Cappincur GAA pay tribute to long serving star who has called time on Offaly career

Cappincur GAA Club paid a glowing tribute to, probably, their greatest ever footballer at their 75^th anniversary celebration ball on Saturday evening.

Eoin Carroll has been one of Offaly's and Cappincur's most dedicated footballers for a decade plus and has decided not to rejoin the Offaly squad this year.

He is one of an elite group of Offaly senior footballers with over a century of appearances, playing 101 games in the championship, league and O'Byrne Cup – he would have been one of the contingent who exceeded the tonne in league and championship only for taking time out for a couple of seasons to work in and tour Australia.

Carroll did very well to secure his place on the Offaly team this year after returning. A strong, very hard working midfielder, he has also made a great contribution to his club, Cappincur and was a key part of the management team that led them to the Senior “B” Football Championship final this year, where Clonbullogue proved too strong.

An injury that limited his influence was a factor in their final defeat but Carroll will stay on the management this year as well as playing.

Club chairman Niall Minnock paid a glowing tribute to him as they honoured him on Saturday evening.

“As you are all aware we are here tonight to celebrate our GAA club and its remarkable achievements to date in its 75-year existence and we are all very proud of our GAA club and of our community.

“As well as being proud Cappincur people we are also very proud Offaly people and supporters. And every time a Cappincur player pulls on an Offaly jersey and represents our club we all get a great sense of pride and satisfaction. We have had some players over the years who have donned our county colours and we have some players who possibly deserved the opportunity to showcase their talents at inter county level but didn’t quite get the chance and we will hopefully have many more who will represent our club with Offaly in future years. Cappincur GAA club has had a player represent Offaly in each decade of its existence which is a great achievement for such a small club and catchment area.

“But tonight I would just like to mention one player from Cappincur who has represented our club for a long period of time and with great diligence and commitment.

“As some of you may be aware at the end of this season Eoin Carroll made the decision to retire from intercountry football. What some people here might not know or realise is that in 2024 Eoin surpassed the centenary mark of competitive appearances for the Offaly Senior footballers. On top of this he has also played numerous competitive games at various underage levels.

“Eoin was a teenager making his senior debut with Offaly and despite still being a young man and taking two years out to travel in Australia Eoin managed to finish his inter county Offaly career this year with a total of 101 completive appearances and a scoring tally of five goals and thirty-nine pints.

“Eoin has been a leader, a talisman and a ferocious competitor when representing Offaly, like he is playing for Cappincur.

“Eoin set standards, drove his team forward and wanted success. Playing mostly as a midfielder with Offaly he also played in both the backs and the forwards but no matter where he played he gave 110% for his county.

“So to finish up and on behalf of Eoin’s teammates, club mates, friends and the whole of the Cappincur GAA club I would like to call Eoin forward so we can make a presentation to him in recognition of his intercountry career and as a mark of thanks for wonderfully representing Cappincur in the Offaly colours on over one hundred occasions.

“To mark Eoin’s achievements I would ask everyone to please be upstanding and give Eoin the round of applause that he deserves while the presentation is being made.”