Luke Connolly

{{infobox Gaelic games player

|image =

|name = Luke Connolly

|irish = Lúcas Ó Conghaile

|nickname =

|feet = 5

|inches = 11

|occupation =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|2|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Cork, Ireland

|sport = Gaelic Football

|code = Football

|county = Cork

|province = Munster

|club = Nemo Rangers

|clyears = 2011-2024

|clposition =

|clapps(points) = 71 (33-255)

|clcounty = 5

|clprovince = 2

|clallireland = 0

|colleges = University College Cork

|colyears = 2011-2016

|sig = 1

|counties = Cork

|icyears = 2015-2021

|icposition = Right corner-forward

|icapps(points) = 17 (8-44)

|icprovince = 0

|icallireland = 0

|nfl = 0

|allstars = 0

|clupdate = 22:14, 27 September 2021

|icupdate = 17:48, 16 January 2024

}}

Luke Connolly (born 2 November 1992) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. He played for club side nemo Rangers and was a member of the Cork senior football team from 2015 to 2021.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/odriscoll-strike-helps-turn-tide-for-nemo-34140647.html|title=O'Driscoll strike helps turn tide for Nemo|publisher=Irish Independent|date=26 October 2015|accessdate=12 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/321948|title=Ricken confirms Connolly's departure from Cork squad|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=31 January 2022|accessdate=31 January 2022}} Connolly usually lined out as a forward.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/connolly-class-gets-chriost-ri-over-line-26711117.html|title=Connolly class gets Chriost Ri over line|publisher=Irish Independent|date=7 March 2011|accessdate=23 June 2015}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/dorman-seals-dramatic-sigerson-cup-win-for-ucc-1.1701917|title=Dorman seals dramatic Sigerson Cup win for UCC|date=24 February 2014|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=20 November 2020}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20201604.html|title=Nation leads Nemo to glory|date=23 July 2012|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=20 November 2020|first=Denis|last=Hurley}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/castlehaven-frustrated-after-mark-collins-point-denied-360117.html |title= Castlehaven frustrated after Mark Collins ‘point’ denied |accessdate=20 October 2015 |work=Irish Examiner |date= 19 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/video-19th-cork-title-for-nemo-rangers-is-one-of-the-sweetest-361401.html |title= 19th Cork title for Nemo Rangers is one of the sweetest |accessdate=27 October 2015 |work=Irish Examiner |date= 26 October 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/clonmel-beat-nemo-munster-final-2-2473279-Nov2015/|title=Incredible drama as Clonmel win first Munster title with stoppage-time goal|date=29 November 2015|publisher=The 42|accessdate=21 November 2020}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/nemo-nous-steers-them-to-thrilling-20th-cork-title-461449.html |title=Nemo nous steers them to thrilling 20th Cork title |date=23 October 2017|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate=23 October 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/nemo-rangers-munster-dr-crokes-3717854-Nov2017/|title=0-10 for Connolly as Nemo lift Munster football title and stun All-Ireland holders Dr Crokes|date=26 November 2017|publisher=The 42|accessdate=21 November 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/corofin-nemo-rangers-report-3909967-Mar2018/|title=Corofin cut loose with breathtaking attacking display to land third All-Ireland title|date=17 March 2018|publisher=The 42|accessdate=21 November 2020}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/brace-form-luke-connolly-the-difference-as-nemo-rangers-overcome-duhallow-in-cork-sfc-960110.html|title=Brace form Luke Connolly the difference as Nemo Rangers overcome Duhallow in Cork SFC|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=27 October 2019|accessdate=28 October 2019|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30967700.html|title=Nemo Rangers gain revenge over Clonmel to take 17th Munster title|date=1 December 2019|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=21 November 2020|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/hurley-strikes-late-to-snatch-title-for-cork-1.617925|title=Hurley strikes late to snatch title for Cork|date=5 July 2010|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=7 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/tyrone-hold-out-in-face-of-fierce-cork-finale-1.653086|title=Tyrone hold out in face of fierce Cork finale|date=20 September 2010|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=7 July 2018|first=Gavin|last=Cummiskey}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/166319|title=Munster U21FC final: Rebels prevail after extra-time|date=12 April 2012|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=21 November 2020}} He collected a second successive provincial winners' medal after a 1-17 to 0-09 win over Tipperary in the 2013 decider.{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/incoming/cork-ease-past-tipp-to-take-munster-under21-crown-29188296.html|title= Cork ease past Tipp to take Munster under-21 crown|date=10 April 2013|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=11 April 2013 }} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/galway-cork-all-ireland-u21-896704-May2013/|title=Galway crowned All Ireland U21 champions against Cork|date=4 May 2013|publisher=The 42|accessdate=7 July 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/true-grit-from-rebels-extends-home-comforts-30955471.html|title=True grit from Rebels extends home comforts|date=1 February 2015|publisher=The 42|accessdate=7 July 2018|first=Colm|last=Keys}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0702/887149-kerry-v-cork/|title=Masterful Kerry brush Cork aside in Munster final|date=2 July 2017|publisher=The 42|accessdate=22 November 2020}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|Cork !colspan="2"\|Munster !colspan="2"\|All-Ireland !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
rowspan="13"\|Nemo Rangers \|2011-12	3	0-03	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	3	0-03
2012-13	4	2-18	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	4	2-18
2013-14	6	1-13	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	6	1-13
2014-15	3	1-07	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	3	1-07
2015-16	5	0-13	2	0-05	colspan=2\|—	7	0-18
2016-17	5	3-21	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	5	3-21
2017-18	7	4-30	2	1-13	2	2-11	11	7-54
2018-19	3	2-18	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	3	2-18
2019-20	4	2-15	3	0-13	1	0-02	8	2-30
2020-21	6	7-22	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	6	7-22
2021-22	3	2-10	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	3	2-10
2022-23	6	4-24	1	0-06	colspan=2\|—	7	4-30
2023-24	5	2-11	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	5	2-11
colspan="2"\|Career total !60	30-205	8	1-37	3	2-13	71	33-255

=Inter-county=

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Year !colspan="3"\|National League !colspan="2"\|Munster !colspan="2"\|All-Ireland !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
rowspan="7"\|Cork \|2015 \|rowspan="2"\|Division 1 \|1	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00	1	0-00
2016 \|6	1-10	0	0-00	1	0-01	7	1-11
2017 \|rowspan="3"\|Division 2 \|4	1-06	2	1-04	1	1-01	7	3-11
2018 \|0	0-00	2	1-12	1	0-09	3	1-21
2019 \|6	0-18	2	2-00	4	3-09	12	5-27
2020 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 3 \|4	2-10	2	0-07	colspan=2\|—	6	2-17
2021 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 2 \|3	1-09	2	0-01	colspan=2\|—	5	1-10
colspan="3"\|Total !24	5-53	10	4-24	7	4-20	41	13-97