Finbar McConnell

Infobox GAA player |

name = Finbar McConnell
irish =
placeofbirth= Tyrone
countryofbirth= Northern Ireland
dob=
dod=
nickname='Big' Finbar
height= height|ft=6|in=4
occupation=
sport= Gaelic football
code= Football
county= Tyrone
province= Ulster
clposition= Midfield
club= Newtonstewart
clyears= ?-?
clapps(points)=
clcounty=
clprovince=
clubs=Newtonstewart
counties= Tyrone
icposition= Goalkeeper
icyears= ?-?
icapps(points)=
icprovince=4
icallireland=0
allstars=1
icupdate=
clupdate=
|

Finbar McConnell is a former Tyrone Gaelic footballer. He was Tyrone's first-choice goalkeeper throughout most of the nineties, and played in the 1995 All-Ireland Final. He set a Tyrone record for being the first Tyrone player to win four Ulster Championship medals in 2001. [http://www.irishnews.com/thechampionship/football/tyrone.html]

In 1996, he won an All Star, most likely due to his match-winning saves in the Ulster Final. He also represented Ireland in the first of the annual International rules football series matches against Australia, although he gained notoriety in that game for joining in a brawl that was taking place in the middle of the pitch, even though he was the goalkeeper.

His height, huge kick-outs (described by Hogan Stand Magazine as "arguably the longest ground kicker in the country" in 1992 [http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=6623] ), and low reflex saves make him a memorable footballer.

His younger brother is the current Tyrone goalkeeper, Pascal McConnell.

External links

* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=66238 Hogan Stand Magazine interview from early in his career (c. 1992)]
* [http://newtownstewart.tyrone.gaa.ie/playerhonours.html Newtonstewart Club website detailing their county representatives' honours]