Tributes flow as Carroll steps away from county scene

Midfield star Eoin Carroll has retired from inter-county football duty with Offaly.

Cappincur GAA honoured Carroll "on his many years and achievements" with Offaly as the club's 75th anniversary ball last Saturday night.

Carroll, who is also the Cappincur GAA public relations officer, was congratulated by the club "on a fantastic career representing the county and our small club".

The talented midfielder returned from Australia to feature for Offaly during the 2024 season.

Cappincur recently appointed Ger Lynam of Erin Rovers as manager for the 2025 season, and his management team includes Carroll along with Darren Screeney and Mike Tormey.

Different players evoke very different emotions, when watching them from the stands and terraces. Elite players elevate a game, but that can be through moments of magic, or through unrelenting commitment to high standards and setting an example.

Eoin Carroll’s athletic ability is undeniable and at his peak, he was capable of dominating the crucial midfield battleground in big games. However, it was his absolute commitment to doing the right thing by the Offaly jersey every minute of every day that will be his longstanding legacy.

There’s no doubt that had the Cappincur man come along at a different time, he would have been an asset to any Offaly team, and made his place in a side that was capable of winning silverware. Instead, he was handed the task of being a leading figure in a dressing room throughout a time when playing for Offaly didn’t yield that sort of tangible benefit.

Some start the relay off, some take up the baton somewhere in the middle and others get the glory of carrying it over the finish line. If the Offaly senior footballers take the strides forward in the next few years that are hoped for, then Carroll will have played his part and more, even if he’s not wearing the jersey at the time.