Born in Coolderry, County Offaly, Carroll's family had a strong association with hurling going back several generations. His grandfather, Jack Carroll, was a goalkeeper with the Offaly senior hurling team, while his great-grandfather, "Red" Jack Teehan, was the first Offaly player to be selected for the Leinster team in the Railway Cup. His father, Pat Carroll, was a two-time All-Ireland SHC medal-winner with Offaly who died in March 1986 at the age of 30.[1]
Carroll began his club career with Coolderry and had a hugely successful juvenile and underage career, winning three successive Offaly MHC and three successive U21HC medals in a four-year period between 1999 and 2002. He was just out of the minor grade when he made his senior team debut in 2001.
Carroll won his first Offaly SHC medal following a 3-10 to 2-11 defeat of Birr in the 2004 final.[7] Defeat in consecutive finals over the next two years was followed by back-to-back SHC successes in 2010 and 2011.[8][9] The latter victory lead to provincial success, with Carroll claiming a Leinster Club SHC medal after a defeat of Oulart–the Ballagh in the final.[10] He scored three points in Coolderry's subsequent defeat by Loughgiel Shamrocks in the 2012 All-Ireland club final.[11]
Carroll had further Offaly SHC successes with Coolderry following defeats of St Rynagh's in 2015 and Kilcormac–Killoughey in 2018.[12][13] He eventually stepped away from the Coolderry senior team, but continued to line out for the club's second team. Carroll won an Offaly IHC in 2024 after a 3-12 to 1-12 defeat of Drumcullen.[14]
Inter-county career
Carroll was just 15-years-old when he made his first appearance for Offaly in 1999 as a member of the minor team. He spent three years in the minor grade and won a Leinster MHC medal after a 0-13 to 0-08 defeat of Dublin in 2000.[15] Carroll was in his third and final year with the minor team when he was drafted onto Offaly's under-21 team in 2001.[16] He ended his four years in that grade without success.
Carroll made his senior team debut in a Walsh Cup defeat of Dublin in 2002. He was later included on Offaly's National Hurling League panel and quickly became a regular member of the starting fifteen.[17] Carroll made his sole Leinster final appearance in 2004, however, Wexford defeated Offaly by 2-12 to 1-11.[18] He claimed his first senior silverware in 2005 when Offaly secured the National League Division 2 title after a 6-21 to 4-07 defeat of Carlow in the final.[19] Carroll won a second Division 2 medal in 2009 when Wexford were beaten by 1-13 to 0-13 in the final.[20]
Carroll announced his retirement from inter-county hurling in January 2016.[21][22][23] At the time of his retirement he was Offaly's all-time top championship scorer.[24]
Inter-provincial career
Carroll's performances at inter-county level resulted in his selection for the Leinster inter-provincial team. He won consecutive Railway Cup medals after defeats of Munster in 2002 and Connacht in 2003.[25][26] Carroll claimed four winners' medals in total, with further victories in 2008 and 2009.[27]
Coaching career
Carroll served as a coach in Ken Hogan's Lorrha management team when the club claimed the Tipperary IHC title in 2022.[28][29] He later served as manager of his home club of Coolderry before being appointed manager of the Offaly minor hurling team in November 2024.[30]
