Finbar McConnell
Encyclopedia
Finbar McConnell is a former Tyrone
Gaelic football
er. He was Tyrone's first-choice goalkeeper throughout most of the nineties, and played in the 1995 All-Ireland Final
. He set a Tyrone record for being the first Tyrone player to win four Ulster Championship medals in 2001.http://www.irishnews.com/thechampionship/football/tyrone.html
In 1996, he won an All Star
, most likely due to his match-winning saves in the Ulster Final
. He also represented Ireland
in the first of the annual International rules football
series matches against Australia, although he gained notoriety in that game for joining in a brawl that was taking place in the middle of the pitch, even though he was the goalkeeper.
His height, huge kick-outs (described by Hogan Stand Magazine
as "arguably the longest ground kicker in the country" in 1992 http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=6623), and low reflex saves make him a memorable footballer. In a club match of the same year he scored a point from a kick out, from his own 21 yard line.
When Finbarr was 17 years old, he had a trial with Real Madrid who were reportedly very interested in signing him up, however he failed a medical due to a torn hamstring and instead returned home to enjoy a long and fruitful career in goals for Tyrone.
In 2002 Finbar was contacted by the WWE as a possible Replacement for Stone Cold Steve Austin. But this fell through after he sustained a cracked tail bone whilst training with fellow wrestler Mae Young.
His younger brother is the current Tyrone goalkeeper, Pascal McConnell
.
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er. He was Tyrone's first-choice goalkeeper throughout most of the nineties, and played in the 1995 All-Ireland Final
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
. He set a Tyrone record for being the first Tyrone player to win four Ulster Championship medals in 2001.http://www.irishnews.com/thechampionship/football/tyrone.html
In 1996, he won an All Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
, most likely due to his match-winning saves in the Ulster Final
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
. He also represented Ireland
Ireland international rules football team
The Ireland International rules football team is the representative team for Ireland in international rules football, a compromise between Gaelic football and Australian rules football...
in the first of the annual International rules football
International rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
series matches against Australia, although he gained notoriety in that game for joining in a brawl that was taking place in the middle of the pitch, even though he was the goalkeeper.
His height, huge kick-outs (described by Hogan Stand Magazine
Hogan Stand
Hogan Stand is a Gaelic games magazine, published monthly and distributed throughout Ireland. The magazine is named after the main stand in Croke Park, where the trophies are presented to the winning captains. It is the most widely distributed Gaelic games magazine in the country at present and was...
as "arguably the longest ground kicker in the country" in 1992 http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=6623), and low reflex saves make him a memorable footballer. In a club match of the same year he scored a point from a kick out, from his own 21 yard line.
When Finbarr was 17 years old, he had a trial with Real Madrid who were reportedly very interested in signing him up, however he failed a medical due to a torn hamstring and instead returned home to enjoy a long and fruitful career in goals for Tyrone.
In 2002 Finbar was contacted by the WWE as a possible Replacement for Stone Cold Steve Austin. But this fell through after he sustained a cracked tail bone whilst training with fellow wrestler Mae Young.
His younger brother is the current Tyrone goalkeeper, Pascal McConnell
Pascal McConnell
Pascal McConnell is an All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. He currently competes with John Devine to be first choice goalkeeper for Tyrone.In 1998, McConnell played alongside Stephen O'Neill in the MacRory Cup semi-final for Omagh CBS....
.