Ciarán Carey (born 16 January 1970) is an Irish former player, hurling manager and selector.
Primarily playing at the centre-back position, Carey's club career was with Patrickswell and at inter-county level with Limerick. He was a key member of the latter team during the 1990s and collected two Munster titles, two National Hurling League titles and three All-Star awards.
In retirement from playing Carey has become involved in team management and coaching. At club level he has taken charge of the Tournafulla and Granagh-Ballingarry sides in hurling and camogie respectively. Carey began his inter-county coaching career when he was appointed manager of the Limerick senior camogie team in 2007. He subsequently took charge of the Limerick under-21 hurling team as well as being a selector with the Limerick senior hurling team under Dónal O'Grady. In November 2013, Carey was appointed for a second spell as manager of the Limerick under-21 team.
Early life
Ciarán Carey was born in Patrickswell, County Limerick in 1970. He was educated locally and from an early age he showed an interest in the game of hurling. Carey's brothers, Pa and Paul, as well as his nephew Cian Lynch have also played for Limerick.
Playing career
Club
Carey played his club hurling with the Patrickswell team in a club career that spanned three decades. He first came to prominence as a member of the club's minor team, capturing a county championship winners' medal in 1984.
Carey had just turned seventeen years-old when he lined out in his first senior county championship final as goalkeeper. Parish rivals Ballybrown provided the opposition, however, 'the Well' narrowly took the title by 1–17 to 3–10 and Carey collected his first county championship winners' medal.
In 1988 Patrickswell contested the county championship decider for the second consecutive year. Cappamore provided the opposition, however, Patrickswell triumphed by ten points and Carey added a second county title to his collection. Patrickswell later represented the county in the provincial series of games and even reached the final. The famous Mount Sion club provided the opposition, however, Patrickswell won by 3–13 to 2–13 and Carey added a Munster club winners' medal to his collection. Patrickswell's run of success came to an end in the All-Ireland semi-final when the O'Donovan Rossa GAC Belfast club defeated the Munster champions by a single point.
Patrickswell failed to make it three-in-a-row in 1989, however, the team bounced back the following year to defeat Adare and give Carey a third county championship title. He later missed the club's Munster final triumph over Éire Óg, however, he was back on the team for the All-Ireland final against Glenmore. The game was an exciting one, however, Patrickswell only held the lead on one occasion when Leonard Enright opened the scoring. A 1–13 to 0–12 score line gave Glenmore the title.
The next decade saw Patrickswell become the dominant force in club hurling in Limerick. Carey won his fourth county championship title in 1993. He added to his haul of medals as Patrickswell won three county championships in-a-row in 1995, 1996 and 1997. This latter win was subsequently followed by another Munster final appearance. Clarecastle provided the opposition and eventually won the game by two points.
Four-in-a-row proved beyond Patrickswell, however, in 2000 a one-point defeat of Doon gave Carey an eighth county championship winners' medal.
Defeat in 2001 was followed by a ninth success for Carey in 2003 when Adare were accounted for by two points. Patrickswell subsequently qualified for the Munster final, however, cork champions Newtwonshandrum recorded a 2–18 to 2–9 victory.
In 2006 Carey had the chance to capture a remarkable tenth county championship title. Bruree, a team who last won the championship in 1893, were the opponents. While Patrickswell were expected to win by many a 1–16 to 1–15 score line resulted in defeat for Carey.