James McCarthy (Gaelic footballer)

Last updated

James McCarthy
James McCarthy during the 2013 NFL Final.jpg
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 35)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation EBS
Club(s)
YearsClub
 Ballymun Kickhams
Club titles
Dublin titles 2
Leinster titles 1
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
 DCU
College titles
Sigerson titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCountyApps (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]

Contents

Early life

He was a student at Sacred Heart BNS Ballygall and St Kevin's College in Ballygall. [3]

His father John was also a Dublin senior inter-county player, who won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) on three occasions.

Playing career

College

McCarthy attended DCU where he was a defender for the Gaelic football team. [4] In 2012, he won the Sigerson Cup and the O'Byrne Cup with the college.

Club

McCarthy won two Dublin SFC titles with Ballymun, in 2012 and 2020. He added a Leinster Club SFC title in 2012. Ballymun then defeated Dr Crokes in the All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final before losing the 2013 All-Ireland Club SFC final to St Brigid's GAA (Roscommon).

Inter-county

Under-21

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

Senior

He made his championship debut for Dublin against Laois in the 2011 Leinster SFC quarter-final, [5] winning his first Leinster SFC title against Wexford at Croke Park in July that year. [6] Dublin progressed to the 2011 All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry, [7] and McCarthy won his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The game finished on a scoreline of 1–12 to 1–11, in Dublin's favour. [8] 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." [9] [10] [11]

Personal life

As of 2020, McCarthy was employed by AIB and lived within two kilometres of Poppintree Park, Albert College Park and Johnstown Park. [12]

Honours

Dublin
Ballymun Kickhams
DCU
Individual

References

  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. ↑ "Inside James McCarthy's family life with wife and son as Dublin GAA icon retires". The Irish Sun. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Hill 16 – The Official Dublin County Board Website. Hill16.ie (2011-06-05). Retrieved on 2011-10-12.
  6. ↑ Hill 16 – The Official Dublin County Board Website. Hill16.ie (2011-07-10). Retrieved on 2011-10-12.
  7. ↑ "News".
  8. ↑ "News". Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "Dublin great James McCarthy retires from inter-county game". RTÉ News . 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "End of an era for Dublin GAA as James McCarthy announces inter-county retirement". Irish Independent. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "JAMES MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES INTER-COUNTY RETIREMENT". Dublin GAA. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ 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
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
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