The Late PJ Carroll RIP, Cavan and Leitrim GAA.

It is with a mixture of great sadness and very fond memories that we learned earlier today of the passing of the late PJ Carroll of Cootehill Road, Cavan Town. PJ was an inspirational figure no matter where he travelled in his many coaching and managerial roles throughout a host of counties and clubs and across a number of decades. He left a lasting legacy no matter where he found himself.

Of course, in Leitrim, we have very many fond memories of the journey that he started for us when he took over the Leitrim Senior Football team in late 1989. At that time the fortunes of the team were at a low ebb but PJ soon set about correcting that across the winter of 1989/90 and on the resumption of the NFL in February 1990 we began to see some glimmer of hope again. By the end of that particular league campaign, we had negotiated two playoff victories over Offaly and Wicklow to earn promotion from Division 3 (North) to NFL Division 2. We had something major to look forward to the following season.

What followed was a continuation of the remarkable turnaround in our fortunes. Under PJ’s drive and discipline, we captured an All-Ireland B title in November 1990 and Mickey Quinn was selected at midfield on the 1990 GAA All-Star Team. By the conclusion of that particular NFL we had finished third in Division 2, after a playoff with Kildare, and narrowly missed out on a quarter-final placing. What is most memorable about those days, apart from the performances on the field, were the huge crowds that followed the Leitrim team, no matter where the games were played. After so many years in the wilderness, it was box office stuff, Leitrim style!!

We maintained our newly found high league standing over the remaining years of PJ’s tenure and for many years beyond that but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get by Roscommon, whom we were paired with across his three Connacht Championship campaigns. If only there was a backdoor route, then!

They say a rising tide raises all boats and it’s fair to say that the influence of the Senior Team’s raised profile helped other teams also. PJ presided over a Connacht Under 21 Championship success in 1991. In that same year, the Leitrim Minor Team captured the Connacht Minor League and reached the Connacht Minor Final. Incidentally, the Leitrim Under 16 Team had won the Fr. Manning Cup in 1990. These were heady days for Leitrim football and the best was yet to come.

PJ handed over the managerial baton to the late John O Mahony in the Autumn of 1992, after three seasons in charge, but the seeds had most definitely been sown and our great success of 1994 duly followed. It is most poignant that we say goodbye to these two icons of Leitrim GAA history within four months of each other. They each played significant parts in this success.

Rest easy PJ, you will never be forgotten by those involved with Leitrim GAA, players, officials, and supporters, who dared to dream almost 35 years ago. You left your mark and a lasting legacy.

Our deepest sympathies are extended to PJ’s wife Anne, daughters Olivia, Annemarie, and Caroline, son Pauric, grandchildren Ellen, Hannah, Ruairí, Dáithí, Malachi, Tadhg, Rìan and Cùan and his siblings Pauline, Maureen, Martin and Sean.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.

PJ Carrol’s Death Notice can be found on RIP.ie or at the link below.

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