Carew first played Gaelic football to a high standard as a student at Belcamp College.
[4][5] At inter-county level with Kildare, Carew won consecutive Leinster U21FC titles, as well as being part of their inaugural All-Ireland U21FC success in 1965.
[7] Carew's career with the Kildare senior football team saw him lose six leinster SFC finals between 1966 and 1978.
[8] He was also part of the Kildare senior hurling team that won the inaugural All-Ireland SBHC title in 1974.
Carew made his 83rd and final competitive appearance for the team when he won a second All-Ireland SBHC medal in 1980.