Pat Carroll (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Pat Carroll was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Coolderry
and with the Offaly
senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1985.
, County Offaly
in 1956. He was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling
. His father was the goalkeeper on the Offaly
and Leinster
teams while his granduncles, Jim and Joe, played with the county and won two junior All-Ireland
titles in 1923 and 1929. Carroll grew up on the family farm and was educated at Coolderry national school and the Presentation College in Birr
. Following his schooling he worked as a farmer.
with his local Coolderry
club. He enjoyed much success and won two senior county titles in 1977 and 1980.
minor hurling team in 1973. He also played at this level in 1974 before later joining the county under-21 team. Carroll spent four years playing with the under-21 team, however, he had little success in this level either. He made his senior debut in a National Hurling League
game against Antrim
in 1975. It would be 1977 before Carroll made his debut in the championship.
Three years later in 1980 Carroll won his first Leinster
title. It was also the first time that Offaly ahd won the provincial title. Unfortunately, the county's success came to an end in the All-Ireland semi-final with Galway
. The following year Carroll won his second Leinster title, a win which allowed Offaly advance directly into the All-Ireland final. Galway provided the opposition in the championship decider and were the favourites, however, Carroll scored a vital in the first-half to keep Offaly in the match. The 'Faithful County' went on to win the game with Carroll collecting his first All-Ireland
medal. He was later the recipient of a prestigious All-Star
award.
Carroll captained Offaly in 1982 and 1983, however, Offaly were defeated in the Leinster final by Kilkenny
. In 1984 he won a third Leinster medal before giving an exceptional display in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. Cork provided the opposition in the subsequent centenary year All-Ireland final at Semple Stadium
. Unfortunately for Carroll, 'the Rebels' ended up as the victors. The following year Carroll won his fourth Leinster medal in spite of being quite ill. He played his last game for Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim that year, however, he later won an All-Ireland medal as a substitute as Offaly defeated Galway in the championship decider. Carroll also lined out with Leinster
in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He won a Railway Cup medal in 1979.
Pat Carroll died after a short illness on 16 March 1986.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Coolderry
Coolderry GAA
Coolderry GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Coolderry in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is the most successful side in the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship with a record 29 titles.- History :...
and with the Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1985.
Early & private life
Pat Carroll was born in NewhallNewhall
Newhall may refer to:Places in England:*Newhall, Harlow, Essex*Newhall, Cheshire*Newhall, DerbyshirePlaces in the USA:* Newhall, Santa Clarita, California, a district of Santa Clarita that was formerly independent* Newhall, IowaPeople:* Christopher G...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
in 1956. He was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. His father was the goalkeeper on the Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
and Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
teams while his granduncles, Jim and Joe, played with the county and won two junior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
titles in 1923 and 1929. Carroll grew up on the family farm and was educated at Coolderry national school and the Presentation College in Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
. Following his schooling he worked as a farmer.
Club
Carroll played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Coolderry
Coolderry GAA
Coolderry GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Coolderry in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is the most successful side in the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship with a record 29 titles.- History :...
club. He enjoyed much success and won two senior county titles in 1977 and 1980.
Inter-county
Carroll first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the OffalyOffaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
minor hurling team in 1973. He also played at this level in 1974 before later joining the county under-21 team. Carroll spent four years playing with the under-21 team, however, he had little success in this level either. He made his senior debut in a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
game against Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
in 1975. It would be 1977 before Carroll made his debut in the championship.
Three years later in 1980 Carroll won his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
title. It was also the first time that Offaly ahd won the provincial title. Unfortunately, the county's success came to an end in the All-Ireland semi-final with Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. The following year Carroll won his second Leinster title, a win which allowed Offaly advance directly into the All-Ireland final. Galway provided the opposition in the championship decider and were the favourites, however, Carroll scored a vital in the first-half to keep Offaly in the match. The 'Faithful County' went on to win the game with Carroll collecting his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. He was later the recipient of a prestigious All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
Carroll captained Offaly in 1982 and 1983, however, Offaly were defeated in the Leinster final by Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. In 1984 he won a third Leinster medal before giving an exceptional display in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. Cork provided the opposition in the subsequent centenary year All-Ireland final at Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium, located in Thurles, North Tipperary, Ireland, is the home of hurling for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. It is the second largest stadium in Ireland with a capacity of 53,500....
. Unfortunately for Carroll, 'the Rebels' ended up as the victors. The following year Carroll won his fourth Leinster medal in spite of being quite ill. He played his last game for Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim that year, however, he later won an All-Ireland medal as a substitute as Offaly defeated Galway in the championship decider. Carroll also lined out with Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He won a Railway Cup medal in 1979.
Pat Carroll died after a short illness on 16 March 1986.