Niall Carolan
{{Short description|Cavan Gaelic footballer}}
{{Infobox GAA player
| name = Niall Carolan
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| irish = Néil Ó Cearrluinn
| sport = Gaelic football
| clposition =
| icposition = Half Back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|4|18}}
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| clyears = 2020–
| clubs = Cuchulainns
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| code = Football
| county = Cavan
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| province = Ulster
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| icyears = 2022–
| counties = Cavan
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Niall Carolan (born 18 April 2002) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cuchulainns and the Cavan county team.
Playing career
=Club=
Carolan joined the Cuchulainns at a young age and joined the club's senior team in 2020.
=Inter-county=
==Minor and under-20==
Carolan was captain of the Cavan under-20 team for the 2022 season.{{cite news|last=Gartland|first=Niall|date=22 April 2022|title=Carolan embracing the underdogs tag ahead of final|url=https://gaeliclife.com/counties/cavan/cavan-county-football/carolan-embracing-the-underdogs-tag-ahead-of-final/|work=Gaelic Life|accessdate=24 September 2022}} On 22 April, Carolan was in the half-back line as Cavan faced Tyrone in the Ulster final. Tyrone came out winners on a 0–11 to 0–10 scoreline.{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Paul|date=22 April 2022|title=Ruairi Canavan the hero as Tyrone edge Cavan in riveting Ulster U20 final|url=https://www.the42.ie/ruairi-canavan-the-hero-as-tyrone-edge-cavan-in-riveting-ulster-u20-final-5745491-Apr2022/|work=the42.ie|access-date=20 February 2023}}
==Senior==
Carolan joined the Cavan senior squad in 2022 after the Ulster under-20 final loss. On 28 May, Carolan made his senior debut in a first round Tailteann Cup win over Down, scoring a point as a second half substitute.{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Paul|date=28 May 2022|title=Galligan the star of the show as Cavan see off disappointing Down|url=https://www.the42.ie/cavan-v-down-5776796-May2022/|work=The42.ie|access-date=11 July 2022}} Carolan made his first senior start in the quarter-final win over Fermanagh on 5 June.{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Paul|date=5 June 2022|title=Galligan and McKiernan turn on the style as Cavan make light work of Fermanagh|url=https://www.the42.ie/cavan-fermanagh-2-5783928-Jun2022/|work=The42.ie|access-date=24 September 2022}} Cavan went on to face Westmeath in the final on 9 July. Carolan started the game, with Westmeath coming out winners by four points.{{cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Kevin|date=9 July 2022|title=Westmeath crowned inaugural Tailteann Cup champions after late flurry against Cavan|url=https://www.the42.ie/westmeath-cavan-tailteann-cup-final-5812569-Jul2022/|work=The42.ie|access-date=11 July 2022}}
On 1 April 2023, Carolan was at corner back as Cavan faced Fermanagh in the National League Division 3 final. Cavan won the match by 0–16 to 1–7.{{cite news|last=Keane|first=Paul|date=1 April 2023|title=Cavan secure Fermanagh revenge and back-to-back league crowns|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41107360.html|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=1 April 2023}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cavan Football Team 2022}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carolan, Niall}}
Category:Cavan inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Cúchulainn's (Cavan) Gaelic footballers
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen
{{Cavan-Gaelic-football-bio-stub}}