Ben O'Carroll: Outstanding Achievement finalist
Ben O’Carroll has made a sensational impact for both St Brigid’s and Roscommon football teams over recent years.
O’Carroll was chosen as man of the match after St Brigid’s defeated Corofin of Galway in the 2023 Connacht senior club football championship final. The attacking ace scored 1-7, including three points from play, with his goal coming from a penalty which set the Kiltoom side on the road to provincial success.
Earlier in the Connacht campaign, O’Carroll had scored six points in the win over Sligo’s Coolera/Strandhill.
St Brigid’s went on to defeat Cork champions Castlehaven in their All-Ireland semi-final, before going very close to ultimate glory in the All-Ireland final against Watty Graham’s Glen of Derry. O’Carroll scored 0-3 in that final at Croke Park, bringing his club campaign total to an eye-catching 7-25.
O’Carroll was one of four St Brigid’s players selected on the football team of the year as part of the AIB GAA Club Players Awards for 2023/2024. In addition, Carroll was one of three nominees for the AIB GAA Club Footballer of the Year.
O’Carroll was a key figure on the Roscommon U-20 team which won the Connacht title in 2021, and they went on to reach the All-Ireland in which they lost out to Offaly.
A persistent injury severely curtailed O’Carroll’s involvement for Roscommon during their 2024 campaign and he didn’t feature for St Brigid’s in this year’s Roscommon SFC. But having undergone surgery in recent weeks, O’Carroll will be looking to return to action for Roscommon early next year.
A skilful and elusive forward, O’Carroll is renowned both for his scoring prowess and his ability to create chances for teammates. In addition to his individual brilliance, his selfless team play makes him a prized asset to any team.
From Hodson Bay, close to Athlone, O’Carroll’s sporting talent was evident from a very young age in both Gaelic football and soccer. A student at University College Dublin, the 22-year-old helped UCD to reach the 2024 Sigerson Cup final.
The other Outstanding Achievement finalists are Eileen Kenny and Chloe Singleton.
The Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards 2024 takes place at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel today (Thursday).
The Outstanding Achievement category at the Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards 2024 is sponsored by DPD.