P. J. Carroll (Gaelic footballer)

{{Short description|Irish Gaelic football player and manager (1944–2024}}

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code = Football

| sport = Gaelic football

| image =

| name = P. J. Carroll

| irish = P. S. Ó Cearúill

| feet =

| inches =

| occupation = Printer

| nickname =

| county = Cavan

| province = Ulster

| club = Cavan Gaels

| clubs =

| clyears =

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 3

| clprovince =

| clallireland =

| colleges =

| colyears =

| sig =

| counties = Cavan

| icposition =

| icyears =

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince = 0

| icallireland = 0

| nfl = 0

| allstars =

| clupdate =

| icupdate =

| birth_date = {{birth year|1944}}

| birth_place = Cavan, Ireland

| death_date = {{death date and given age|df=y|2024|10|30|80}}

| death_place = Cavan, Ireland

}}

Patrick Joseph Carroll (1944 – 30 October 2024) was an Irish Gaelic football player and manager. He played at club level with Cavan Gaels and at inter-county level with various Cavan teams. Carroll later served as manager of several club and inter-county teams.

Playing career

Carroll began his senior club career as a 15-year-old in 1959 when he was asked to line out in a depleted Cavan Gaels team for an away league game. He subsequently lined out with the club's under-16 and minor teams, before winning his first Cavan SFC title in 1965.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/cavan/Article/Index/230775|title=Cavan Gaels club notes|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=26 January 2015|access-date=30 October 2024}} He later won further SFC honours in 1975, when he was man of the match, and 1977.{{cite news|url=https://www.anglocelt.ie/2021/03/22/from-the-archive-cavan-gaels-win-sfc-in-1977/|title=From the archive: Cavan Gaels win SFC in 1977|publisher=The Anglo-Celt|date=22 March 2021|access-date=30 October 2024}} Carroll also lined out with Cavan in the minor, under-21, junior and senior grades, however, an injury in 1964 curtailed his inter-county career.{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/334120|title=Legendary figure PJ Carroll passes away|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=30 October 2024|access-date=30 October 2024}}

Management career

Carroll first became involved in team management and coaching when he took charge of the Cavan Gaels minor team at the age of 22 and guided the team to consecutive Cavan MFC titles. He later served as the club's senior team manager before having SFC successes with Gaeil Colmcille in Meath, Castleblayney Faughs in Monaghan and Aughavas in Leitrim.{{cite news|url=https://www.anglocelt.ie/2008/01/16/final-whistle-p-j-carroll-to-manage-drumalee-senior-team-this-season/|title=Final whistle? P. J. Carroll to manage Drumalee senior team this season|publisher=The Anglo-Celt|date=16 January 2008|access-date=30 October 2024}} At inter-county level, Carroll managed Cavan on two separate occasions and Sligo. He also managed Leitrim to the All-Ireland SBFC title in 1990.{{cite news|url=https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/gaelic-games/426816/flashback-to-1990-when-leitrim-claimed-the-all-ireland-b-championship.html|title=Flashback to 1990 when Leitrim claimed the All-Ireland B Championship|publisher=Leitrim Live|date=26 June 2019|access-date=30 October 2024}}

Death

Carroll died on 30 October 2024, at the age of 80.{{cite news|url=https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/gaa/1643560/leitrim-mourns-passing-of-legendary-manager-pj-carroll.html|title=Leitrim mourns passing of legendary manager PJ Carroll|publisher=Leitrim Live|date=30 October 2024|access-date=30 October 2024}}