The death of Ambrose (Amby) Carroll on Friday, December 10 saw the severing of another link with the Walterstown side which rose to prominence in the early 1960s.
He first lined out for the Blacks against the now defunct Fourknocks in the first round of the Meath GAA Junior B Football Championship of 1960. Walterstown emerged victorious on a scoreline of 6-10 to 0-2 that day. However, St Mary’s (Bettystown) put an end to Walterstown’s ambitions in the divisional final on a scoreline of 1-4 to 0-4.
By this stage Amby had become a regular on the team, lining out at centre field or full-forward. Following the good run of 1960, hopes were high of outright victory the following year and so it turned out to be. Amby gave one of his best displays when Walterstown defeated Dunboyne 0-10 to 1-4 in the Junior B Final.
Walterstown were not finished yet, as the aim of the club was to win the Junior Football Championship proper. Ratoath cruised to victory in the Junior A Championship and were hot favourites to beat the Blacks in the Junior Championship Final proper.
Amby gave his usual solid display at midfield as Walterstown had a surprisingly easy victory on a 0-10 to 0-1 scoreline. Other players to shine for the Blacks that day were Ciaran Browne, Bernard McCluskey, a youthful Pat Reynolds, Colm Powderly and the Barry brothers, Richie and Paddy.
It was a proud occasion for the Carroll family as Amby was joined on the team by his brothers Paddy and Frankie.
Amby was also to the fore when Walterstown captured the Intermediate Football Championship in 1964. They defeated Kilmainhamwood 1-6 to 1-3 in the final. Amby gave a solid display in his customary role in the middle of the field.
Amby may not have been the most stylish player to ever line out for Walterstown but he never gave less than 100 per cent, proving to always be a tenacious opponent and proving his worth in the heat of many battles.
Amby then went on to play senior football for the club but unfortunately, no honours were to come his way. However, Amby and his colleagues of the 60s laid the foundation for the great successes of Walterstown in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
And later Amby’s influence ensured his son Eoin carried on the Carroll tradition of involvement with the GAA, mainly now in a coaching capacity, while his daughter Jennifer was a member of the first Walterstown ladies team.
All at the club would like to reiterate their deepest sympathies to Mary, Eoin, Jennifer, son-in-law Diarmuid, grandchildren Aoibheann, Tadhg and Bebhinn and all the Carroll family.
Amby was laid to rest in Old Kilcarn Century on Tuesday, December 14. Despite the current Covid-19 restrictions, a large crowd gathered to bid Amby farewell.
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