THE Ballinascarthy team that won the South West junior hurling A title in the millennium year, 2000, will be honoured by the Carbery Board at half time in Sunday’s centenary hurling final in Kilbrittain. 

Winning the title 25 years ago was a very special occasion because of the millennium connection but also because it was the first year in which the ‘back-door’ system, instead of straight knockout, was used. 

The years around the millennium were great years for Ballinascarthy hurling. In 1997, a new young team surprised favourites Bandon in the final, with the legendary Colman Murphy hitting 11 points in a 0-15 to 0-10 victory. They were subsequently beaten in the county by Castlelyons, who beat Courcey Rovers in the county final. 

The following year, 1998, Bal went on to prove that they were not one-season wonders when they again met Bandon in the final in Ballineen and raised an amazing six green flags in a 6-7 to 1-10 sweeping win. John Kingston and Kevin Ryan hit a brace of goals each, while Colman Murphy had 1-4. Bal went on to beat Dromina in a replay in the county but lost the semi-final to eventual champions, Bride Rovers, by a single point. 

Bal were going for a record three in-a-row in 1999 but Bandon had revenge when they beat the Reds in a replayed semi-final and then went on to lift the Carbery and county titles. 

Undaunted, Bal were on the march again in 2000, little wonder with players like Colman Murphy, Willie Deasy, goalkeeper Kevin Crowley, Jerry Ryan, Timmy Coffey, Padraig Deasy, Brian Murphy, brothers John and Kieran Dinnen in their side. 

The millennium championship was the one every team wanted to win and Bal got the rub of the green when the new back-door system was brought in because they were surprisingly beaten by the emerging Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas in the first round. They regrouped for the new losers’ second round, beating Clonakilty, and then going on to account for Newcestown in the semi-final. 

Opponents in the 2000 final in Bandon on September 10th were Barryroe, backboned by the Tobins, Adrian White, Kevin McCarthy, Batt Whelton and company, and who had been beaten in a replayed final by Bandon the previous season. The game was a thriller, with a spectacular point by Pat Tobin in the 62nd minute looking like the winner but that will-of-the-wisp Bal forward, Willie Deasy, saved the day with a last-gasp equaliser. 

2-10 to 1-13 it finished, and it was back to Bandon a week later for another replay. The sides fought a titanic battle which was level nine times. In the end, Bal lifted the title, winning 0-12 to 0-9.

Bal’s fourth title in three seasons copper-fastened their standing as one of the best teams ever to contest the Carbery junior hurling championship. Colman Murphy captained the side, with the outstanding Willie Deasy winning the man-of-the-match award. Bal were unlucky to lose to Nemo Rangers in the county championship. 

That Bal team had one last grab at glory the following season, 2001, but newcomers Mathúna’, starting out on their own adventures, triumphed in a replayed final. 

The Ballinascarthy team that won the 2000 replay lined out as follows: Kevin Crowley, Kevin Ryan, Jerry Ryan, Micheál Deasy, Eoin Meade, Padraig Deasy, Colm O’Brien, Brian Murphy, Timmy Coffey, John Dineen, John Kingston, Kieran Dineen, Colman Murphy (captain), William Deasy. Subs were Michael Kingston, John O’Sullivan, Keith Collins, Paul Kingston, Niall Deasy, Niall O’Flynn, John Deasy, James Moyles, Conor Nyhan, Michael Murphy, Kevin Kingston, and Edward O’Flynn. Selectors were John Ryan, Benny O’Flynn and Pat Ryan, with Brendan O’Driscoll as coach/trainer.