Evergreen Irish League goalkeeper John Connolly is on the lookout for a new club after committing to playing on at the age of 45.
Connolly, who counts the likes of Cliftonville, Derry City, Glenavon, Portadown and Ballinamallard United as former clubs, spent last season with Institute in the Championship.
The Dubliner recently parted company with the North West club but is eager to embrace another challenge ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
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“I want to play on,” said Connolly, who has been keeping fit training by himself and with the help of a Danske Bank Premiership club in recent weeks.
“This is probably my first pre-season where I’ve been without a club, so I want to try and get it out there that I’m fit and available.
“I’m feeling good and I still believe I’m good enough to play at Championship level, but if I have to drop down a level (to the Premier Intermediate League) I’m also open to that.
“My main aim is to continue playing football regularly. I don’t set any targets but I definitely want to play on for as long as I can.”
Did Connolly, who is now living in the County Antrim town of Ballymoney, consider hanging up his gloves after leaving Institute at the end of last season?
“No, not at all,” he said. “I haven’t considered retirement because I still feel good. I can train no problem and I’m not struggling after games or training.
“I look after myself and my fitness levels are good. Physically and mentally I’m probably in the best condition I’ve been in for a long time.
“When I moved homes last year I ended up leaving Ballinamallard and going to Institute and while it was a tough season for the club, I was glad to help Institute survive comfortably in the Championship.
“On a personal level it was good because I was basically playing every week. I think I missed a couple of games but other than that, I was playing regular football.”
Connolly accepts his Irish League debut is threatening to become a distant memory, featuring for Newry Town in a 2-0 win over Cliftonville at Solitude more than 20 years ago.
“It seems like a long time ago,” he smiled. “I went on to play for Cliftonville and those were probably my best years playing under Eddie Patterson and latterly the great Tommy Breslin.
“I spent eight years at Solitude and I loved it there. I lost an Irish Cup final with the Reds but we won three County Antrim Shields and were very close to winning major honours.
“We were runners-up in the league (to Linfield in 2010) and runners-up in the Irish Cup and League Cup. We just fell short, but I really enjoyed my time at Cliftonville.”
Connolly also made history with Ballinamallard United in 2019, playing a key role in helping the County Fermanagh club reach its first ever Irish Cup final.
The seasoned shot stopper was the hero of two penalty shootout wins over Dungannon Swifts and Warrenpoint Town in the last-eight and semi-finals, only to lose the showpiece 3-0 to Crusaders.
“Crusaders were a lot better than us on the day, but the journey to that Irish Cup final was a fairytale and something I’ll never forget,” he said.
“It was an incredible achievement and as a goalkeeper, to win a quarter-final and semi-final on penalties was very special.”
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