Don Connellan, who was part of the Roscommon team that won the 2001 Connacht SFC title, has died at the age of 51.
Connellan made his inter-county debut in 1993, but the zenith of his Rossies career was achieved eight years later in a 1-12 to 1-10 win over Mayo in the provincial decider, with the county also accounting for neighbours Galway semi-final.
At club level, Connellan was a key figure in helping Kilmore to county finals in 1998, 1999 and 2001.
After hanging up his boots, he moved to Galway and managed Maigh Cuilinn to county titles in 2020 and 2022 – going on to win the Connacht title in the second year, while also guiding the University of Galway to Sigerson Cup glory in 2021, a competition he won as a player with UCG in 1992.
A statement on the Maigh Cuilinn website read: "It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of our great friend Don Connellan.
"Don was involved with our senior team as a selector and then a manager over the course of seven years.
"During his tenure as manager, Don led us to a historic first county final in 2020, in 2022 we won the county and Connacht tiles before a narrow loss in the All-Ireland semi-final.
"Under his guidance, he brought the team to the country final again in 2023 before stepping aside to concentrate on health issues.
"While the achievements and titles are widely recognised and remarkable for our club, it is the unseen and unselfish work that we will also remember. The nights at training, the countless phone calls and messages, organising players, pitches, matches, physios, etc, but Don went beyond that.
"He had a remarkable ability to manage a group while also looking after the individual. He took great satisfaction in seeing a youngster breaking through and was always on hand to support and guide.
"Never a man to give the media a soundbite, he avoided reporters like they were opponents on the field. Unassuming to the last, the odd shift change at work to accommodate training would not be mentioned, asking Don to say a few words at clubhouse celebrations after a county final win would be met with a glare and then delivering exactly what was asked for, 'a few words', nothing more."
