Scoring ace Conneely and team boss Clancy leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of more Galway glory

Conneely missed the group stages of the Galway SFC but has made an immediate impact since returning for the knockout stages, with the sharpshooter registering 2-21 across Maigh Cuilinn’s quarter-final and semi-final victories.

“I’m delighted to be back getting ready for another county final, it’s always exciting so happy to be back amongst the group and preparing for Sunday,” Conneely told Tribune Sport.

“It’s different, I got involved with a club in Sydney, Penrith Gaels, we played a league and a championship out there. I kept busy playing a bit of football out there, you always have an itch when you see the lads at home playing league games and when the championship starts, you’re keeping an eye on everything. The time difference is not easy, you’re always on the phone to the lads, finding out what’s going on.”

Having missed the group stages, Conneely was drafted straight into the Maigh Cuilinn starting XV by Cathal Clancy for the knockout stages and has fitted back into the side seamlessly.

“It was a bit of an unknown. I suppose I wouldn't have played at that level for the whole year. So I was happy to get that full game under my belt and to get a good challenge and a good test. I felt good after it and I suppose delighted now to get a second game under my belt against Annaghdown.”

With Maigh Cuilinn now preparing for another county final, Conneely says the opportunity to add further silverware with the current group is not something they are taking for granted.

“It’s on our mind to try and win as many county titles as we can, sometimes with football you think it’s a long career but it can be over quick enough. Our intention is to try and win as many county titles as we can, while we have this group and this squad. If we can get another county title it would be great, and back-to-back titles would be nice as well,” added the Maigh Cuilinn forward.

Maigh Cuilinn manager Cathal Clancy also believes his squad is in a healthy position heading into the decider, with Conor Corcoran and James McLaughlin back to full fitness, while Owen Gallagher has also returned to the club this season.

“We got full league campaigns into the likes of James McLaughlin and Conor Corcoran who missed basically all last year through injury. It’s brilliant to have Owen Gallagher back with us this year as well," explained Clancy.

"Owen has been with us for seven or eight years. He’s a doctor and had been working in Dublin for a few years, while playing for us. Last year he couldn’t commit to it, he’s a bit closer to home now this year and he’s a huge advantage to us. I feel we definitely have a stronger squad, that in itself creates great competition for the team, putting us in a good position heading into the final."

Clancy also strengthened his backroom team ahead of this season by bringing former Mayo senior football manager James Horan on board. Horan joined lead coach Kieran Murphy, who was previously involved with the Clare senior footballers, and Brian Roche in the Maigh Cuilinn management team.

“I actually reached out to James (Horan) myself through a mutual contact. My feeling in terms of bringing James in, obviously we all know his experience and expertise. I felt with the group we have, I’m involved with the team nine years, three years as manager. Kieran Murphy who is our lead coach and a huge part of our backroom team, he’s with us five or six years so the thought process there was could we bring a new voice in?”

“And if we were going to bring someone in, we were ideally looking for someone who was the best. It was great that James got involved and he has brought that extra edge and dimension to us and a lot of our team are together for a long time now. It’s just great to have someone coming in looking at it from a fresh view point,” concluded the Maigh Cuilinn manager.