Back d at e of kons atch

and the league cup and the Irish Cup as well. But we won three County Antrim Shields, and we played in Europe, and I was the first Cliftonville keeper to keep a clean sheet in Europe, the club record of clean sheets on the bounce, seven on the bounce, and I even managed a goal against Linfield as well.

“I remember we had quite a poor record in penalties at the time, so I said to Eddie, ‘I’m on the next one’. “I think we missed one in that game, and then we got a second one and I waved over to the bench, got Eddie’s attention and he said, ‘Yeah, go for it’.

“It was at the new stand, what we called the old cage, so it was a nice feeling to score against Linfield and at that end as well.”

In order to maintain his 100% conversion rate, Connolly then swiftly retired from spot-kick duties.

“One from one, a perfect record,” laughed Connolly, “you wouldn’t want to ruin that.”

Connolly’s story in football began back in the Eighties at his hometown club in Dublin, St Kevin’s Boys.

Renowned for its track record in producing top footballers – Ian Harte and Stephen Carr are just two of the graduates to roll off the production line – he came through the ranks alongside Nicky Byrne, a fellow goalkeeper in the days before he found fame and fortune with Westlife.

And ironically considering his own troubles with injury at present, it would take a broken leg suffered by the late Paul Straney, the same player he would later replace at Solitude, to bring him across the border and into the Irish League with Newry City.

“Looking back, the longevity of my career makes me proud, and touch wood, hopefully I have another couple of years to go as well,” said Connolly.

FERGIE TIME Bravely diving at the feet of Glenn Ferguson in clash with Linfield in September 2007 GOING TO GROUND Going in where it hurts for Cliftonville against Ballymena’s Aaron Boyd in February 2011 MUDDY MARVEL Clutching the ball to his chest for...