On a day of joy for St Brigid’s, joint-captain Paul McGrath ensured the club’s Connacht Senior Football Championship triumph was also a moment of reflection and respect, delivering a powerful tribute to the late Don Connellan in his victory speech at Dr Hyde Park.

Brigid’s held off Moycullen in a gripping final, winning 1-16 to 1-14, with Ruaidhrí Fallon’s second-half goal and a superb man-of-the-match performance from Conor Hand proving decisive. Under former Galway hurling manager Anthony Cunningham, the Roscommon champions reclaimed provincial glory, but McGrath made it clear that the thoughts of the Brigid’s group stretched well beyond football.

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Addressing the crowd shortly after lifting the cup, McGrath paused to remember Connellan, a proud Kilmore, Co. Roscommon native who became a hugely influential figure during a transformative seven-year spell in charge of Moycullen, delivering unprecedented success in Galway.

St Brigid’s Captain Pays Touching Tribute To Late Roscommon Star After Connacht Final Win

In his acceptance speech Paul McGrath said.

It wouldn’t feel right not to mention the late Don Connellan on a day like today. Don has had a huge impact on a lot of people here both from Galway and Roscommon and most importantly on Moycullen GAA where he spent a brilliant seven years and had huge success and joy so today we’d just like to pay our respects to Don and pass on our condolences to the Connellan and Clancy families and everybody involved with Moycullen GAA and everyone who had the privilege of crossing paths with Don during their lives.

The tribute struck a chord with supporters of both clubs, many of whom had watched Don Connellan lead Moycullen to county honours in Galway.

For Brigid’s, the victory adds to Anthony Cunningham’s remarkable record at provincial level. The former Galway hurling boss previously guided St Brigid’s to a Connacht title in 2006 and later steered Garrycastle to a Leinster club crown in 2011, and is now back celebrating Connacht glory once more.

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