Career
He played for Sunderland from 1905 to 1908 and made 39 league appearances, scoring no goals. He then signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 1908, making his debut against Leicester City on 1 September, 1908, and went on to make 44 league appearances. McConnell scored no goals until being signed by Chelsea in 1910.
He signed for Chelsea for £1,000, but only stayed at the club for two seasons before moving to South Shields after making just 21 appearances, with no goals for Chelsea.
He died in 1928.
McConnell gained his first international cap for Ireland on 21 March 1904 against Wales, with Ireland winning the match 1–0. He made 11 further appearances.