 Connolly is widely regarded as one of Galway's greatest-ever hurlers.He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at left full-forward on the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium.As the eldest of the Connolly dynasty, many of his brothers, Pádraic, Joe, Michael, Tom, Gerry and Murt, played with distinction for Castlegar and Galway.