Jimmy Carroll’s epic comeback - 70 years ago this month
IT IS pretty rare these days but 70 years ago this June, a former soccer star made a shock return to the top stage after years out of football - and played a blinder!
Jimmy Carroll was the man and the match, a 1947 semi-final of the Johnson Cup at Tolka Park.
Jimmy was described that day as a ‘former Drogheda United star forward who gained Junior international honours some years back’.
He had been out of the game for some years, but was brought in for the game against Donore from Dublin.
And the former international star didn’t disappoint.
Jimmy went on a solo run early in the first half which ended with a glorious goal and United went on to win 2-1.
Danny O’Neill was a legend in goal that day, Patrick and Matt Thornton starring as well.
Carroll’s role that day came 11 years after he was first capped at Junior International level, April 1936, playing for the Free State v Scotland at Falkirk. He was well known for a powerful shot and his performances at inside left for his club earned him selection.
A few days later, another Irish squad played England and Tom Lynch from Cairnes Athletic with them.
Jimmy, who lived on Palace Street, passed away in 1973, was one of the greatest players in the history of junior soccer in Drogheda. A native of Newry. Jimmy, accompanied by John Crummie, who hailed from Rathfriland. took up employment in Drogheda in the mid ‘30’s in order to assist Drogheda United minors, and later as outstanding juniors.
Jimmy was employed in Messrs. Galbraith, the bakery concern, as a clerk — and eventually rose to manager before this old-established firm was taken over by Messrs. Peter Lyons. John Crummie was employed in. Messrs. Woodingtons for a number of years before he returned to his native Co. Down.
They featured with such names as Tom ‘Butt’ Lynch, Bill Harte, Joe Byrne, Joe Mullally, Joe Carroll and Frank Taaffe.
In 1950, Jimmy’s brother, Rev. Francis Carroll, S.M.A., was raised to the Prefect Apostolic of Cape Palmas, the southernmost point of the Republic of Liberia. In 1946 the Liberian Government conferred on him the Star of Africa for his educational work. No white man had ever received it before.
Jimmy won numerous honours and was capped eight times at Irish Junior level.