Jack Carvin

John Jack Sandman Carvin, born on 1 March 1878 and died on 9 November 1943, was an Irish Gaelic footballer whose championship career with the Meath, Dublin and Louth senior county teams spanned eighteen years from 1898 until 1916. The writer Paddy Mehigan described him in 1946 as Louth's greatest footballer. After his father's ship was run down by a steamer in 1889 he was sent to work in his uncle's quarry in Bohernabreena, which gave him the nickname Sandman, and his exceptionally long arms and great strength astounded Dublin GAA people before he joined Kickhams. Back in Drogheda he won Louth titles in 1900 and 1901 with Drogheda Independents, and later medals with Boyne Rovers, Dundalk Young Irelands and Tredaghs. He played for Leinster in the inter-provincial competition in 1906 and 1907, played 35 championship matches between 1900 and 1916, missed the 1912 All-Ireland final through injury and was also a noted handballer.