TIPPERARY GAA player Eddie Connolly passed away on Thursday night after sadly losing his battle with cancer.
The Loughmore-Castleiney dual player represented his county at all grades of hurling and football, and was Tipp’s captain when the Premier County won the All-Ireland intermediate hurling title in 2012.
A statement from the Tipperary County Board this morning confirmed the 29-year-old’s passing:
The death has taken place of former Loughmore-Castleiney and Tipperary player Eddie Connolly after a long battle with cancer. Eddie passed away peacefully last night at home with his family. At the request of the Connolly family, tonight’s Eddie Connolly Trust Fund Night at the Dogs at Thurles Greyhound Stadium will still go ahead in a celebration of Eddie’s life. On behalf of the Tipperary County Board, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Connolly family at this sad time.
Connolly’s club also paid tribute with the following statement.
"It is with great sadness that we learned this morning of the death of Eddie Connolly. Eddie battled his illness with huge determination, positivity and bravery.
"Eddie was a hugely popular guy and his popularity has been reflected in recent weeks with the unprecedented response to the Eddie Connolly Trust Fund.
"As a tribute to Eddie and as a celebration of Eddie’s life and the contribution he made to his community, county and further afield tonight’s [Friday] fundraiser in Thurles Greyhound Stadium will go ahead as planned and we would ask as many people as possible to come along to honour one of the greatest people our club has had the privilege of knowing.
"We extend our heart filled sympathies to Eddie’s parents Jim and Maureen, his sisters Niamh and Fiona, brothers James and Ger and the Connolly family.
Connolly was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013 and had recently underwent treatment in Spain.
