Video: Majestic Connolly proves difference as Vincent’s claim All-Ireland success

By Peter O'Dwyer

Any assessment of St Vincent’s commanding All-Ireland success over Castlebar Mitchels at Croke Park yesterday can only begin and end with Dublin forward Diarmuid Connolly who was peerless throughout.

The rangy Connolly was near-immaculate in all that he did; frequently creating both space and scoring opportunities for his teammates while also finding time to net seven scores of his own, all from play.

Goals on 42 and 52 minutes ruthlessly broke the Mayomen’s resistance.

Having stuck to their task manfully in the first-half to be level at the break and then edged into an unlikely lead when Danny Kirby found the net after a flurry of points from the Dublin side early in the second-half, Connolly put the contest beyond the Westerners.

The centre-forward’s fisted first, just 60 seconds after Mitchels found the net, rocked the underdogs only for his magnificent second to act as the knock-out blow.

Having accounted for the likes of St Brigid’s and Kerry kingpins Dr Crokes to book their St Patrick’s Day date at Croke Park, it was Connolly who finally accounted for Castlebar’s spirited and often glorious campaign.

With returning captain Ger Brennan imposing high standards at the back and Connolly marauding up front, in the end the Dublin side’s greater class shone through to win the day.