 Connolly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the Galway minor and under-21 teams during their ill-fated tenure in the respective Munster championships.He made his senior championship debut on 9 July 1967 in a 4–12 to 1–11 Munster semi-final defeat by Clare.In 1971 Connolly was honoured when he was named as midfield partner to Kilkenny's Frank Cummins on the inaugural All-Star team.