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James McCarthy (Gaelic footballer)

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James McCarthy
McCarthy during the 2013 National Football League final against Tyrone at Croke Park
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Midfield
Born (1990-03-01) 1 March 1990 (age 34)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation EBS
Club(s)
Years Club
Ballymun Kickhams
Club titles
Dublin titles 2
Leinster titles 1
Colleges(s)
Years College
DCU
College titles
Sigerson titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2010–2024
Dublin 22 (1-2)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 14
All-Irelands 9
NFL 5
All Stars 5

James McCarthy (born 1 March 1990) is a Gaelic footballer who plays for the Ballymun Kickhams club and, formerly, for the Dublin county team. He is widely regarded as one of Dublin's greatest ever players.[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

He was a student at Sacred Heart BNS Ballygall and St Kevin's College in Ballygall.

Playing career

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DCU

[edit]

He attended DCU where he was a defender for the Gaelic football team.[3] In 2012, he won the Sigerson Cup and the O'Byrne Cup with the college.

Ballymun

[edit]

He won two Dublin Senior Football Championships in 2012 and 2020 with Ballymun. He added a Leinster Senior Club Football Championship to his collection in 2012. The team went on to beat Dr. Crokes in the All-Ireland semi-final before losing the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final to St Brigid's GAA (Roscommon).

Dublin

[edit]

Under-21

[edit]

He won the 2010 Leinster Under-21 Football Championship and All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship with Dublin.

Senior

[edit]

He made his championship debut for Dublin against Laois in the quarter-final of the 2011 Leinster Championship,[4] winning his first Leinster Senior Football Championship against Wexford at Croke Park in July that year.[5] Dublin progressed to an All-Ireland final against Kerry,[6] and McCarthy won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The game finished on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-11.[7] McCarthy was nominated for GAA GPA Young Player of the Year for his performances.[citation needed]

On 4 November 2024, McCarthy announced his retirement from inter-county football, ending his 14-year senior career. In a released statement he said "I have decided to retire from representing Dublin GAA at inter-county level, this decision hasn't been an easy one to make but I feel it's the right time."[8][9][10]

Personal life

[edit]

His father John was a senior footballer with Dublin who won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on three occasions.

As of 2020, he was employed by AIB and lived within two kilometres of Poppintree Park, Albert College Park and Johnstown Park.[11]

Honours

[edit]
Dublin
Ballymun Kickhams
DCU
Individual
  • All Star (5): 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023
  • All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final Man of the Match (1): 2017
  • The Sunday Game Team of the Year (1): 2023
  • The Sunday Game Footballer of the Year (1): 2023
  • In May 2020, the Irish Independent named McCarthy at number eighteen in its "Top 20 footballers in Ireland over the past 50 years".[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Brian Fenton on James McCarthy: 'The greatest Dublin player we will ever see'". Irish Examiner. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  2. ^ "GAA Legends Pay Tribute To James McCarthy But Kildare Star Is Pick Of The Bunch". Balls.ie. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  3. ^ Keane, Paul (28 March 2016). "Donegal turn blind eye to James McCarthy incident". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 March 2016. It was McCarthy's tangle with Donegal substitute Martin McElhinney, ironically an ex-team-mate at DCU, that was particularly controversial as the Dublin defender's left hand made contact with McElhinney's eye area.
  4. ^ Hill 16 – The Official Dublin County Board Website. Hill16.ie (2011-06-05). Retrieved on 2011-10-12.
  5. ^ Hill 16 – The Official Dublin County Board Website. Hill16.ie (2011-07-10). Retrieved on 2011-10-12.
  6. ^ "News".
  7. ^ "News".
  8. ^ "Dublin great James McCarthy retires from inter-county game". RTÉ News. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  9. ^ "End of an era for Dublin GAA as James McCarthy announces inter-county retirement". Irish Independent. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  10. ^ "JAMES MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES INTER-COUNTY RETIREMENT". Dublin GAA. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  11. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (7 April 2020). "'There are times you're going to lose motivation. It's normal to have those bad days'". The42.ie.
  12. ^ Breheny, Martin (30 May 2020). "Revealed: The Top 20 footballers in Ireland over the past 50 years". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Dublin senior football team captain
2022–2024
Succeeded by
TBC
Awards and achievements
Preceded by All-Ireland SFC
winning captain

2023
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by All-Ireland SFC Final
Man of the Match

2017
Succeeded by