Stephen Brosnan has a Q&A session with John Mitchels Clubman, Declan Connolly, about his involvement in the club and his memories of playing…
Declan Connolly.
Declan Connolly
Role: Manager, John Mitchel’s Under 10 Boy’s
Playing Career: Juvenile Player to under 16.
(Q): Which players/club personality did you look up to as a Juvenile player?
(A): “Martin Dennehy was one of my favourite players when I growing up.
Martin had excellent all-round football skill. He had and still has fantastic dedication to the club. I also had great respect as players for Frank and Jim O’Donnell.
They could always be counted on to put their body on the line for their team and club”.
(Q): What has been your greatest accomplishment as a Mitchel’s player or mentor?
(A): “For me it is a great accomplishment to be involved with coaching players.
Some of the players that I have helped coach are now playing senior football with the club.
Niall Sheehy and Sean Moloney have played inter-county football as well as James Duggan who has been called up for the Kerry minors.
It is great to have seen these players develop and knowing that I had some hand or part in coaching them at Juvenile level”.
(Q): What is something unique about your sport?
(A): “It is the friends you make from the sport. The friendships that you make all over the County and throughout the Country from involvement in the GAA. It brings people together in a very unique way”.
(Q): If you change a rule in gaelic football what would that be?
(A): “It is not a rule so much as I would change but I would bring in a rule to aid referees.
For championship games I would have two extra officials on the side line to advise referees on decisions made. To monitor games and to communicate with the referee throughout the match”.
(Q): Compare training and tactics when you played to today’s methods?
(A): “The training when I played as a juvenile player was mainly running and fitness. We got very little time as regards ball work.
Teams back then would have a game at the end of training. Today’s game is all about working with the ball. Most of the drills are done with footballs. The players are constantly working with the ball throughout the training session”.
(Q): What has been your greatest disappointment as a player/club member?
(A): “Losing the 1989 County Championship final was the worst disappointment for me. I was very young at the time but it always sticks in my mind. I remember the great support the team had at every game. When they lost it was hard to take”.
(Q): In your opinion what is the biggest challenge facing GAA clubs today?
(A): “I think the biggest challenge comes from soccer. I believe that kids are given the false hope of playing in the English Premiership. With the GAA the highest goal and honour is playing for your County which is a lot more realistic and achievable”.
(Q): What advice would you give to people to get involved with John Mitchel’s Club?
(A): “I would like to see more past players get involved with teams. They know themselves from their playing days that it’s fantastic to be involved with John Mitchel’s.
I would advise anyone who wishes to get involved as a mentor of juvenile players that it is very worthwhile and you will make many friendships along the way”.
(Q): Can you tell me about your role as Manager/Mentor of a Juvenile team?
(A): “It is great to be a mentor of a juvenile team. Already we can see the players making great progress. I have no doubt that many of them are future stars in the making. It is really enjoyable for ourselves as mentors and the players look up to us and respect us”.
(Q): What are your thoughts on the present and future of the club?
(A): “We have great people working on behalf of the club at present. The facilities are fantastic in this respect we never had it so good. At under age level our numbers are brilliant.
There is some great talent in our juveniles which is great going forward. Our Sunday morning training sessions are very encouraging with so many of the parents in attendance”.
• This article first appeared in John Mitchels GAA Club weekly notes
