Eddie Connolly

{{short description|Irish hurler}}

{{about|the Irish hurler|the American boxer|Eddie Connolly (boxer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2021}}

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code= Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name = Eddie Connolly

| irish =

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| county = Tipperary

| province = Munster

| club = Loughmore–Castleiney

| clposition = Centre back

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| clallireland =

| counties = Tipperary

| icyears = 2011–2013

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| birth_date={{birth date|1985|10|29|df=y}}

| birth_place=Loughmore, County Tipperary, Ireland

| death_date={{death date and age|df=y|2015|9|17|1985|10|29}}

| death_place=Loughmore, County Tipperary, Ireland

}}

Eddie Connolly (29 October 1985 – 17 September 2015) was an Irish hurler. He played for his local club Loughmore–Castleiney and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team.

On 13 March 2011, he made his senior debut for Tipperary against Offaly, starting at right corner back in the National Hurling League in a 1-20 to 0-10 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0314/1224292062730.html|title=Ryan goal sets Tipperary on way to convincing victory|date=2011-03-14|work=Irish Times|accessdate=2011-03-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/maher-leads-tipp-romp-to-leave-offaly-struggling-to-escape-drop-2578234.html|title=Maher leads Tipp romp to leave Offaly struggling to escape drop|date=2011-03-14|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=2011-03-14}}

Eddie was an accomplished defender in hurling and Gaelic football, playing senior hurling and football for the premier county. Eddie captained Tipperary to an All-Ireland Intermediate hurling championship in 2012. He was also a distinguished player for his college Dublin Institute of technology.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Connolly was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013. He died on 17 September 2015 at the age of 29.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/tipperary-hurler-and-footballer-eddie-connolly-dies-1.2356611|publisher=The Irish Times|date=2015-09-18|title=Tipperary hurler and footballer Eddie Connolly dies}}