Everyone at Celtic is saddened to hear of the death of former goalkeeper, Denis Connaghan, who has passed away at the age of 79.

Over a six-year period between 1971 and ’77, Denis played 56 times for Celtic, winning three league titles, the Scottish Cup in 1974 and also the Drybrough Cup that same year.

He actually began his football career with Celtic back in 1963, but left the club a year later. He would go on to spend seven years with St Mirren before returning to Paradise when Jock Stein signed him in October 1971.

He made his debut that same month in a 2-1 league win against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park, and he would go on to make 14 appearances that season, helping the Hoops win their seventh league title in a row.

During his time at Celtic, he competed with Evan Williams and Ally Hunter for the No.1 jersey, and he was in the side which took on Atletico Madrid in the 1974 European Cup semi-final, playing in both legs.

He was also in the starting XI when the Hoops beat Dundee United 3-0 at Hampden to win the Scottish Cup in 1974, while the previous week he had been part of the team which drew 1-1 away to Falkirk to clinch the club’s ninth successive league title.

Denis also famously saved two penalties against Rangers in the 1974 Drybrough Cup final shoot-out – Celtic’s only success in that short-lived competition.

Denis’ last game for Celtic came on October 6, 1976 in a 5-0 home win over Albion Rovers in the second leg of the League Cup quarter-final.

He left the club the following summer and had brief spells at Morton and Clyde before joining junior side, Arthurlie, in 1980.

Speaking back in March 2017, in an interview for the Celtic matchday programme, Denis Connaghan picked out his best Celtic memory.

“Being part of the Scottish Cup-winning team in 1974,” he said. “There were a couple of earlier finals where I was sitting on the bench or in the stand, so that 3-0 game against Dundee United was one that I really did enjoy. It was a great day for me and a great day for the team.

"Even down at Seamill on the morning of the final, I still wasn’t 100 per cent sure I was in the team. Big Jock had the team-talk and then he said, ‘Right, the team today will be, Denis in goal...’, and I thought, ‘what a relief’. There were no mobile phones in those days so I had to find a phone, then call home and say, ‘tell my Da I'm playing today’.’

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Denis’ family and friends at this extremely sad time.

Condolences after the passing of former Celt, Denis Connaghan