Connacht’s Sligo contingent continuing to make their mark
The rise in rugby talent from County Sligo was highlighted this month when Conan O’Donnell and Cillian Gallagher signed professional deals with Connacht rugby.
The former Summerhill students follow in the footsteps of the likes of Gavin Foley and Billy Leahy as men from the Yeats county who will represent thier province at the highest level.
Both Conan and Cillian have lined out for Sligo Rugby Club and Summerhill College and were regulalrs for the Irish under-20 side.
O’Donnell, from Kevinsfort made his Connacht debut in the hugely successful 2016 season in which the province captured the PRO12 title.
To date, he has gone on to make a total of nine senior appearances for the club, the first of these coming against Cardiff during that landmark campaign.
Since then, the 21-year-old has gone on to earn eight more caps having appeared five times for the under-18 Irish schools team and fifteen times for the Irish under-20s.
Recalling where his love for the game was first sparked, he remembers an incident which took place at home in Kevinsfort.
“I remember when I was five, there was a gum shield in the kitchen on the counter”, he says. “My brother thought it was for him and there was a bit of an argument, I think he was a bit jealous!”
Conan says his mother was a little anxious about allowing her young son take part in the game. “Eventually Mum let me go down to Strandhill and join the under 7s when I was six”, he laughs.
The path from Sligo under sevens to representing his country wasn’t smooth.
Just after Conan made his debut, he was forced to miss almost one year of rugby due to injury.
He also missed out on Ireland’s journey to the final 2016 Under 20 World Cup Final where the boys in green were eventually beaten by England in the final in Manchester.
“I was only back from a few months out when I injured my toe.
“I was only three games back and I did my ankle when I was tackled.
“I missed the World Cup which was a bit of a killer for me. I think I was out for about eleven months altogether.”
Now in his third year of commerce in NUIG, Conan had to juggle his education with his - as he puts it himself - ‘Plan A’. Training five days a week is tough enough when you’re fit, but Conan found it even tougher to squeeze it all in when he was sidelined.
“It’s actually harder when you’re injured”, he explains. “You’re doing more rehab and a lot more exercise bike work. I can safely say I did not get on with the bike!
“I’m not a fan of the bike now. I never wanted to see an exercise bike after my rehab was done.
“I was on crutches and bed bound for a while. The injury affects you because you do sometimes think ‘what if I never play again?’
The Sligo man already has a PRO12 medal under his belt at this stage having featured in that famous season.
Recalling May 2016 and that win over Leinster which heralded Connacht’s first major title, Conan says: “It was a fantastic experience and great to get a medal. I’m not sure how big an impact I made but I suppose every little counts!
“It was great to make my debut that year too against Cardiff.
“All my family were up watching and even though I only got on for a few minutes towards the end, I guess it was relief really to have made my debut!”
Conan is coy when it comes to self-praise. Despite being picked ahead of what must be hundreds of players in his age category, he still knows he’s fortunate to make it this far.
“When I was playing in Sligo, there were a lot of lads better than me”, he suggests.
“I guess being a prop, there aren’t that many lads keen to play there and I just happened to be good at it! I suppose there’s an element of luck too.”
There hasn’t always been a strong Sligo connection with Connacht Rugby.
But that’s changed and still so. There are currently sixteen players involved in the senior and academy squads.
Along with Conan and Cillian, there is also Stephen Kerins, Ryan Feehily and Kuba Wojtkowicz. Damien Cullen-Vega, Michael Broaders, Eddie Coyle, Matthew O’Hara, Max King, Daire Cregg and Josh Cronin are all members of the Connacht under 16 squad.
While Sligonians Luke Hogge, Donnacha Byrne, Hubert Gilvarry and Brendan Cunningham also feature on the underage scene.
Currently sitting fifth in the A Conference of the PRO14, Connacht have struggled for form this year.
“We’ve a young squad and I suppose there’s always room for improvement”, Conan concedes.
Keeping his feet on the ground, O’Donnell still harbours hopes of progressing further and representing Ireland on the senior stage.
“Every kid dreams of it really, don’t they?”, he smiles. “For now, I’m not thinking about that and I’m not getting ahead of myself. For now, I just want to work hard with Connacht and win my place here.”
Conan ends by paying tribute to the people involved where it all started at Hamilton Park.
“I and Sligo rugby owes a lot to the likes of Ross Mannion, Pat Touhy and Gavin (Foley). They kept the show going down there.
“I absolutely loved playing with Sligo and I’d love to go back some day. Playing rugby under Knocknarea, out near the sea, sure what else more could you want!?”