Breaking a barren 57 years since Liam MacCarthy was brought back to Galway, Joe Connolly led the Tribesmen to a memorable All-Ireland final victory in 1980. His acceptance speech would go down as one of the greatest.
In emotional scenes at Croke Park, the Tribesmen made up for final defeats in 1975 and 1979 to finally breakthrough a year later.
Aged just 24 and the youngest of three brothers on the team, manager Cyril Farrell stated that the Castlegar man was named captain owing to his leadership qualities, evident even at such a young age.
Connolly helped himself to four points in a 2-15 to 3-9 victory over the Treaty men, but it was the raw emotion and sincerity in his speech in the Hogan Stand that make it one of the most fondly remembered in GAA history.
Speaking in Irish, he referenced not only the county's loyal followers on these shores, but those throughout the world who could be in tears at the sporting achievement. He concluded the speech with a reference to Pope John Paul II, who had spoken similar words in Galway Racecourse the year before: "People of Galway, we love you!"
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport, Connolly admits the speech is mentioned to him regularly to this day.
"I get emotional listening to it," he said.
"It was a wonderful occasion. You have to put it into perspective of decades of starvation in Galway for success. Leading into that All-Ireland we lost in 75 and 79. There were some people who thought we never would (win).
"It still evokes great emotions and memories for Galway people."
Listen to the full discussion here
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