DUBLIN FORWARD DIARMUID Connolly didn\u2019t lose any sleep over his decision to go for a point from the sideline in the last minute of the drawn All-Ireland final with Mayo.<\/p>\n
Connolly overruled his teammate Ciaran Kilkenny, who appeared as though he wanted to play the ball short and retain possession.<\/p>\n
\n Source: Morgan Treacy\/INPHO<\/p>\n
But the St Vincent\u2019s man opted to shoot, sending the sideline wide and allowing Mayo enough time to launch one last attack.<\/p>\n
Cillian O\u2019Connor kicked a last-gasp equaliser and Connolly\u2019s decision not to play it short and run the clock down proved a costly one as Mayo forced another day out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t read the media too much,\u201d Connolly said at a press event before the Dublin SFC final. \u201cAll I wanted to do was put the ball dead. There was what? A minute left in injury time?<\/p>\n
\u201cJust put the ball dead. We could set up for the kick-out, which actually didn\u2019t happen. We were too slow for the kick-out. They ended up getting it off short and they went up and scored a point.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I mean, yeah, I wouldn\u2019t say it was regrettable. But maybe I should have kept possession of the ball in hindsight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut these things happen in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t really think about it. I thought we should have won the game in open play, to be honest with you.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, sure look, these things happen. We went on and got the job done the second day.\u201d<\/p>\n
His penalty was a key signpost on Dublin\u2019s route to victory in the replay. Connolly tucked the spot-kick into the bottom left corner with minimal fuss.<\/p>\n
He typically practiced his penalties three to four times after every training session with the county. Once he stepped up against David Clarke, there was no doubt in his mind where it was going.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was the designated penalty taker for Dublin this year so I practiced every single time I went out on the training field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew where I was going to put it, if it was going to happen. I know there was a little bit of a time delay in changing \u2018keepers because Hennelly got the black card.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I mean\u2026no, I just put the ball down. As I said in the interview [after the game], picked a corner, put it there and the rest is history, really.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t play the occasion. It\u2019s a spot kick. It\u2019s you against the \u2018keeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite enjoying another outstanding year in blue, the 29-year-old wasn\u2019t nominated for Footballer of the Year, but he gave his full-backing to Dublin teammate Brian Fenton.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho got my vote? Fento. Fento\u2019s the man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A talented hurler, Connolly effectively closed the door on ever appearing for Dublin in the small ball code.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see myself playing inter-county hurling in the future, no. I played club hurling this year, albeit a 20-minute spell for one game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll definitely play club hurling but not the inter-county side of things. That ship has sailed unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n