways Russell has occupied herself since hanging up the boots . The ex-Peamount United star still works for And she also ran the Barcelona marathon in March, clocking a time of three hours and 25 minutes. Advertisement And she has tentative plans to return to the basketball court when the season gets underway in October. "I'm not going to make commitments right now and say I'm fully signed up. I'm just seeing how things go and how I'm feeling and how my body is feeling and what not. I "I've loved playing the last two seasons at Moycullen. It's brilliant. If I'm feeling good and strong, no doubt I'll be back playing with Moycullen again."
