Fair play to the St Vincent’s and Dublin forward.
Dublin reached their third successive All-Ireland final, last Sunday, and celebrated the achievement with a swarm of their young, enthusiastic fans. Diarmuid Connolly was, unsurprisingly, a man in demand.
Jim Gavin’s men made it along to Parnell Park for a meet and great with Dublin supporters and one that stretched long after night had fallen. Young fans stretched one end of the pitch to the next as they got a chance to meet their heroes, grab pictures with them and, for any of an old-school mentality, got an autograph on a jersey or scrap of paper.
Fantastic turnout here in Parnell Park to meet the Dubs ahead of the All-Ireland football final! #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/fv0h8p2n25
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) August 30, 2017
The likes of Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, Dean Rock and Philly McMahon made the day/night of many young fans but there was one man that every single person present wanted a piece of.
Diarmuid Connolly may have got only six minutes [including added time] of action in the semi final win over Tyrone but he remains a firm favourite of the Dubs’ faithful. While many fans in Hill 16 and the upper stands in Croke Park got far too excited when they thought Connolly returned from his suspension earlier in that game [see below], the youngsters kept their cool and waited their turn.
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 28, 2017
Connolly is an icon to many young supporters in the county and hundreds stuck around after getting to meet the other Dublin stars to grab a moment with the 30-year-old.
The four-time All-Ireland winner did not disappoint and, two and a half hours after the signings began, he was still out on the pitch and accepting every request:
Signing autographs and taking pictures since 6:30pm. Still going at 9pm. Fair play Diarmuid Connolly & @DubGAAOfficial. Class acts pic.twitter.com/3exvwzzG1H
— Darren Cleary (@RadioCleary) August 30, 2017
Great to see. A lot of happy memories made for young Dubliners.
