Tommy Donnelly

Who is Tommy Donnelly?

Tommy Donnelly is a former Irish footballer who played for Drumcondra, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland.

When Donnelly played as an international there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland - based IFA and the Irish Free State - based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. Donnelly was one of several players born in Northern Ireland who benefited from the FAI’s attempts to establish their all-Ireland influence. He made 2 appearances and scored 1 goal for the FAI XI. Together with fellow Northerner, Mick Hoy, he made his international debut in a 3-2 away defeat to Norway on October 10, 1937, in a qualifier for the 1938 World Cup.

Donnelly won his first cap while with Drumcondra and subsequently joined Shamrock Rovers. He made his second appearance for the FAI XI on September 18, 1938 in a friendly against Switzerland and scored the fourth goal in 4-0 win. The other goalscorers that day were Paddy Bradshaw and Connelly’s Rovers team mate, Jimmy Dunne.