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Megan Connolly (footballer)

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Megan Connolly
Megan Connolly in October 2015
Personal information
Full name Megan Jane Connolly
Date of birth (1997-03-07) 7 March 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Lazio
Number 7
Youth career
2003–2015 College Corinthians
2010–2015 Christ King Girls
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Florida State Seminoles 64 (19)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 College Corinthians 0 (0)
2019–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion 63 (4)
2023–24 Bristol City 22 (1)
2024- Lazio 7 (0)
International career‡
2013–2014 Republic of Ireland U17 12 (9)
2014–2016 Republic of Ireland U19 13 (9)
2016– Republic of Ireland 57 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2024

Megan Connolly (born 7 March 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie A Femminile side Lazio and the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She previously played for College Corinthians, Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion, where she had signed her first professional contract, and Bristol City, where she was captain.

Early life

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Connolly began playing association football with College Corinthians at the age of six. Initially she played with boys' teams before her father helped set up teams for girls. She also showed potential as a Gaelic footballer, playing for Nemo Rangers GAA. In 2012, she was a member of the Cork GAA U-16 Ladies team that won the Munster U-16 Ladies' Championship. Connolly scored a hat-trick in the final as Cork beat Kerry by 5–6 to 0–10.[1] In interviews, Connolly credited her Gaelic football training for helping her with general fitness. She eventually opted to concentrate on association football because it gave her the opportunity to represent Ireland at international level.[2]

Playing association football as a schoolgirl, Connolly won honours at provincial and national level, representing both Corinthians and her high school, Christ King Girls Secondary School.[3] On 16 November 2014, Connolly was a member of the College Corinthians senior women's team that won the Women's Munster Senior Cup. Her father, Michael Connolly, was the coach of the team and Connolly scored in the final.[4][5][6]

College career

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Florida State Seminoles

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In 2015, Connolly began playing for Florida State Seminoles after obtaining a four-year scholarship to Florida State University to study sports management. Compatriot Megan Campbell was involved in her recruitment.[7][8] In her first season playing for the Seminoles, Connolly played a pivotal role in their 2015 ACC Women's Soccer Tournament success, contributing nine goals and ten assists. She subsequently received a number of individual awards including ACC Midfielder of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year.

In December 2015, Connolly was named a First Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for her performances during the season, becoming the first ever freshman player from Florida State to do so. She was also nominated for the Hermann Trophy.[9]

As a sophomore, Connolly played and started in all 22 games. She scored a total of seven goals, including five game-winners, and provided four assists. As a junior, she played in 20 games, starting nine, and finished fourth on the team with nine points on three goals and three assists.[10][clarification needed]

Club career

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Returning from the USA, Connolly signed a contract with Women's Super League side Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 January 2019 for the remainder of the season.[11] She re-signed with Brighton for another year in July 2020.[12]

Connolly spent four seasons at Brighton before signing for newly-promoted FA Women's Championship winners Bristol City ahead of the 2023-24 season, being named captain off the back of her 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup experience with Ireland in Australia.[13] Connolly played all 22 league games for the Robins as they finished bottom and were relegated, their limited budget seeing them win only one league game all season, 3-2 at West Ham United.[14] Connolly's only goal for the club came in a 7-3 home loss to her former club Brighton.[15]

Released from Bristol City after their relegation,[16] Connolly swapped England for Italy at the start of the 2024-25 season, signing for newly-promoted Serie A Femminile side Lazio on 9 August 2024.[17] She made her debut for her new club in their opening game of the season, a 2-2 Derby della Capitale draw against Roma.[18][19]

Lazio won one of their first ten league games in Serie A to lie in the bottom half of the table in seventh place after the first half of the regular season. Their second derby of the season against Roma ending in a 2-1 defeat.[20]

International career

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Connolly has represented the Republic of Ireland at U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19 and senior level. She has been a regular goalscorer at youth international level. On 6 August 2013 during a 2014 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualifier, Connolly scored a hat-trick in a 12–1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[21] Connolly was also a member of the Republic of Ireland team that won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals. On 21 July 2014, Connolly scored a "wondrous free kick" which proved to be the winner in a 2–1 win against Sweden. This earned the Republic of Ireland their place in the semi–final.[22] With three assists, including two against England, and this goal, Connolly was described as "one of the stars of the tournament".[23][24][25]

In 2014, she was named the Under-19 Women's International Player of the Year at the FAI International Football Awards and was presented with the award by Shay Given.[26][27] On 17 September 2015, she scored four goals against Bulgaria in a 2016 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualifier.[28] Connolly was included in the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the 2015 Istria Cup.[29] She made her senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland in a friendly against the United States on 23 January 2016. Connolly came on as a substitute for Ruesha Littlejohn after 65 minutes. The United States won 5–0.[30]

Connolly was part of the Irish squad for the country's inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand. During the team's second group stage match against Canada, with Ireland leading by a goal, Connolly scored an own goal after inadvertently deflecting Julia Grosso's cross attempt into her own net. This equalizer allowed Canada to eventually win 2–1, eliminating Ireland from the tournament. Manager Vera Pauw defended Connolly, saying “She hardly touched the ball trying to save it and was very unfortunate. We do not blame players ever, mistakes are part of the game."[31]

Personal life

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Connolly was raised in Cork, Ireland and is the daughter of Michael and Freda Connolly.[32] Her father was a volunteer coach at College Corinthians and, after Megan began to show potential, he was responsible for reintroducing women's association football to the club.[33] Her older brother Luke is also a footballer, playing association football for Corinthians and Gaelic football for Nemo Rangers GAA and UCC GAA.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 18 November 2024[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2018–19 Women's Super League 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 0
2019–20 9 1 2 0 1 0 12 1
2020–21 15 2 3 0 1 1 19 3
2021–22 20 0 1 0 3 1 24 1
2022–23 13 0 4 0 1 0 18 0
Total 63 4 10 0 6 2 79 5
Bristol City 2023–24 Women's Super League 22 1 1 0 2 0 25 1
Total 22 1 1 0 2 0 25 1
Lazio 2024–25 Serie A 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Total 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Career total 92 5 11 0 8 2 111 6
  1. ^ Includes FA Women's League Cup

International

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As of match played 27 October 2023[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2016 7 1
2017 7 0
2018 3 0
2019 6 0
2020 2 0
2021 8 2
2022 5 1
2023 10 0
Total 48 4
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Connolly goal.
List of international goals scored by Megan Connolly
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 7 June 2016 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland  Montenegro 1-0 9-0 2017 UEFA Women's Championship Qual. [36]
2 26 October 2021 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1-0 2-1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualification [37]
3 30 November 2021 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland  Georgia 11-0 11-0 [38]
4 27 June 2022 Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, Gori, Georgia  Georgia 3-0 9-0 [39]

Honours

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Cork GAA

  • Munster U–16 Ladies Championship: 2012

College Corinthians

  • Women's Munster Senior Cup: 2014–15

Florida State Seminoles

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Connolly goals drive on Cork". 17 July 2012.
  2. ^ "The Unusual Roots Of Florida State's Women's Soccer Success". espnW. December 2015.
  3. ^ www.fais.ie
  4. ^ Evening Echo
  5. ^ "College Corinthians AFC". College Corinthians.
  6. ^ "College Corinthians AFC". College Corinthians.
  7. ^ "The Emerald Exiles Campbell and Connolly embark on Seminole's 2015/16 season". The Emerald Exiles.
  8. ^ "AUDIO: Megan Connolly Speaks on Switch to States". Cork's RedFM.
  9. ^ a b "Cork soccer star makes history in US". 6 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Megan Connolly player profile". Florida State Seminoles. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Connolly signs for Brighton & Hove Albion". RTE. 26 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Jarrett & Connolly Sign New Contracts with Brighton". Newstalk.
  13. ^ "Cork's Megan Connolly joins WSL side Bristol City". echolive.ie. Evening Echo. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  14. ^ Sophie Downey (30 April 2024). "Bristol City's relegation hammers home stark financial realities of WSL". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Bristol City 3-7 Brighton: Visitors punish Robins in crucial relegation clash". BBC Sport. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Fresh challenge beckons for Connolly after Bristol City exit". Irish Examiner. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Ireland international Megan Connolly signs for Lazio". The42.ie. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Lazio-Roma 2-2: Linari pareggia nel recupero il derby femminile al Fersini" [Lazio-Roma 2-2: Linari equalizes in the recovery of the women's derby at Fersini]. romatoday.it (in Italian). 30 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Serie A eBay: Lazio Women-Roma 2-2, il tabellino" [Serie A eBay: Lazio Women-Roma 2-2, the scoresheet]. SS Lazio.it (in Italian). SS Lazio. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  20. ^ "HIGHLIGHTS AS Roma vs. Lazio (Serie A Femminile 2024-25 Matchday 10)". YouTube. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Megan Connolly".
  22. ^ "Women's Under-19 2014 - Sweden-Republic of Ireland – UEFA.com". Uefa.com. 21 July 2014.
  23. ^ "Megan Connolly charting a course towards bright future". Independent.ie.
  24. ^ "Connolly charting towards a bright future". The news Hub. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  25. ^ "SportsNewsIRELAND - SportsNewsIRELAND".
  26. ^ a b "O'Shea claims FAI prize". Setanta Sports - Ireland's Sports Broadcaster. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Sportsfile - 3 FAI International Football Awards Photos - page 2".
  28. ^ "Women's Under-19 2016 - Republic of Ireland-Bulgaria – UEFA.com". Uefa.com.
  29. ^ "Republic of Ireland". "Istria cup" 2015.
  30. ^ Stack, Rachael (24 January 2016). "International Report: USA 5 - 0 Republic of Ireland". ExtraTime.ie. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  31. ^ Kelly, David (26 July 2023). "'Mistakes are part of the game' – Vera Pauw defends Megan Connolly after own goal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Megan Connolly Bio". Seminoles.com. 3 December 2018.
  33. ^ "College Corinthians AFC". College Corinthians.
  34. ^ "Republic of Ireland - M. Connolly - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  35. ^ "Republic of Ireland - M. Connolly - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  36. ^ "IRL WNT secure home record win". FAI. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Finland 1-2 WNT". FAI. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  38. ^ "WNT 11-0 Georgia". FAI. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Georgia 0-9 WNT". FAI. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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