Talk about triumphing over adversity.
Westmeath man Ray Connellan agreed a contract with AFL side St Kilda in the middle of 2016. The Athlone footballer impressed during trials, first of all, in DCU, early last year, and then on a three-week audition with the club in June.
The 6ft 3 in specimen was tabled an offer by the Australian outfit, but was yet to put pen to paper, Â before he returned to the Lake County for their run to the Leinster football final.
Connellan was a key figure for the men in maroon, as they edged Kildare by the bare minimum in a titanic semi-final clash at GAA HQ, in which he scored two fine points from play.
Westmeath went down to Dublin in the final, but the day couldn’t have went much worse for Connellan, as he broke his fibula above his ankle and done ligament damage.
His AFL dream looked to be scuppered.
A broken leg wasnt in my plans for the day but that's just a part of sport. Proud of everyone of the boys today pic.twitter.com/7FFE6KDpD0
— Ray Connellan (@ConnellanRay) July 17, 2016
The Westmeath star went under the knife two days after the provincial showcase, and was informed that his recovery period would be roughly 14 weeks.
Ouch.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWpB5JNDwir/?taken-by=connellanray94&hl=en
Following some iron will of his own, as well as the support of young Irish supporters, he overcame the struggles and eventually made it Down Under for September of last year.
There's a lot of very decent people out there. This random supporter of GAA being one of them. Incredible gesture pic.twitter.com/qOB934vdt0
— Ray Connellan (@ConnellanRay) July 26, 2016
He was signed by the club, who were Kerry man Tommy Walsh’s first Australian club, as a category B rookie on a two year deal.
Since then, he has impressed the top brass of the club, and has kicked on with his senior debut for the side, reportedly now, imminent.
“Ray Connellan is developing really well and is making inroads as a small forward,” VFL coach Lindsay Gilbee told saints.com.au.
“His blistering pace and knack for kicking goals has been evident in the past two weeks and he’s added some real X factor into our forward line,” he continued.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVRrF18j82D/?taken-by=connellanray94&hl=en
These comments come on the back of a series of impressive displays from the Westmeath man with the Zebra’s, who have been St Kilda’s second string side for the last eight years.
Connellan has kicked five goals for the side in the last two weeks, and is edging ever closer to a senior debut.
The man is a true example to all sports people, that no matter how bad your situation feels, just keep plugging away.
