Luke Connolly

Luke Connolly (born 2 November 1992) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cork Senior Championship club Nemo Rangers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior football team.[1] He usually lines out as a right corner-forward.

Luke Connolly
Personal information
Irish name Lúcas Ó Conghaile
Sport Gaelic Football
Position Right corner-forward
Born (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992
Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Occupation Sales rep
Club(s)*
Years Club Apps (scores)
2011-present
 Nemo Rangers 54 (23-202)
Club titles
Cork titles 3
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 Apps (scores)
2015-present
 Cork 14 (8-39)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NFL 0
All Stars 0
* club appearances and scores correct as of 22:14, 28 September 2020.
**Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 17:40, 11 November 2020.

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13][14]

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.[15] He collected a second successive provincial winners' medal after a 1-17 to 0-09 win over Tipperary in the 2013 decider.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 27 September 2020.
Team Season Cork Munster All-Ireland Total
AppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Nemo Rangers 2011-12 30-03——30-03
2012-13 42-18——42-18
2013-14 61-13——61-13
2014-15 31-07——31-07
2015-16 50-1320-05—70-18
2016-17 53-21——53-21
2017-18 74-3021-1322-11117-54
2018-19 32-18——32-18
2019-20 42-1530-1310-0282-30
2020-21 45-20——45-20
Career total 4420-15871-3132-135423-202

Inter-county
As of match played 9 November 2020.
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Cork 2015 Division 1 10-0000-0000-0010-00
2016 61-1000-0010-0171-11
2017 Division 2 41-0621-0411-0173-11
2018 —21-1210-0931-21
2019 60-1822-0043-09125-27
2020 Division 3 42-1010-0300-0052-13
Total 214-4474-1974-203512-83

Honours
Coláiste Chríost Rí
University College Cork
Nemo Rangers
Cork

References
  1. "O'Driscoll strike helps turn tide for Nemo". Irish Independent. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  2. "Connolly class gets Chriost Ri over line". Irish Independent. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  3. "Dorman seals dramatic Sigerson Cup win for UCC". Irish Times. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. Hurley, Denis (23 July 2012). "Nation leads Nemo to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  5. "Castlehaven frustrated after Mark Collins 'point' denied". Irish Examiner. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  6. "19th Cork title for Nemo Rangers is one of the sweetest". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. "Incredible drama as Clonmel win first Munster title with stoppage-time goal". The 42. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  8. "Nemo nous steers them to thrilling 20th Cork title". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  9. "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.
  10. "Corofin cut loose with breathtaking attacking display to land third All-Ireland title". The 42. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  11. 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.
  12. Cormican, Eoghan (1 December 2019). "Nemo Rangers gain revenge over Clonmel to take 17th Munster title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  13. "Hurley strikes late to snatch title for Cork". Irish Times. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  14. Cummiskey, Gavin (20 September 2010). "Tyrone hold out in face of fierce Cork finale". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  15. "Munster U21FC final: Rebels prevail after extra-time". Hogan Stand. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  16. "Cork ease past Tipp to take Munster under-21 crown". Irish Independent. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  17. "Galway crowned All Ireland U21 champions against Cork". The 42. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  18. Keys, Colm (1 February 2015). "True grit from Rebels extends home comforts". The 42. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  19. "Masterful Kerry brush Cork aside in Munster final". The 42. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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