Roscommon GAA have announced the sudden passing of their former footballer Conor Connelly at the age of 44.
The Creggs clubman was part of the Rossies' Connacht Senior Football winning side in 2001 and was also a Leinster Schools winner with St Mel's of Longford in 1994.
Connelly also played club football with St Jude's of Dublin while studying to become a barrister and later lined out alongside his cousin Colm Quinn for Ballycumber in the Offaly senior football championship.
“I extend my sympathy and the sympathy of Roscommon GAA to his wife Claire, their three young children and to Conor’s parents Jimmy and Nora,” Roscommon chairman Seamus Sweeney said in a statement this afternoon.
“I always admired Conor as a footballer, he was a fine tenacious player who gave his all when wearing the primrose and blue. Like Rossies everywhere I really am saddened by the news”.
Creggs clubmate Gerry Keegan added that it's a blow to the area:
"It's heart breaking news, Conor was such a popular figure in Creggs GAA club and was always there to lend a hand when needed even after his playing days came to an end.
"In our successful junior championship winning year in 2016, Conor brought us up to his current Club in Ballycumber Co Offaly for a midweek training session the Wednesday night before the replay. His speech to us that night helped us clinch our first county championship in 33 years."
"Conor was a fantastic footballer and his work rate for the county jersey was unquestionable, he was also a great person off the field and was always on hand to give you good advice when you'd need it."
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone here in Creggs GAA club go out to his father and mother Jimmy and Nora, his wife Claire and three children Cara 11, Rossa 9 today, and Eoghan 6, his brothers Robert, James and Daragh and his sister Sharon."
"Conor will be sadly missed and will never be Forgotten in our club. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam ".
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