Kildare GAA stars shine in Toronto
Adam Conneely receives his player of the year award from Durham manager Aaron White.
There was double success for Kildare natives at Durham Robert Emmets’ presentation night in Toronto recently.
Two Mile House clubman Adam Conneely was named manager’s player of the year, while Eadestown’s Darragh Behan was recognised by his peers, collecting the players’ player of the year accolade.
Conneely spent eight months in Canada before returning to inspire the House to an unlikely IFC semi-final berth.
A Leinster minor and U20 championship winner with the Lilies, Conneely was the outstanding performer in Toronto all summer and instrumental in Durham’s first senior league success in 16 seasons.
Now back on Irish soil, the 23-year-old could well register on the radar of Kildare boss Brian Flanagan, under whom he played in the 2022 All-Ireland U20 decider defeat by Tyrone, and is primed to feature for UCD in the forthcoming Sigerson Cup.
Meanwhile, Behan, who is currently in his final year at Brock University, was an ever-present for Durham all campaign.
Despite suffering a championship semi-final loss, in the absence of Conneely, Emmets could always rely upon Behan’s mature, ball-winning presence at midfield.
The 22-year-old previously played in the senior grade for Eadestown, having also been a precocious golfer in his youth, and will be a major addition for Emmet Bolton’s side moving forward.
Other Kildare men to represent Durham during the season were Jason Lambe (Grange) and Tim Dowling (Allenwood).
