The death has taken place of PJ Carroll, the former Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo manager.

A staunch Cavan Gaels clubman, PJ Carroll led a life immersed in the GAA and left an impression on all those that he met.

On the playing field PJ represented Cavan at minor, U21, junior and senior level, while he also won three Cavan SFC titles. He was on the first Cavan Gaels team to win the county SFC in 1965 and won further medals in 1975 and ‘77, being named as man of the match in those latter two deciders.

In ways it was testament to PJ’s determination that he had such a successful club career as he suffered a severe injury while playing for Cavan’s U21s in 1964. He collided with the boundary wall when pushed over the sideline in a game against Fermanagh and was left with concussion. Such was the extent of the injuries that a priest gave him the last rites that day but after two weeks in hospital he recovered and returned to football the following year.

PJ also was also a referee at club level but an interest in coaching was always with him, indeed he managed his club’s minors at the age of just 22 with great success, and also took charge of his own club’s senior team.

In 1978 he was appointed Cavan senior manager on a two year term and although it didn’t work out for him on that occasion, PJ never held grudges over the way he was treated but instead looked forward to his next challenge.

PJ Carroll leads from the sideline

He served as Cavan U21 manager in 1983 and ‘84, and had a three year term as county minor manager from 1986 onwards.

In 1989 Leitrim came calling and PJ served as senior and U21 manager for Connacht county for three years. An All-Ireland B SFC was won in 1990 and successive league promotions saw Leitrim rise from Division 3 North to Division 1. A Connacht U21 title also came the way of the county and there is no doubt that PJ’s influence played a huge part in Leitrim’s 1994 Connacht SFC final win.

PJ returned to take the helm of Cavan once more in 1993 and ‘94, before moving to Sligo in 1995 and ‘96 with his great friend Tony Dunne alongside him.

On the club scene there was huge success for PJ as he won a Meath SFC with Gaeil Colmcille in 1991, a Monaghan SFC with Castleblayney Faughs in 1998 and a Leitrim SFC with Aughavas in 2000.

PJ also served as Cavan County PRO and his working life was spent with the Anglo Celt Newspaper in Cavan. He also wrote a column in the Hogan Stand magazine and his visits to the office in Kells every Friday with his copy always ended with long discussions on the state of football.

PJ Carroll was known throughout Ireland as a football man, but first and foremost he was a family man to his beloved wife Anne and four children, and later many grandchildren.

To PJ’s family and friends we offer our sincere condolences.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Funeral details - https://rip.ie/death-notice/pj-patrick-joseph-carroll-cavan-cavan-town-573243

 

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