LAST MONDAY MORNING Brian Carroll formally drew a line under his days as an Offaly hurler.
His senior championship days began in 2002 against Kilkenny and concluded last summer against Clare, yet his Offaly career stretches back to a Tony Forristal U14 debut two decades ago.
Retirement though won’t afford the opportunity to gaze at a treasure trove of medals. Carroll’s Offaly heritage was one of success.
His dad Pat was one of those who spearheaded Offaly’s hurling early rise in the 80’s before he passed away in 1986.
Brian grew up as a young fan whose hurling imagination was captured by an Offaly team that lifted Liam in 1994 and 1998.
The trouble was when it came to his own spell as a player, Offaly had regressed in the national hurling order.
In his school days, Brian Carroll hurled with future Kilkenny luminaries in St Kieran’s. But after Leaving Cert their paths diverged.
Between 2002 and 2015, Kilkenny’s trophy count reads All-Ireland (10), National League (8) and Leinster (11). Carroll didn’t manage to win any of those competitions, the closest he came was defeat in the 2004 Leinster decider.
His talent was not reflected in his medal count, a player commonly regarded as one of the best operating outside the elite counties. Yet he is not tormented by the lack of silver.
“Maybe that’s a defeatist attitude to some people but over time and maturity, I’ve come to realise that I couldn’t judge my career based on medals or else what would be the point of doing it?
“There’s a hell of a lot more to it than winning albeit that’s your ultimate goal.
“I got out of the game what I could and ultimately I got it back down to what it should be about, playing the game you love and being the best that you can be.
“I was very conscious of enjoying hurling with Offaly and realising the honour it is to be picked on your county team.”
That theme of enjoyment was one he honed in on in 2015. He was fairly convinced at the outset it would be his last season and that helped provide a release.
“I was going to leave no stone unturned to try to enjoy my year and get as much out of myself as I could.”
“For the last couple of years, I’ve made a conscious effort to try and enjoy my hurling. I was probably too hard on myself and put too much pressure on myself to perform and because of that my performances could have suffered.”
That said, he still tossed the idea of retirement around in his head over the winter a fair bit before finally settling on the decision to depart.
Hurling has consumed him and the demands of the sport he leaves are unrecognisable to those placed on him at the start.
“The levels have gone through the roof. You’re in a cocoon when you’re in a county setup now. You do whatever it takes, 24-7 it’s on your mind.
“You don’t really see what’s going on around you, you’re so immersed in it. That aspect of it has hugely changed.
“There’s no such thing as going for a pint, if you’re even seen in a pub now, it’s (a case of) ‘what are you doing out?’. You’re supposed to be living the life of a hurler.”
Can he see a tipping point on the horizon with the professional standards that are applied to an amateur game?
“I think the nature of sport and the nature of our games, you would think what more can players give?
“But managers will always try to get more and more out of their players.
“I don’t think you’ll see in the foreseeable future that players will revolt to the fact that they want to be remunerated or anything like that.
“It has become by and large a younger man’s game. A lot of people choose their careers now based on their ability to play inter-county hurling. It’s hard to know where it’s going to stop.”
His own county have fallen on hard times. When Carroll entered the Offaly dressing-room he was rubbing shoulders with heroes he had been cheering on from the terraces.
“I played with a lot of guys who won All-Ireland’s, legends for Offaly hurling, the likes of Brian Whelehan, Johnny Dooley, Hubert Rigney, Joe Errity. I learned a lot from those players.
“Offaly was probably in a much better place then than now, the mindset was there that we were one of the top counties.
“We wanted to stay there but unfortunately over time that has changed dramatically.”
He has an interesting theory pinpointing a reason behind the fall.
“I actually think we’ve lots of good hurlers in Offaly. I think what we really miss is probably our physical fitness.
“In Offaly the thinking is that the ball does the work. You watch club hurling, you watch traditional Offaly hurling, the ball does the work.
“But we haven’t been physically prepared for intercounty hurling the way we should be.
“That starts more so at underage level, we probably don’t have the athletes that other counties have. It’s very important to change that mindset.”
Ask him to pick a highlight and he goes right back to the start.
“It was actually the day I made my debut. Based on the fact that my dad played for Offaly, it was just a dream come true.
“I’d dreamed of that moment for a long, long time. Against Kilkenny that day to get a couple of scores as well because that’s what my job was.
“That sticks out as a really special day.”
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The biggest regret is simple to select.
“Probably the Leinster final of 2004. That was the game that got away from us. Damien Fitzhenry was just inspired in the goal, we probably let that game slip.
“If we’d won that Leinster final, it could have changed the landscape of where Offaly hurling went. We dropped dramatically after that.”
The reaction this week took Carroll by surprise. A bunch of celebrated Kilkenny hurlers sent well wishes as did his Offaly hurling heroes from the 80’s and 90’s.
“It’s hugely humbling and I suppose emotional as well. You just don’t expect that level of regard. The big thing for me was the respect of your peers was really heartwarming.
“It does ease the transition from intercounty hurling to normal life. A lot of guys got into contact with me. Joe Connolly even from Galway, he hurled against my dad in the 80’s.”
He won’t be throwing the hurley away for good. It’s almost four years since Coolderry were Leinster senior champions and contesting an All-Ireland final. Last October they reigned in Offaly again. It’s a club brimming with enthusiasm.
“I can’t wait to get back training in Coolderry to be honest. We’re lucky we’ve a successful club, we’re always trying to get the best out of ourselves.
“I’m looking forward to going back to enjoying my hurling because inter-county hurling is very pressurised.”
Cambridge to win!!!!
In the boat race Ben yea ?
Jaysus, if Cambridge did win, would he still call it a twitchy ass?
No train tunnel !
Did Cambridge back off to get the payday?
Ha ha
Cambridge, a town known for its University and Academics,more than its Football. Locals out in force supporting their local team, even though there is a massive gulf in class and they would be regarded as minnows my many.Now imagine if this game was in Dublin, a town that claims to be sports mad. The locals would be supporting the team in Red. We’ve a lot to learn here, as to what supporting a team is really all about.
A town that claims to be sports mad, but in truth is drink mad, and the premier league is on every weekend down the pub. Maybe the fans in Cambridge need a lesson in what latent alcoholism is all about.
Aye but no one turns out for a regular game, that’s not what support is about!
The fact United were the first team to play at the New Lansdowne road was a joke….. “Fans” were cheering goals scored by United against a league of Ireland 11, so embarrassing.
I think we support out national game quite well in Dublin, hill 16 is packed every championship game! Soccer is a foreign game, and the club/ league/ national soccer set up in this country is a complete joke! The GAA make the FAI look like amateurs
I’m assuming u were at the Aviva last season Luke for Rovers v Liverpool. You’re a Liverpool supporter so maybe you ll point out the difference….
I think they average 4-5000 a game so fairly decent. Still chose to get behind their team tonight instead of the ‘big club’. People support their local side in the UK, like people here do their County in GAA. To do anything else would be perceived as odd over there.
Yeah sure Ger. That’s why there are so many Man United fans in London !!!
That’s just not true. Having met countless English people in hostels whilst traveling I can tell you that unless they come from a place with a big club eg Manchester, most do not support there local club. It’s very strange because they don’t even support there nearest biggest club. The amount of people I met from south England who support Man U even though they have no connection to Manchester is staggering and as far as I could see it wasn’t considered strange by other English people.
I wasn’t at that game Gerry because I was on holidays but to be honest if I did Go I wouldn’t have been cheering Liverpool goals any loader than I would have cheered the local teams goals, i am Irish after all.
That Liverpool game was different because it wasn’t the grand opening for our new national stadium. A bunch of sad gits cheering United while their own country men got hockeyed wasn’t the best way to open something we all paid for.
Not as many as in Dublin and people go watch their local teams in London too. Look at attendances across the UK. Even the Conference averages higher attendances than the LOI. Why? Because there is a culture of attending games, regardless of how big or small your team is.
Chadwick has really grown into his face
So far jones final balls have been shocking poor like, Fellaini given away free after free. It’s been pretty tame the last 28 minutes.
LVG should get Ander Herrera, to teach Fellaini on how to tackle and not give away frees all the time. Herrera had more of an impact in the last 15 minutes than Fellaini.
That was just apalling. I don’t care about the conditions or any other excuse. getting stressed watching it. Ruined my Friday evening.
My God that was painful to watch. LVG can take his philosophy and shove it where the sun don’t shine.
Sloop you can’t blame LVG for players poor choice decisions in the final third, to many time player check back instead of going to the byline
I
Sorry B, don’t agree. The manager picks the team so the buck stops with him. Blind was terrible all thru the game but was only substituted near the end. I’ve heard of “blind” loyalty but that was ridiculous.
Of course you can B, That’s his philosophy. It’s brutal to watch, the attacking UTD is long gone with LVG. Very patient but very hard to watch.
Dion Dublin to come on and score the winner for Cambridge
200 million….well worth it.
Well done Cambridge, horrible conditions but they deserve there day out now at Old Trafford . A nice payday for the club aswell now . Will look forward to the replay .
This the real Bazinga?
Ahhh ffs…. You guys always chop my comment…. Journo, why does this happen?
Baz, was saying this year it seems the cups have been about the lil clubs….. Great to see!
There’s a local Malahide lad doing well with Cambridges youth team the last 2 years. It would have been nice to have seen him play tonight. A year or two early for him though!
Cork lad too playing tonight!
Jones , one of our better headerers of the ball hitting corners. Very poor corners at that. Hmmm
Jones is absolute shite. He looks so cumbersome on the ball, gives it away most of the time.
Squeaky bum time glory seekers.
Who do you support then Ben? If it’s anyone except Accrington Stanley then you can FRO
Blind is the furthest thing away from a left I have ever seen!
Any idea why he’s getting booed? It’s hilarious but baffling
V poor, Cambridge were superb. Conditions were poor but no excuse for lads been paid a normal persons salary a week. At least the replay will ensure Cambridge keep their heads above water. Their fans were superb.
F@#King hopeless!!!! Poor tactical formations and no heart from the utd players. Hard to watch.
Why does LVG persist with 3-5-2 ? http://wp.me/p3yGUO-IC
Except it’s 4-4-2 tonight
If that’s your own blog you’re linking you might want to give it a quick proof read for detail. Murinho, while a very good manager, tends to be successful with the traditional 11 man teams, so unless he abandoned the goalkeeping position in his initial spell as Chelsea manager I don’t think it’s accurate to say he “brought in the 4-4-3 so successfully.”
No sure Jose has played the keeper up front loads of times.
Poor Trapattoni lost his job because he insisted on playing 4-4-2 …….
4 4 2
4 4 2
4 4 2
Herrera for felliani, RVP for Wilson.
Falcao doing nothing Time to bring rvp on
They need to provide him with some proper balls
Whats wrong with ball they are using now?
Pretty sure Utd will win
Crikey neither of em !!