The Late Broddie Connaughton It came as a great shock to me when I learned during the week of the death of former Athleague and county hurler, Broddie Connaughton. I hadn't been aware of his recent illness. The last time I met his was a few years ago at the funeral in Sligo of his uncle, Michael Cunningham, R.I.P. Michael had been an outstanding teacher and school principal in Sligo. Such was the impact he made on the town that a road in Sligo is called after him, Connaughton Road near Sligo General Hospital. I hadn't met Broddie since then. He was an outstanding goalkeeper and was very much part of the great Athleague versus Tremane duels of the 1950s. I had fond memories of watching him in action in St. Coman's Park in the late 1950s and early 60s. I believe that if he had played with a more established hurling county, his name would be known the length and breadth of the country. He had reflexes like a cat as he plucked the sliothar out of the air and dispatched it with a tremendous puck out to his forwards. It was impossible to hook him as he squirmed out through incoming forwards, giving the impression that he could swing a hurley in a telephone box. The game I most vividly remember was the 1958 Connacht Junior final in which Roscommon caused the upset of the year by beating a fancied Galway team by 4-6 to 3-5 in St. Coman's Park. Time and again, Broddie came out through friend and foe with the sliothar firmly clutched in his hand and lifted the team with massive clearances. He got injured shortly after half-time in that game and was replaced by another fine goalkeeper, Phonsie Tully. The Roscommon team that day was Brodie Connaghton (Athleague), Brendan Boyle (Athleague), John Tiernan (Tremane), John Connaughton ( Athleague), Jimmy McDonnell (Four Roads), Joe Kelly (Castlerea), Larry Tiernan ( Four Roads), Jimmy Kenny (Castlerea), Gerry O'Malley capt. (Four Roads), Tom Boyle (Ballinasloe), Willie Somers (Tremane), Mick Hoare (Eoghan Ruadh's), Joe Lohan (Castlerea), Mattie Keane (Athleague), Jack Mulry (Four Roads). Subs: A. Tully (Four Roads) for B. Connaughton (injured), Ned Ryan for Jack Mulry. Sadly, two other member of that team have since passed away, Broddie's brother John, and Jimmy McDonnell. May they rest in peace. Many of Brodie's former team mates attended the funeral including Gerry O'Malley, Johnny Mulry, Willie Somers and Phonsie Tully to name but a few. I know that all readers of this column will join with me in extending sympathies to Broddie's wife Catherine, daughters Martina and Catherine, sons Bernard, Mark and Aidan and relatives and friends. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of the Roscommon Herald July 2003 Tweet

Most Read Stories