THE pain of the past two seasons when they lost a thrilling semi-final in extra time in 2023 to Clonakilty and a replayed final in 2024 to Mathúnas was banished in Kilbrittain on Sunday when Ballinascarthy took home the Flyer Nyhan Cup for the eighth time since 1989.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Ballinascarthy, against this season’s league champions, Kilbree, in Kilbrittain’s new pitch in Clashavanna, promised to be a thriller but the swirling wind proved somewhat of a spoilsport on the day.

That said, this game was in the melting pot right to the final whistle, Ballinascarthy hanging onto a three-point lead under pressure from a battling Kilbree, before emerging as the new champions, winning 0-22 to 1-16.

Thankfully, the rain storm that had caused the postponement of many big games on Saturday and soaked us in Ahiohill at the replay of the minor football final between Newcestown and Sam Maguires, was replaced with intermittent sunshine on Sunday, the wind still with us. The new pitch in Clashavanna was in remarkable shape for this final.

Arrangements by the Kilbrittain club, still celebrating their great win in the premier junior hurling final on the previous Friday night, were top class and we again marvelled at the commitment of the unsung heroes in every club as club secretary Marion Twohig greeted us at the gate, her arm in a sling but still managing to sell tickets.

The crowd looked as big as any we have ever seen at a hurling final and the atmosphere built up nicely as the players paraded behind the piper and Amhrán na bhFiann was sung. We liked the touch of having a flag of every club in Carbery fastened to the fence posts to celebrate the centenary of the board.

Match on and time out to watch the game which unfolded in front of us, maybe not the classic expected but full of fierce determination and commitment from both sides. At half time we got a chance to applaud the Ballinascarthy team that had won the title 25 years ago, another special title as it was the millennium year, 2000.

Tim O'Sullivan of Clash Awards, Innishannon, presents the man-of-the-match trophy to Ballinascarthy's Brian O'Donovan.

Fitting, so, the honours rested where they belonged at the end of this year’s final, and we caught up with man-of-the match Brian O’Donovan amid the celebration.

‘It was a good, tough game. The four points we got after they scored a goal were vital. We said before the game that if they did score a goal, we would respond immediately and we managed that. The backs were super in the second half. We knew if we got the work rate right, got to the pitch of the game, we would be fine,’ O’Donovan beamed.

Jeremy Ryan has more years under his hurling belt than any other Bal player and is revelling in his new role of wing back, while still converting the long-range frees.

‘I’ve been about 16 years on the road with the hurlers now and have won four South West medals, each one gets sweeter than the last,’ said a delighted Ryan, young child in his arms.

‘Playing wing back is a new venture this year. We tried it in the league and the selectors liked what they saw, so I’m still there.

‘The lads in the middle are doing all the hard work and I’m only on the fringe. That suits me fine. I wasn’t worried by their goal as Philip (Crowley, trainer) has it in our heads all year that there will be times when we have our backs to the wall and that is when we have to prove ourselves. I think we did today.’

Before parting the scene of delight for one team but heartbreak for the other, we managed a few words with Kilbree manager Timmy Byrne, a true gentleman in his first season with the team. Not seeking to hide his great disappointment, he was philosophical in defeat.

‘We just didn’t deliver in the second half,’ admitted Byrne.

‘We got the goal we needed in the first half against the wind but then gave them four points before half time. That’s what probably won them the game. We didn’t dig in after the goal. But we’ll be back, there are good young lads coming through and we’ll put this behind us, motor on next season.’

We were delighted to meet the legendary Bal GAA veteran Dan Murphy in the midst of the celebrating crowd. Dan was of the opinion that there was nothing better in the GAA than winning a tight struggle for supremacy, winning a good battle under pressure.

Marion Twohig was directing traffic at the gate with her one good arm as we departed the scene of the Carbery centenary final, a very appropriate location as Kilbrittain themselves were the winners of the very first South West junior hurling title 100 years ago, 1925.

We left the last word to Kilbrittain chairman Dermot Hayes.

‘There’s something very special about these divisional finals – marvellous atmosphere, great crowds, the best of entertainment. It would be criminal if the county board ever interfered with them in any way. Let’s hope they never do.’

Amen to that, we agreed.

Take a bow everybody connected in any way with this season’s centenary junior A hurling final, a job well done. Go mba fada buan sibh.