MICHAEL Carroll will be one of a host of Donegal natives who will represent North London Shamrocks in the London Senior Championship Final today.
Peter Witherow – who won an All-Ireland medal with Donegal in 2012 while playing with St Michael’s – is in charge of the Shamrocks team and they will take on St Kiernan’s at Ruislip at 2.30pm on Sunday.
It’s new territory for North London Shamrocks, who are eagerly awaiting the big match.
Carroll is a former Donegal senior footballer, and was part of the Gaoth Dobhair side who won county and provincial medals in 2018.
He was one of the best players for the Magheragallon side in last year’s county final defeat against Naomh Conaill, but felt it was time for a change after that.
“I came over in March and I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” the 26-year-old told the Donegal News this week.
“I was looking for a fresh start and a few of the boys were on to me to go and give it a try.
“I knew the likes of Michael Boyle and Peter Witherow were involved with the Shamrocks, and a few of the boys who were playing.
“I was very impressed with how the club got boys set up with work.
“It’s not like America where they just throw money at boys for two or three months.
“Over here, they are really trying to sort boys out with good jobs to further their careers.
“I’m working for a company called TSL and they are very good to work with. There are a lot of good people who look out for you like the Madigans, and Brian Conaghan from Killybegs, who has been involved with the Shamrocks for the last twenty years.
“I’d encourage anyone who is maybe thinking of a fresh start or heading away, to get in touch with myself or anyone involved with Shamrocks.
“There are fantastic people involved with the club who genuinely look out for you off the field.”
Carroll played for the London senior team this season in the Connacht Championship but they were beaten by a strong Galway side.
They did beat Offaly in the Tailteann Cup before their campaign came to an end at the hands of Antrim in the Preliminary quarter-final.
“I went in with the London senior team and I found it very enjoyable.
“It’s not taken as seriously as it is at home, but it’s still a very good standard of football.
“We improved as the year went on and we would aim to be far more competitive next year.
“I would know six or seven of the club lads from home anyway so it wasn’t hard to get settled with the Shamrocks.
“We have bonded well in the last few months and got some good results.
“We beat Fulham Irish in the semi-final and they were the reigning champions.
“In London, Tir Chonaill Gaels, St Kiernan’s, and Fulham Irish have been the big three for the last twenty years and we are trying to get into that group now.”
The Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Muire clubs enjoy a local rivalry but Carroll is now partnering Ultan Boyle from his neighbouring side at midfield for the Shamrocks.
Former Donegal goalkeeper Michael Lynch, who has previously played for the Naomh Colmcille and Gaoth Dobhair clubs, is part of the set-up.
Also on the panel are Nathan McElwaine (Termon), Liam Kelly (St Michael’s), Sean McMonagle (Na Rossa), Conor McGonigle (Gaeil Fhánada), Daniel Clarke and Oran Hilley (Naomh Colmcille), Joe McGill (St Mary’s, Convoy), Michael Miller and Oran Blaney (St Eunan’s), Ciaran Diver (Moville), Johnny Sweeney (Ardara), and Liam O’Meara (Glenfin).
Witherow (St Michael’s), Conaghan (Killybegs), and Ciaran Greene (St Eunan’s) are involved in the management, while Michael Boyle (Termon) is coach of the London senior intercounty team, and is always available for advice.
Paddy Dolan of St Mary’s, Convoy has impressed for the team but is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
“There’s a good group of us over now.
“Most of us would be around that ’96, ’97, and ’98 age groups, and we would all have played against each other at home.
“One or two moved over at first, and then Joe McGill and Paddy Dolan went over from Convoy and it kind of spiralled from there.
“I suppose word got around that it was a good set-up and there were good opportunities career-wise.
“I don’t think the plan was that there would be so many Donegal boys playing but that’s just the way it happened.”
Carroll tuned into Donegal GAA TV to stream the Senior ‘B’ and Senior ‘A’ championship finals last weekend, and admits that the top London teams are a tad off the elite sides in Donegal.
“I would say we are at a standard of the bottom five or six teams in the senior championship and the top teams in the Intermediate.
“We probably wouldn’t be able to keep up with ‘Eunan’s or Glenties.
“But after that we would probably be able to handle our own.
“We play a similar style of football to home. We like to play a running game and counter-attack.”
The Shamrocks have had a good run through to the final and were boosted by a fine semi-final win over Fulham Irish.
“There are eight senior teams, eight intermediate teams and eight junior in London.
“The Senior Championship has two groups of four teams and the top two go through to the semi-finals.
“We’ve had a good run this year, but we will be up against it in the final against St Kiernan’s.
“They beat us in the League Final back at the end of July so we will go in as underdogs.
“They have three or four players who were up with the London panel, and Kevin McCarthy, who used to play for Kerry, would be their best player.
“They are going for their third championship in four years so they are a good enough team, but we would be quietly confident that we can beat them.”
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