Playing career

He played on the Laois

Laois GAA

The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...

 senior football during the 1970s and 1980s, primarily in midfield. During that period he was widely regarded as one of the top players in the county in his position.

He began his club football career with Stradbally

Stradbally GAA

Stradbally GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland.The club was founded in 1889 and its colours are green and white...

 before transferring to the Courtwood

Courtwood

Courtwood GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club, located in the north east corner of County Laois in Ireland. The club is located in the eastern half of Emo parish with a small catchment area around the village of Ballybrittas and the local school Rath NS.The...

 club, where his father Sean was manager.

He returned to his native club Stradbally

Stradbally GAA

Stradbally GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland.The club was founded in 1889 and its colours are green and white...

 and captained them to the Laois Intermediate Football Championship

Laois Intermediate Football Championship

The Laois Intermediate Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the second grade Laois Clubs. The winners of the Laois Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to...

 in 1983.

His last and most successful club spell was with Portlaoise

Portlaoise GAA

% !!!5 TIMES COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!Portlaoise GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and gaelic football club in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland....

 where he won Laois Senior Football Championship titles in 1987, 1990 and 1991.

Managerial career

Karl returned to one of his former clubs Courtwood

Courtwood

Courtwood GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club, located in the north east corner of County Laois in Ireland. The club is located in the eastern half of Emo parish with a small catchment area around the village of Ballybrittas and the local school Rath NS.The...

 where he carried out two separate spells as manager.

In 2007, he was appointed as manager of Portlaoise

Portlaoise GAA

% !!!5 TIMES COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!Portlaoise GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and gaelic football club in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland....

's senior football team, with Tom Prendergast

Tom Prendergast

Tom "Curley" Prendergast is a former gaelic football player with Laois in Ireland.His inter county career spanned 11 years , although he missed out in 1985 when he signed off the panel. In 1986 Prendergast was a member of the National Football League title winning squad...

, Paddy Fitzpatrick and George Plunkett as his selectors and he was an instant success leading The Town to their 24th Laois Senior Football Championship title.