Grieving Galway star hailed after Connacht Championship final win over Mayo

Connor Gleeson was hailed for his match-winning kick in Sunday’s Connacht Championship final as Galway overcame Mayo by a single point.

The Galway goalkeeper’s grandmother died last weekend, with Gleeson turning up for training with Padraic Joyce’s side on the evening of her funeral.

Tribesmen captain Sean Kelly singled out Gleeson for praise after he kicked the winning point with the sides level and the five minutes of added time played to see Galway win their third consecutive JJ Nestor Cup by a score of 0-16 to 0-15.

“Before I start my speech, I want to give a massive round of applause and a massive thanks to Connor Gleeson,” Kelly said.

“Not many know, but he had to bury someone close to him this week, and to do what he did today, there was definitely someone looking down on him.

“So a massive roar for Conor Gleeson, who was the winning of it for us today.”

Galway boss Joyce also praised his goalkeeper after the full-time whistle, saying: “He is a very popular character in the room.

“He buried his grandmother on Tuesday. His grandmother passed away last weekend and they had the funeral Tuesday.

“He landed into training on Tuesday (evening). I told him to stay away from training and we would see him at the weekend – but he came in. That is a measure of the man and the Gleeson family.

“I am sure that kick was for her today. Fair play and I am absolutely delighted for him.”

Pádraic Joyce celebrates Galway’s Connacht final win over Mayo

Speaking to RTE after the game, Gleeson stated he didn’t think he would be on kicking duty until he was sent a message ahead of the game.

He said: “It is mad… It is something everyone dreams of and I never thought I would be the one kicking it.

“I was delighted to get the opportunity and am just relieved that it went over.

“During the week John Concannon, the selector, sent me a message to start practicing them and they were going well so I got the nod.”

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