History - Blue is the Jersey

1994-99

The year began, like so many others, with great hopes for the junior hurlers. This year, at last, they were to be realised. The draw in East Cork was kind. Youghal’s second team came up from junior B even though they had lost to Carrig’s second team in the 1993 championship. Unsurprisingly, they were easy pickings and were thrashed 6-11 to 0-2.

Castlemartyr were next in the semi-final at Dungourney in the middle of August. They had beaten Carrig by three points in a dour, low scoring match a year previously, but this time Carrig‘s forwards clicked and a superb second half performance clinched victory by two points, 2-16 to 3-11.

The sides were level at half time, 1-4 to 0-7, and were still level entering the final quarter. A goal and a point from Jim O’Connor appeared to have put Carrig clear, but Castlemartyr responded with their third goal and Carrig were hanging on to a two point lead when the Castlemartyr full forward nearly deflected a last minute 65 towards the Carrig net; it went wide and Carrig were through to their first East Cork final since 1978.

Carrig scorers: Eoin O’Mahony1-6, Jim O’Connor 1-5, Seamus Collins 0-2, John Horgan 0-2, Philip Kidney 0-1.

Carrig‘s performance in the East Cork final against Killeagh was truly exceptional. Against the wind in the first half Carrig racked up 1-9 without committing a wide to lead by three points at the break. Carrig‘s goal came after 19 minutes when Adrian Healy kicked a rebound to the net and the lead was preserved when JJ Barry saved brilliantly from Joe Deane just before half time.

“Carrig found it more difficult to make headway on the resumption,” reported the Examiner, “and Killeagh coped well in defence with the bulk of the attacks focusing in the centre, unlike in the opening half when play was spread out to the wings. Killeagh, however, never looked capable of snatching a goal as the brilliance of full back and captain Sean Barry, who produced a heroic display, inspired those around him. Indeed one of his many fine clearances helped Carrig edge four points clear when Jim O’Connor got possession and fired over a crucial score after 51 minutes.”

“Three minutes later the match was over as a contest when Carrig scored a lucky second goal. Again it was O’Connor who drove home the final nail in Killeagh’s coffin as his cross from the right wing deceived everyone to finish in the net. There was no way back for Killeagh after that, but they battled away. Mark Landers had two close in frees in the closing minutes but he could only score points and Carrig held on for a deserved win (2-16 to 0-15).”

Carrig: JJ Barry, Martin O’Riordan, Sean Barry(c), Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Donal Scannell, Robert Kidney, Noel Gubbins, Shane Cuddigan, Jim O’Connor 1-5, Philip Kidney, Eoin O’Mahony 0-7, John O’Connor 0-3, Seamus Collins, Adrian Healy 1-0.
Sub: Kieran Horgan 0-1 for Cuddigan.
Other subs: Billy Landers, John Ronan, Paul Keegan, Paul Nolan, Maurice O’Donoghue, John Fitzgibbon, Gerard Barry, John Horgan, Pat Horgan.
Carrig selectors: Michael John Roche (coach/ trainer), Anthony Barry, Kieran Horgan (Ballyregan).

Carrig were favourites for the first round of the county against Nemo Rangers, but were lucky to survive. Nemo had won a bad city final a week earlier but improved significantly against Carrig. They led by five points after only seven minutes and were still ahead entering the final quarter.

A Jim O’Connor goal in the first half kept Carrig in touch and towards half time Carrig steadied themselves with Donal Scannell excelling at centre back and Noel Gubbins taking control of centre field. Gradually Carrig eroded their four point half time deficit and in the closing minutes Eoin O’Mahony put Carrig ahead for the first time from a free. Gubbins added to the lead but in the closing minutes Carrig were hanging on and deep into injury time Nemo‘s John Coogan blasted just over from a 21 yard free. Carrig survived, 1-13 to 1-11

Carrig scorers: Jim O’Connor 1-3, Eoin O’Mahony 0-5, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Seamus Collins 0-1, Robert Kidney 0-1,
Adrian Healy 0-1, Sean O’Farrell 0-1.

The semi-final against Ballinhassig at Pairc Ui Rinn on the first Sunday of October was another massive test of character. Five minutes into the second half Carrig were reduced to 14 men and facing into a strong wind their half time lead of seven points began to look thin.

That lead had been hastily compiled in the last 12 minutes of the first half. Ballinhassig stuck to Carrig well until a goal from a long clearance by Donal Scannell gave them some momentum five minutes before the break and they ended the half 1-11 to 0-7 ahead.

The Examiner takes up the story: “Ballinhassig’s numerical advantage helped them reduce the deficit, 1-11 to 0-11, with a quarter of an hour remaining, but Carrig stood firm. They had to wait until the 51st minute for their first score of the second half, a point from a free, but it offered them breathing space.”

“The clinching score came with the arrival of substitute Sean O’Farrell, who scored a point with his first touch to make it 1-13 to 0-12 and seal Carrig’s victory. Even with four minutes of injury time Ballinhassig couldn’t make inroads against a sound defence.

Carrig scorers: Eoin O’Mahony 0-6, Donal Scannell 1-1, John O’Connor 0-2, Jim O’Connor 0-1, Philip Kidney 0-1,
Adrian Healy 0-1, Seanie O’Farrell 0-1.

The county final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh three weeks later was a signal day in the modern history of the club. The Examiner described Carrig’s two point victory over Barryroe as “one of the best games ever seen in the grade. A game that will live long in the memory of the 4,176 spectators present.” That Carrig should win it playing with 14 men for more than 50 minutes was a monumental achievement.

“When it comes to writing this particular page in Carrig‘s history,” reported the Examiner, “the name of Jim O’Connor will stand out like a beacon. With their backs well and truly to the wall O’Connor proved an inspiration to his colleagues scoring six of his side’s eight second half points.”

There were others like O’Connor who responded to the moment with heroism; Sean Barry, when he moved to centre back, was superb, Donal Scannell improvised brilliantly at corner back, and Noel Gubbins was outstanding at centre field where his consistency over the season had been remarkable.

It had all begun so ominously. Barryroe played with the wind in the first half and swept Carrig off their feet in the first 15 minutes to lead by 1-5 to 0-1. Carrig’s crisis deepened when Seamus Collins was harshly sent off but by half time Carrig had caught their breath and went in trailing by just four points. The second half was an entirely different affair: “Carrig resumed in determined mood,” reported the Examiner, “and, hurling as if their lives depended on it, they tied the scores at 1-6 to 0-9 with 11 minutes remaining. It was no more than they deserved for their fanatical commitment.”

Barryroe went ahead once more only for Gubbins to equalise from 60 yards. The match was into the endgame: “The tension was unbearable,” continues the Examiner, “as both sides were out on their feet in the very heavy conditions, but there was still a kick left in the Carrig lads and it was fitting that O’Connor had the final say in the destination of the title.”

“Taking over the free taking O’Connor pointed from forty metres to give Carrig the lead for the first time three minutes from time. He then brought the house down half a minute later when he pointed another free, this time from 60 yards out. There was still time for Barryroe to save the day but Carrig were not to be denied and they hung on for a truly magnificent victory, (0-12 to 1-7) that was greeted with incredible scenes of jubilation.”

After the match the Evening Echo caught club president Willie John Daly in the first flush of gratification: “Their determination, heart and spirit was the best I’ve seen in a Carrig team for many a long day and this present side ranks among the best this club has ever produced.”

“The spirit of the team was seen when we were reduced to 14 players so early in the game. It was all hands on deck from there on and how our lads responded to the challenge.”

An emotionally drained Michael John Roche composed his thoughts for the Echo too: “Losing a player so early in the game rocked us a bit,” he said, “but the lads displayed tremendous character. I felt we won the game in the 10 minutes before the break when we scored a couple of points that left us only four points down at half time as we turned to play with the wind. In the dressing room at half time I told the lads to keep the ball moving. We had better hurling than they had and I said it would eventually come through. I’m so glad it did.”

Decades of heartache had been eased.

Carrig: JJ Barry, Martin O‘Riordan, Sean Barry 0-1, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Donal Scannell, Robert Kidney, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Adrian Healy, Jim O’Connor 0-7, Adrian Healy, Eoin O’Mahony 0-3, Kieran Horgan, Seamus Collins, John O’Connor.
Subs used: Seanie O’Farrell and Gerard Barry.
Other subs: Billy Landers, Shane Cuddigan, Paul Nolan, John Ronan, Maurice O’Donoghue, JJ O‘Mahony, Paul Keegan, John Fitzgibbon.

Two weeks later Carrig played Fr O’Neills in both the junior A and junior B league finals in a double header at Midleton. Seanie O’Farrell started in place of the suspended Seamus Collins in the A final, but Carrig never got going and lost decisively, 1-18 to 0-11. The junior Bs didn’t fare any better, defeated by seven points, 1-18 to 1-11. In the barren years there had been enough league titles.

Carrig Junior B: Billy Landers, Paul Nolan, Pat Horgan, Anthony Barry, Terence O’Brien, Paul Keegan, John Ronan, JJ O’Mahony, Shane Cuddigan, Kenneth Kidney, Niall Walsh, Gerard Barry, Conor Lehane, Maurice O‘Donoghue, Paul McCarthy.
Subs introduced: Pat Devlin and Peter Manning.

In the championship the junior B hurlers began with a 5-8 to 3-9 victory over Killeagh. Opportunist goals from Kieran Horgan and Maurice O’Donoghue gave Carrig a 10 point interval lead and soon after half time it was stretched to 12. Killeagh rallied but never got close enough to be a threat.

Carrig easily dispensed with Dungourney in the next round to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Lisgoold on the fourth Sunday of September. Carrig played second fiddle for the first twenty minutes but then a goal from a long range free from Paul Keegan was followed by two points to give Carrig a 1-3 to 1-2 lead at half time.

Lisgoold came back with 1-2 without reply after the break and it wasn’t until Gerard Barry and James Walsh were introduced to the forward line that Carrig got going again.

Maurice O’Donoghue rattled the Lisgoold net from a free to throw Carrig a lifeline, but Lisgoold hung on to win by two points, 2-8 to 2-6. There was no shame in defeat; Lisgoold went on to win the East Cork championship and took the county title on the same day that Carrig‘s junior As won theirs

Carrig: Billy Landers, Paul Nolan, Pat Horgan, Anthony Barry, Terence O‘Brien, Paul Keegan 1-0, John Rohan, Kenneth Kidney, JJ O’Mahony, Paul McCarthy, Niall Walsh 0-1, Conor Lehane 0-1, Pat Delvin 0-1, Peter Manning, Maurice O’Donoghue 1-3.

After the brilliant progress of 1993 much was expected of the junior A footballers in 1994 but at Caherlag in the middle of May they came a cropper at the first fence against Glenville, 3-7 to 0-15. The irony was that in patches Carrig played with more cohesion in the forwards than at any time the previous year and in one devastating spell in the first half kicked eight points without reply. However, they conceded a goal after just two minutes and conceded another shortly afterwards.

“We produced some of the best football we ever played that night,” says selector Derry Hartnett, “but they got three goals at bad times and we had no luck. Noel Gubbins had a shot that hit the inside of the post and came out. Donal Scannell had a shot for a point half blocked down, the goalkeeper pushed it onto the crossbar and when it came down it was cleared off the line.”

Carrig still led by three points at half time and by five early in the second half, but Glenville stuck at it and their third goal brought them level. Eoin O’Mahony gave Carrig back the lead briefly but Glenville had the momentum now and they finished the stronger.

For Jim O’Connor and Sean Barrett there was some consolation in their selection on the Cork junior football panel that summer, although Cork didn’t get out of Munster.

Carrig: Ned Dunlea, Brian Nolan, John Horgan, John Ronan, Sean Barrett, Kieran Horgan, Terence O’Brien, Martin Horgan 0-1, Paudie O’Mahony, Eoin O’Mahony 0-6, Jim O’Connor 0-5, Noel Gubbins 0-2, Adrian Healy 0-1, Seamus Collins, Donal Scannell.

The junior B footballers went one stage further at least. They beat Cobh easily in the first round, 3-13 to 2-4, with Philip Kidney kicking 1-5 and Ciaran Roche weighing in with 2-1. Dungourney, though, were too good in the next round. Carrig trailed by just a point at half time, 0-6 to 0-5, but Dungourney chalked up another 1-3 before Carrig got their only score of the second half, an excellent goal by Ciaran Roche. The final margin was five points, 1-10 to 1-5.

Carrig: Pat Doyle, Patrick O‘Sullivan, Pat Horgan, Noel Kidney, Paul Nolan, Paul Keegan, Martin O’Riordan, Shane Cuddigan, Robert Kidney, Davy Barry, Gerard Barry, Philip Kidney, Anthony Barry, Ciaran Roche, Pat Devlin.
Subs introduced: Niall Walsh and Maurice O’Donoghue.

After winning the 1993 B championship the U-21 footballers played in the A grade in 1994 and their opponents in the first round were Castlemartyr, the team they had beaten in the delayed B final just two weeks earlier. This time it was a much closer affair and Carrig just edged it by a point, 0-11 to 0-10; Eoin O’Mahony kicked seven points for Carrig, John Healy got three and Martin Healy got the other.

The semi-final against Glenville was just as close but with the breeze at their backs in the second half Carrig turned around a three point deficit to win by two, 1-9 to 0-10, with Eoin O’Mahony getting the crucial goal.

Glanmire were Carrig‘s opponents in the final at Caherlag on the 7th of July. It was a game which Carrig could, and maybe should, have won. They didn’t make enough of the breeze in the first half, taking just a three point lead into the break, and had another ten minute period of dominance in the second half which yielded just a point. Still, they led by two points with ten minutes to go, but then Glanmire swooped for a goal, added two points immediately afterwards, and distorted the final scoreline with another goal in the last minute to make it 3-7 to 0-10.

Carrig: Pat Doyle, Thomas O’Brien, Paul Nolan, John Fitzgibbon, Adrian Healy, Sean Barry, John O’Connor, Noel Gubbins 0-2, Seamus Collins, Martin Horgan, Eoin O’Mahony 0-7, John Healy, Troy Cuddigan, Ciaran Roche, Davy Barry.
Sub used: Seanie O‘Farrell 0-1.

The U-21 hurlers were also in the A championship, but after reaching the county final a year before they went out in the first round to Midleton a couple of weeks before the junior county final. Midleton led by a point at half time, before an early second half goal by Seanie O’Farrell put Carrig ahead. Midleton responded straight away with a goal of their own and though Carrig dominated the closing stages they couldn’t close the three point gap, 1-12 to 1-9.

Carrig: Pat Doyle, Brian Kidney, Sean Barry, John Fitzgibbon, Paul Nolan, John O’Connor, Paul McCarthy, Adrian Healy, Davy Barry, Seanie O‘Farrell 1-0, Seamus Collins, Eoin O’Mahony 0-4, John Healy 0-1, Troy Cuddigan 0-2, Conor Lehane 0-2.

During 1994 the club’s underage teams continued to thrive. For the third year in a row the national school won a section of the Sciath na Scoil at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Inspired by Michael Fitzgerald at centre field they breezed to the final with a series of thumping victories and the final against Douglas wasn’t much different. Carrig led by 2-5 to 0-0 at half time and when Douglas looked like making a fight of it early in the second half they were killed off by a Jerry Roche goal. At the finish Carrig were easy winners, 4-6 to 2-3.

Carrig panel: Stephen Holland, Philip Kidney, Noel Furlong, Alan Walsh, Cian Walsh, Cormac Byrne, Kerry O‘Mahony, Michael Fitzgerald, Niall McCarthy, Leonard Healy, Liam O’Brien, Aodhagan O’Hara, Jerry Roche, Donal Collins, Christopher Carey, Jamie O’Rourke , Michael O’Riordan, David Jagoe, Stephen Kidney, Stephen Dineen, Frank Flannery.

Picking up from where they left off at U-12 two years previously the U-14s were imperious at A grade in East Cork, winning every trophy on offer, hurling and football, league and championship. Midleton were their victims in the hurling championship final, Glenville in the football and from there they marched on to two county finals.

Goals from Michael Fitzgerald, Sean McCarthy and Andrew Bowen smoothed their victory over Inniscarra in the country county hurling final, 3-4 to 0-3. In the country county football final they were even more impressive. Having already accounted for Beara they hammered the West Cork champions Caheragh, 2-12 to 1-4. The outstanding Cian McSweeney led the scoring with 1-3; Cormac Byrne got the other goal.

Na Piarsaigh were Carrig’s opponents in both county finals and ultimately Carrig couldn’t cope with their power. In the hurling final Carrig played with the wind in the first half, but trailing by 1-6 to 0-3 at the break the contest was effectively over. Carrig defended with huge heart under great pressure in the second half and with eight minutes to go a Sean McCarthy goal reduced the deficit to four points. Carrig, however, didn’t score again and Na Piarsaigh went on to win by five, 1-10 to 1-5.

Carrig could only muster four points in the football final where Na Piarsaigh’s greater physique was an even bigger factor and in the end they ran out easy winners. Losing both finals was desperately hard but in reaching both finals they had chartered ground that no Carrig U-14 team had ever travelled before.

Carrig panel: Damien O’Donovan, John Ahern, Niall Kidney, Noel Furlong, Peter Furlong, Seamus O’Farrell, Jason Barrett (hurling captain), Kieran Barry (football captain), Andrew Seymour, Cian McSweeney, Andrew Bowen, Michael Fitzgerald, Sean McCarthy, Cormac Byrne, Dessie O’Mahony, Kieran O’Connor, Denis O’Connell, Liam O’Brien, Philip Kidney, Kenneth Landers, Carl Sylvester, Jerry Roche, Fergus O’Mahony.
Hurling selectors: John Flannery, Donal Power, Ollie Bowen.
Football selectors: Sean Lordan, Barry McGrath, Brendan Cronin.

The junior hurling victory of 1994 continued to dominate the opening months of 1995. An especially large crowd of 380 people attended the club’s annual dinner dance at the Midleton Park hotel on the first Friday of February with Davy O’Keeffe, captain of the last Carrig team to win a junior county 28 years before, stealing the show with a sparkling speech.

A month later the hurlers were treated to a weekend in Galway in recognition of their achievement. Former Carrig player Billy O’Neill made all the arrangements in Galway, including a challenge match against senior club Liam Mellows which Carrig lost by a point, 0-10 to 0-9.

In the following month Carrig took part in the Munster junior championship staged by the Bruff club in County Limerick. More glory beckoned. Carrig got a bye to the semi-final where they played the Limerick champions Ballybricken. It was an epic match which Carrig finally won by a goal after extra time, 5-16 to 4-16.

Ballybricken led by three goals at half time, 2-7 to 0-4, having played with the breeze, but Carrig improved after the break, driven on by Noel Gubbins, Robert Kidney, Eoin O’Mahony and substitute Jim O’Connor. They still trailed by five points with three minutes remaining but one last burst brought Carrig drew level with O’Connor’s third goal and two points from Eoin O‘Mahony. Carrig never let Ballybricken pull away from them in extra time, but didn’t take victory until Maurice O’Donoghue plundered a late goal.

Carrig Scorers: Jim O’Connor 3-3, Eoin O’Mahony 0-10, Noel Gubbins 1-2, Maurice O’Donoghue 1-1.

Carrig’s opponents in the final on the first Sunday of May were the Tipperary champions Ballynahinch. It was a much less open match than the semi-final, but an early point by Niall Walsh followed by a Shane Cuddigan goal gave Carrig some breathing space in the first quarter and they kept that lead until half time, 1-4 to 0-3. The Tipp champions got two goals in the second half, however, and it took a couple of late points from Eoin O’Mahony to seal the match for Carrig,1-10 to 2-4.

Carrig: JJ Barry, Martin O’Riordan, Sean Barry, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Donal Scannell, Robert Kidney, Noel Gubbins, Adrian Healy, Niall Walsh 0-1, Seanie O’Farrell, Eoin O’Mahony 0-8, Seamus Collins, Shane Cuddigan 1-0, Maurice O’Donoghue.
Subs: Michael Barry 0-1 for O’Donoghue, James Walsh for Niall Walsh (injured)

That victory seemed to augur well for Carrig’s prospects in the championship and there were other good signs too. In the Midleton Gaelic Week tournament Carrig won both the junior B and intermediate trophies; the junior Bs beat Fr O’Neill’s by 6-6 to 0-13 before edging out Cloyne in the final, 2-11 to 3-7, while the intermediates beat Aghada, 2-8 to 1-9.

Cobh were Carrig’s opponents in the championship and with an under strength team Carrig had run them to two points in the league, 3-10 to 1-14. When the championship came around in the middle of July, however, Carrig’s best form was well behind them and Cobh won more easily than the 1-12 to 0-10 scoreline suggests.

There were turning points against Carrig as early as the fifth minute. Trailing by three points Sean O’Farrell pulled beautifully overhead on a dropping ball only for it to come back off a post. The ball was cleared up field and immediately Cobh struck for the only goal of the match.

Carrig went 14 minutes without a score and after 25 minutes trailed by 1-6 to 0-1. Then Seamus Collins broke clear of the Cobh defence, running in from 30 yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat; his shot, however, was poorly struck and the goal that Carrig so desperately needed refused to come.

Facing into the second half 1-7 to 0-2 they showed a lot more fire and briefly reduced the deficit to five points. Early in the final quarter they had one last real goal chance when Collins was brought down in the square, but Eoin O‘Mahony’s shot flew just over the bar and with that went any chance of a Carrig recovery.

Carrig: JJ Barry, Martin O’Riordan, Sean Barry, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Donal Scannell, Robert Kidney, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Adrian Healy, Eoin O’Mahony 0-4, James Walsh, Seanie Farrell 0-1, Kieran Horgan, Jim O’Connor 0-3, Seamus Collins 0-1.
Sub: John O’Connor for James Walsh.

The year though was to have other compensations. In September Carrig were invited to the All Ireland junior sevens hosted by St Judes in Dublin and so nearly took the title. In the qualifying group stages they beat St Mogues of Wexford and Rostrevor of Down, before going on to beat Ballinahinch of Tipp for the second time that year in the first knock out round – only this time it was a trouncing, 9-8 to 3-0.

Blarney, Cork junior champions the year before Carrig, were their victims in the quarter-final, 2-7 to 0-4, before going on to take Raharney from Westmeath in the semi-final, 5-9 to 2-7. Killanena from Clare were their opponents in the final, but after five great wins Carrig just ran out of steam and lost by three goals, 5-5 to 2-5. Eoin O’Mahony was Carrig’s star and he was just pipped for the player of the tournament award, but it was a monumental effort by all of Carrig‘s ten man panel.

Carrig: Eoin O’Mahony, Kieran Horgan, Robert Kidney, Martin O’Riordan, Sean Barrett, JJ Barry, Sean Barry, Maurice O’Donoghue, Adrian Healy, Seamus Collins.

It was a good year too for Carrig players on representative teams. As East Cork champions, Carrig nominated Seamus O’Farrell as chairman of the Imokilly selection committee and Carrig had nine on the panel: Jim O’Connor (captain), JJ Barry, Sean Barry, Sean Barrett, Eoin O‘Mahony, Brian Nolan, Seamus Collins, Noel Gubbins, Seanie O’Farrell. They had a great run, beating Glen Rovers, Seandun and Midleton before losing by a point to Ballyhea in a semi-final they squandered.

O’Connor was also captain of the Cork juniors, with Gubbins on the bench and Peter Hogan chairman of the selection committee, but they lost in the first round to Clare.

Seanie O‘Farrell, however, had a glorious year with the Cork minors. He came on to the panel just a couple of weeks before the first round against Limerick, but scored 1-2 in that match to cement his place on the team. He repeated that total in the Munster final against Waterford and in the All Ireland semi-final against Galway scored a vitally important goal again just after half time when Cork were chasing a big deficit.

The All Ireland final was his quietest game of the season, but he still scored a beautiful point and brought an All Ireland minor hurling medal to the village for the first time since Seanie Cashman in 1978.

The junior Bs picked up the baton from the intermediates and had a great run in the 1995 championship. They received a bye in the first round and then hammered Dungourney by 6-10 to 1-5 in the next.

Youghal looked like they were going to run a drag with them early in the quarter-final, scoring 1-5 in the first 12 minutes, but then Maurice O’Donoghue found the net directly from a 65 and Carrig were level at the break, 1-6 apiece. A goal from Gerard Barry early in the second half gave Carrig a lead that they never relinquished. Barry added his second goal later and though Youghal brought the margin down to a point with five minutes to go, Carrig pulled away again to win by four, 3-9 to 1-11.

They drew with Midleton in the semi-final on the first Sunday of October and won the replay a week later in an extraordinary match. Carrig didn’t score for the first 13 minutes, but Midleton failed to score for the entire first half and by then Carrig’s lead was 4-2 to 0-0.

Midleton had the wind after the break and inevitably came back but with Paul Keegan, John Horgan and John Ronan excelling in the half back line Midleton didn’t get their three goals until the last eight minutes, and it left them six points adrift at the final whistle, 4-5 to 3-2.

Carrig scorers: Maurice O’Donoghue 1-4, Peter Manning 1-1, Kenneth Kidney 1-0, Gerard Barry 1-0.

Carrig were raging favourites for the final against Bride Rovers at Watergrasshill but they produced their worst performance of the year to lose by a goal, 1-7 to 0-7. The Bride Rovers goal came in the opening seconds, but Carrig recovered from it and were level within 11 minutes. The sides were level at the break too, 0-5 to 1-2, before Carrig took the lead for the second time soon after the resumption.

But it was also for the last time as Bride Rovers sent over three points in succession. Carrig could only manage one more point before the finish and the prospect of adding the championship to the league title they had won earlier went down in flames.

Carrig: Billy Landers, Brian Kidney, Pat Horgan, Anthony Barry, Paul Keegan(c), John Horgan, Paul Nolan, Shane Cuddigan, Paul McCarthy, Thomas O’Brien 0-1, Philip Kidney 0-1, Gerard Barry, Kenneth Kidney, Peter Manning 0-1, Maurice O’Donoghue 0-4.
Subs: Conor Lehane for Kenneth Kidney.
Other panellists: Martin Healy, Troy Cuddigan, John Fitzgibbon, Alan Collins, Brian O’Flynn, Derek Nolan, John Roche, Pat Doyle, Davy Barry, John Ronan.

The junior A footballers steadied themselves after the first round defeat of 1994 with a five point victory over Cloyne, 2-7 to 0-8. A goal from Noel Gubbins helped Carrig to a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after five minutes but Cloyne got on top at centre field later in the half and Carrig‘s half time lead was reduced to a goal, 1-5 to 0-5.

The second half began just like the first with Carrig finding the net, this time through Jim O’Connor, and after six minutes they found themselves seven points clear. Carrig, however, surrendered the initiative meekly after that and their lead had been cut to four points when Cloyne were awarded a penalty 15 minutes from the end. Ned Dunlea saved brilliantly and recognising a reprieve Carrig finished the match well.

Carrig scorers: Eoin O’Mahony 1-3, Jim O’Connor 1-2, Seanie O’Farrell 0-1, John O’Connor 0-1.

The second round against Glenville gave Carrig a chance to avenge the freakish defeat of a year before but, instead, the result was repeated in a tight match, 1-6 to 0-7. Carrig were leading by a point shortly before half time when Adrian Healy won a penalty but the effort was saved and a couple of minutes later Glenville got the only goal of the match.

Their lead at half time was four points, 1-4 to 0-3, and early in the second half that was stretched to six. By the time Carrig were awarded their second penalty of the game three minutes from the end the margin was back to four, but the second penalty was also saved and that was that. Glenville went on to win the East Cork and county championships.

Carrig: Ned Dunlea, Sean Barry, John Horgan, John Ronan, Seamus Collins, Sean Barrett, Brian Nolan, Paudie O‘Mahony, Martin Horgan, John O’Connor, Jim O’Connor, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Adrian Healy, Sean O‘Farrell 0-1, Eoin O‘Mahony 0-5.
Subs: Tony O’Flynn, Kieran Horgan, Paul Keegan, Paul Nolan, John Fitzgibbon, Martin O’Riordan, Brian Kidney, Paul McCarthy.

The junior B footballers didn’t get past the first round. They played badly against Youghal and lost by two points, 1-5 to 1-3. Youghal converted a penalty very early on but Paul McCarthy equalised mid-way through the half and at the break only a point separated the sides,1-2 to 1-1. Seamus Collins was eligible to play having missed the first round of the A championship and he nearly stole the match for Carrig near the end, but his shot for goal hit a post and Carrig went out.

Carrig: Pat Doyle, Pat Horgan, Martin O’Riordan, Patrick O’Sullivan, JJ Barry, Paul Keegan(c), JJ O’Mahony, Martin Horgan 0-1, Peter Manning, Seamus Collins 0-1, Paul Nolan, Davy Barry 0-1, Shane Cuddigan, Donal Scannell, Paul McCarthy 1-0.
Subs: Conor Lehane, John Fitzgibbon, John Healy, Brian Kidney, Thomas O’Brien, Kenneth Kidney, Martin Healy, Troy Cuddigan, Derek Nolan, Alan Collins, Ciaran Roche, Sean Sheehan.

The U-21 footballers remained in the A championship and won their first round against Fr O’Neill‘s, 3-5 to 2-3. Then they blew the semi-final against Erin’s Own, 3-3 to 0-11. Carrig led by three points with time nearly up before Erin’s Own suckered them with an equalising goal and a winning point in injury time. It was an unnecessary defeat because Carrig had dominated the first half and should never have been only level at the break, 0-7 to 2-1. They controlled the second half as well but couldn’t put Erin’s Own away and in the end paid the price.

Carrig: Brian Kidney, John Fitzgibbon, Sean Barry, Alan Collins, Davy Barry, John O’Connor, Thomas O’Brien, Seamus Collins(c) 0-2, Adrian Healy, Paul McCarthy 0-1, Seanie O‘Farrell 0-3, Conor Lehane 0-2, Derek Healy, Ciaran Roche 0-2, John Healy 0-1.
Subs: Derek Nolan, Sean Sheehan, Martin Healy, John Walsh, Brian O’Flynn, John Ahern.

The U-21 hurlers played in the A championship as well and took Youghal to a replay in the first round. A howling gale dictated the pattern of the match and Carrig produced an inspired performance to save themselves. Trailing by 1-7 to 0-1 at half time, they lost Sean O‘Farrell through injury early in the second half and were reduced to 14 men shortly afterwards.

A Derek Nolan goal just after half time gave Carrig some hope but it wasn’t until Sean Barry was switched to attack that Carrig’s comeback took shape. In an astonishing finish to the match Carrig drew level with four minutes to go only for Youghal to produce a goal out of nothing. Carrig didn’t bend, however, and in the last minute a goal from Davy Barry tied the match for the last time, 2-9 to 3-6.

Carrig: Derek Healy, John Fitzgibbon, Sean Barry 1-2, Martin Healy, Brian Kidney, John O’Connor , John Ahern, Adrian Healy, Paul McCarthy, Sean O’Farrell 0-1, Seamus Collins 0-1, John Healy 0-1, Davy Barry 1-1, Thomas O’Brien, Derek Nolan 1-0.
Subs: Alan Collins, Brian O‘Flynn, Sean Sheehan, John Roche, Mark Nolan.

The replay took place five days later, but Carrig were significantly depleted by suspension and the injury to Seanie O’Farrell. Things got worse when Carrig had another player sent off during the match. Davy Barry got Carrig‘s only two scores in the first half and they trailed by 2-4 to 1-1 at half time. Paul McCarthy added a point after the break but it wasn’t until Sean Barry got two goals in the last ten minutes that the bare look was taken off the defeat, 3-12 to 3-2.

The minor hurlers also went out in the first round, losers by eight points to Sars, 1-16 to 1-8, after a gallant performance. A great goal by Sean McCarthy kept Carrig in touch at the break, 0-10 to 1-4, and according to the Imokilly People, “Carrig stuck doggedly to their task in the second half. Even a Sars goal mid-way through the half did not break the Carrig spirit. Points from Seanie O’Farrell and Jason Barrett kept Carrig in the game and they were most unlucky to strike the crossbar with two goal attempts in the closing minutes.”

The minor footballers went one step further with a 1-13 to 1-5 victory over St Catherines in the first round. Six Carrig players shared seven points in the first half but it wasn’t until Sean O‘Farrell fisted a goal with five minutes left that the game was safe. In the next round, however, Carrignavar were too good for Carrig and won by three points, 0-15 to 2-6.

Carrig minor panel: Damien O’Donovan, Liam Barry, Brian Kidney, Derek Nolan, Michael O’Connor, Seanie O’Farrell, Niall Kidney, John Roche, Mark Nolan, Derek Healy, Alan Collins, Brian Barry, Eddie Camlin, Sean McCarthy, Fergal Power, Jason Barrett, Brian McCarthy, Conor McCarthy, Fergal Golden, Kieran Murphy, Brian O’Shea, John Everard, Michael Browne

Underage glory in 1995 belonged to the U16s who brought an East Cork U-16 A hurling championship to the club for the first time since 1961. Youghal and Erin’s Own were their victims in East Cork and they went on to beat Blarney in the semi-final of the country county, 2-6 to 1-8.

Facing into the wind Carrig were poorly insulated by a one point lead, but Seamus O’Farrell got a vital goal mid-way through the half and, with Damien O’Donovan outstanding in goal, Carrig hung on. Newtownshandrum were Carrig’s opponents in the country county final and inspired by future Cork seniors Ben and Gerry O‘Connor, were simply too good for Carrig.

Carrig panel: Damien O’Donovan, Peter Furlong, Liam Barry(c), Fergal Golden, John Paul O’Riordan, Niall Kidney, Noel Furlong, Jason Barrett, Kieran Barry, Conor McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Derek Healy, Cormac Bryne, Seamus O’Farrell, Michael Fitzgerald, Niall McCarthy, Cormac Carroll, Brian McCarthy ,Paul Roche, Cian McSweeney, Andrew Bowen, Kenneth Landers, William Jagoe, Aidan Lehane, Shane Kennedy.

A year later Carrig won the U-16 A hurling championship again. This time they overcame Midleton in the East Cork final and went on to beat Mallow, 4-10 to 1-9, to bring the country county title to Carrig for the first time. The sides were level nine minutes into the second half but Carrig dominated the rest of the game. Two goals from Andrew Bowen and another from Seamus O‘Farrell smoothed Carrig’s passage. In the end they were found out by the city champions, just as they had been as U-14s two years earlier. Then it was Na Piarsaigh, this time it was the Barrs, 3-9 to 1-6.

Carrig: Damien O’Donovan, John Ahern, Noel Furlong, Niall McCarthy, Peter Furlong, Niall Kidney, Liam O’Brien, Jason Barrett , Kieran Barry, Des O’Mahony, Sean McCarthy, Cian McSweeney, Michael Fitzgerald, Andrew Bowen Seamus O’Farrell.
Subs: Stephen Holland, Kenneth Landers, Jerry Roche, Kerry O‘Mahony, Denis O’Connor, Michael Buckley, Fergus O‘Mahony, Karl Sylvester, Andrew Seymour, Aidan Lehane, Alan Walsh, Brendan Ryan.

For half a dozen of those U-16s, however, it had already been a wonderful summer. On Munster final day at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Imokilly beat South Tipperary to take the Munster inter-divisional championship for the first time, 2-11 to 0-15. The team was captained by Niall Kidney at full back while Jason Barrett at wing back and Sean McCarthy at wing forward were the other Carrig lads on the team; Damien O’Donovan, Seamus O‘Farrell and Kieran Barry were also on the panel and Donal Power was the Carrig selector.

In the greatest decade of underage success for the club 1996 was another good year. For the fifth year in a row Carrig’s national school contested a sectional final of Sciath na Scoil, and after their defeat by Bishopstown in 1995, they came back to take their fourth title of the 1990s. Watergrasshill were their opponents in the final and after two matches a lovely goal by Leonard Healy in the closing minutes of the replay finally separated the sides, 2-2 to1-2.

Carrig panel: Craig Horgan, Ronan Power, Donal Collins, Sean Flannery, Fergus Meade, Eoin O’Brien, Stephen McCarthy, Michael O’Riordan, Leonard Healy, Andrew Knowles, Stephen Kidney, John Devaney, Gary Maher, Dominic Cashman, Neil O’Connor, Brian Lordan, Michael White, Shane O’Mahony, PJ Ahern, John Leo, Tim O’Connor, David Keane, Steven Dineen.

With most of the same players, Carrig took the A football championship in a pulsating final against Glanmire. Carrig and Glanmire had each beaten the other once during the round robin stages of the competition and on the night of the final there was nothing to chose between the teams.

With ten minutes to go Glanmire led by five points and looked to be heading for their third U-12 championship in a row, but Brian Lordan, Sean Flannery and Leonard Healy were outstanding in adversity and Andrew Knowles‘ second goal helped swing the game in Carrig’s favour, 4-8 to 2-8.

The U-13s and U-14s both won B hurling championships. The U-13s came from behind to beat St Catherines with goals from Dominic Cashman and David Keane in the last quarter; it finished 2-5 to 1-5. The U-14s beat Cobh by 3-3 to 0-7 in the East Cork final before going out to Bandon in the first round of the county championship.

Carrig (U-14s): C Horgan, D Collins, A Walsh, M O’Riordan, S Kidney, K O’Mahony, E O’Brien, A O’Hara, D Cadogan, S Dineen, F Flannery, C Carey, P O’Connor, L Healy, S Holland.
Subs: S McCarthy, M Healy, F Meade.

After a couple of subdued years the junior A footballers made a mark on the championship again in 1996. They met Midleton in the first round in Cobh and hung on against a second half onslaught to win by four points, 2-9 to 1-8. Jim O’Connor found the net inside five minutes and Noel Gubbins added another goal to make it 2-6 to 0-2 at the break. Midleton came back strongly but Gerard Barry and Sean Barrett were outstanding in the Carrig defence and Midleton were kept at bay.

Carrig scorers: Noel Gubbins 1-3, Jim O’Connor 1-1, Eoin O’Mahony 0-3, Shane Cuddigan 0-1, Adrian Kidney 0-1.

Another early goal, this time from Shane Cuddigan, set the tone of Carrig‘s quarter-final victory over Cloyne, 3-6 to 0-5. A further goal from Eoin O’Mahony reflected Carrig‘s dominance and they led by 2-4 to 0-1 at half time. Cloyne rallied after the break, but Sean O’Farrell took a grip on centre field and the issue was sealed when Seamus Collins got Carrig‘s third goal.

Carrig scorers: Eoin O’Mahony 1-3, Shane Cuddigan 1-0, Seamus Collins 1-0, Sean O’Farrell 0-2, Noel Gubbins 0-1.

The semi-final against Youghal on the first Saturday of September was an amazing match. Carrig absorbed so much pressure in the first half that the match should have been out of their reach by the break, but they endured and, with five minutes of normal time remaining, led by four points. Youghal brought the deficit back to three points with a pointed free and then pounced for an equalising goal. Carrig took the concussive blow and responded with a point from Eoin O’Mahony, but as injury time dragged on Youghal pointed twice and, mercilessly, Carrig were out.

Carrig: Brian Kidney, Brian Nolan, John Horgan, Kieran Horgan, Adrian Healy, Sean Barrett, Terence O’Brien, John O’Connor 0-1, Gerard Barry, Eoin O’Mahony 0-4, Noel Gubbins 0-2, Sean O’Farrell 0-2, Seamus Collins, Jim O’Connor 0-1, Shane Cuddigan.
Sub used: Adrian Kidney 0-1.
Other subs: Paul Keegan, Conor Lehane, Thomas O’Brien, John Ronan, John Fitzgibbon, Michael Barry, Robert Kidney, John Healy, Derek-Nolan, Paul Nolan.

The junior B footballers started their campaign with a thrashing of Gortroe, 3-14 to 0-5, but had to battle hard to beat St Catherines in the next round, 1-6 to 1-3. St Catherine’s goal came in their first attack of the match but, despite playing against the wind, Carrig stuck at it and Tony O’Flynn scored a thunderous goal to leave it 1-2 to 1-0 at half time. Carrig stormed ahead with six points in succession after the break and St Catherines had no answer.

Carrig: Pat Doyle, Maurice O’Donoghue, Patrick O’Sullivan(c), John Rohan, Martin O’Riordan, Paul O’Brien, Paul Nolan, Martin Horgan, John Fitzgibbon, Conor Lehane, Robert Kidney, John Healy 0-2, Derek Nolan, Tony O’Flynn 1-1, Martin Healy 0-1.
Subs used: Donal Scannell 0-2 and Paul McCarthy.

The semi-final was played in Glenville on a hard morning in December. For 50 minutes Carrig did exceptionally well against Carrignavar’s first team, with John Healy kicking good frees, Donal Scannell spraying the ball intelligently and Patrick O’Sullivan playing a captain’s part at full back. But in the last ten minutes Carrignavar cut loose and Carrig were left reeling.

Earlier in the year Carrignavar had been Carrig’s opponents in the second round of the junior B hurling championship after Midleton gave Carrig a walkover in the first round. Carrig went three points behind early on but goals by Martin Healy and Peter Manning had them in front at the break, 2-4 to 1-5. The Carrig defence was outstanding in the second half with Mark Nolan, John Fitzgibbon and Brian Kidney particularly good in the full back line and Carrig eventually pulled away to win comfortably, 3-12 to 1-9.

Carrig scorers: Martin Healy 1-1, James Walsh 1-1, Maurice O’Donoghue 0-4, Peter Manning 1-0, Donal Scannell 0-2, John O’Connor 0-2, Kieran Horgan 0-1, Philip Kidney 0-1.

In the quarter-final, however, they lost badly to St Catherines. The intermediate hurlers lost badly in 1996 too. Pitted against Tracton in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at the end of June they were outclassed, 3-14 to 0-9. Carrig played with the breeze in the first half, but trailed by 1-7 to 0-1 after 20 minutes, and by 2-10 to 0-4 at half-time.

Things improved a little after half time with Gerard Barry coming on to play well in defence and Michael Barry switching to the attack where he made an impact and landed a couple of points. Carrig played with more pride and lost the second half by just two points. It was no consolation.

Carrig: John Roche, Michael Barry, Martin O’Riordan, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Thomas O’Brien, Robert Kidney, Shane Cuddigan, Noel Gubbins, Adrian Healy, Sean O’Farrell, Eoin O’Mahony, Conor Lehane, Seamus Collins, Sean Barry.
Subs introduced: Anthony Barry, Gerard Barry.
Other subs: Kieran Horgan, John Fitzgibbon, Paul McCarthy, Paul Keegan, Maurice O‘Donoghue, Paul Nolan, JJ Barry, Derek Nolan.

At least the minor hurlers went one step further with a 5-8 to 3-4 victory over Watergrasshill; Derek Healy led the scoring with 2-6. Cloyne though proved to be too strong in the semi-final and Carrig lost by seven points, 1-11 to 1-4. The minor footballers went out in the first round, losers by two goals to Glanmire, 3-8 to 1-8. The match was effectively conceded in the opening minutes when Glanmire chalked up 2-2 before Carrig got their first score.

Carrig panel: Damien O’Donovan, Michael Browne, Michael O’Connor, Liam Barry, Fergal Power, Kieran Barry, Fergal Golden, John Roche, Sean McCarthy, Niall Kidney, John Paul O‘Riordan, Derek Healy, Cian McSweeney, Mark Nolan, Brian Barry, Niall McCarthy, Killian O‘Brien, Michael Fitzgerald, Jason Barrett, Craig Donnelly, Brian McCarthy, Seamus O’Farrell, Eddie Camlin, Cormac Carroll.

The U-21 footballers didn’t go any further, beaten by Killeagh in the first round, 1-7 to O-5. Killeagh led by five points at half time and Carrig never looked like closing the gap in the second half. The U-21 hurlers went out in the first round of the B championship as well, losers to Carrignavar by 1-9 to 0-9. Having led by four points early on they had to come from two points down to draw level early in the second half. But then they failed to score for the next 25 minutes and the match was surrendered.

Carrig panel (Hurling and Football): Brian Kidney, Derek Nolan, John Fitzgibbon, Alan Collins, John Ahern, Adrian Healy, Sean Sheehan, Brian O’Shea, Seamus Collins, John Roche, Sean O’Farrell, Derek Healy, Martin Healy, Conor Lehane, Mark Nolan, Thomas O’Brien, John Healy, John Everard, Michael O’Connor, Liam O’Neill, Tadgh Horgan, John Walsh, Brian O‘Flynn, Brian Barry, Paul McCarthy, Fergal Power, John Paul O‘Riordan, Michael Fitzgerald.

The draw for the intermediate hurling championship in 1997 gave Carrig the chance to put the record straight against Tracton, but the record remained unaltered. At Church Road on the last Sunday of June Tracton crushed Carrig, just as they had a year earlier. The sides were level after 20 minutes, 0-5 apiece, but two Tracton goals before half time changed the mood of the match. Tracton went on to build a total of 4-15 before the finish; Carrig toiled for their 0-9.

Carrig: JJ Barry, Michael Barry, Sean Barry, Brian Nolan(c), John O’Connor, Sean Barrett, Robert Kidney, Gerard Barry, Noel Gubbins, Eoin O’Mahony 0-1, Philip Kidney 0-1, Jim O’Connor, Donal Scannell, Sean O’Farrell 0-6, Seamus Collins 0-1.
Subs used: John Horgan and Adrian Healy.

It was left to the youngsters to redeem the hurling year and the minors did so with a great run to the country county final at Premier grade. It was all a bit hairy at first. In the opening round against Carrigaline Carrig trailed by seven points with ten minutes to go before rescuing themselves in a breathtaking finish.

First Peter Furlong found the net, then Jason Barrett soloed through for another goal, cutting the deficit to a point. That cleared the stage for Michael Fitzgerald to shoot the equaliser, taking his total on the night to 1-5; 3-8 each was how it finished. Two weeks later Carrig made good their escape and goals from Seamus O’Farrell and Fitzgerald eased Carrig to a convincing win, 2-12 to 2-4.

Carrig blitzed Bandon in the first half of the semi-final and led by 2-5 to 1-1 at half time. Mid-way through the second half Fitzgerald’s second goal put Carrig eight points clear, but that was to be Carrig’s last score and the end of their comfort. With ten minutes to go Bandon cut Carrig’s lead to four points and the momentum was with them. Carrig‘s defence, though, restricted Bandon to just one further point and Carrig went through, 3-8 to 3-5.

Carrig had lost the U-16 country county final to Newtownshandrum two years earlier and, as minors, the outcome was no different. Carrig played with the breeze in the first half but went in only level at the break. Ten minutes into the second half the sides were still level, but then Ben O’Connor opened his shoulders and Carrig were brushed aside.

Seamus O’Farrell‘s late goal took the bare look off the margin of defeat, 2-11 to 1-8. For the minors, fulfillment wouldn’t be long in coming.

Carrig: Damien O’Donovan, Peter Furlong, Liam Barry, Niall McCarthy, Kieran Barry, Niall Kidney 0-1, John Paul O’Riordan(c), Jason Barrett 0-1, Noel Furlong, Derek Healy 0-2, Seamus O’Farrell 1-0, Cormac Carroll, Conor McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Michael Fitzgerald 0-4.
Subs used: John Ahern for Niall Kidney (injured); Kidney for Conor McCarthy; Cian McSweeney for Cormac Carroll.
Other subs: Fergal Golden, Shane Kennedy, Denis O’Connor, Kenneth Landers, Brian McCarthy, Sean Buckley, Steve Holland, Des O’Mahony, Frank Flannery.

The minor footballers competed at A grade and advanced just as far. Wins over Erin’s Own and Glenville took them to an East Cork final against Castlelyons who were no match for Carrig on the night. Michael Fitzgerald with 2-9 and Cian McSweeney with 1-6 drove Carrig to a handsome victory, 4-19 to 1-5.

Some Carrig players, including selector Niall Barrett, had won an East Cork minor A football medal when Carrig amalgamated with Aghada for the 1972 championship, but this was the first time the title had come independently to Carrig.

Carrig didn‘t play well in the first round of the county against Valley Rovers and needed two good points from Aidan Lehane to put them ahead entering the final quarter. Then, at last, they clicked and rattled off five points to put the game beyond the reach of Valley Rovers, 0-14 to 1-6.

A couple of goals put Carrig under pressure against Naomh Abhan of Ballyvourney and, with eight minutes to go Carrig’s half time lead of six points was reduced to two. Cian McSweeney rose to the emergency and produced two quick points, taking his tally to eight. But then, with two minutes to go, Naomh Abhan got their second goal and Carrig were hanging on to win, 0-13 to 2-6.

Carrig met the West Cork champions Tadhg MacCarthaighs (Caheragh) in the final of the country county at Kilmichael in the middle of November and gave themselves every chance with a good first half performance. Playing with the wind, and, inspired as always by Cian McSweeney, they led by 1-6 to 1-1 at half-time.

Carrig coped well for a while after the break but then Caheragh cut loose and Carrig were swamped. Carrig were four points down by the time Michael Fitzgerald got his second goal in the game’s dying moments and in what time remained Carrig couldn’t find an equaliser; a great run finished in defeat, 1-11 to 2-7.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Cormac Carroll, Noel Furlong, Liam Barry, Shane Kennedy, Peter Furlong(c), Niall Kidney, John Paul O‘Riordan, Sean McCarthy, Aidan Lehane, Niall McCarthy, Jason Barrett 0-1, Derek Healy, Cian Mcsweeney 0-5,
Michael Fitzgerald 2-1.
Sub: Kieran Barry for Noel Furlong (injured).
Other subs: Seamus O‘Farrell, Stephen Sylvester, John Ahern, Cian Walsh, Fergal Golden, Brian McCarthy, Sean Buckley, Des O’Mahony.

The minors also won the East Cork football league, but their quest for the county league was halted in the final by Naomh Abhan, who exacted revenge for their championship defeat at Carrig’s hands.

It turned out to be an outstanding year for football in the club. The positive signs shown by the juniors in 1996 were consummated with a league and championship double in 1997. It was a long, disrupted championship campaign which began at the end of May and didn’t finish until the last Sunday of November.

Carrig struggled in the first round against Bride Rovers and trailed by three points early in the second half, 0-5 to 0-2. Then the match turned. Eoin O’Mahony flicked a high ball to the net and a minute later Kieran Horgan surged forward from wing back to kick the lead point. Sean O’Farrell kicked two good points to keep Carrig ahead but Bride Rovers refused to die and Carrig’s victory wasn’t assured until Noel Gubbins‘ last minute point made it 1-6 to 0-7.

Carrig made things hard for themselves against Castlemartyr in the semi-final. Seamus Collins was sent off early on and they failed to score for the first 25 minutes, by which time they trailed by four points. Then Castlemartyr had Jimmy Smiddy dismissed and Carrig shook themselves.

Points by corner back Sean Barry and Noel Gubbins cut the deficit to two at half time and, when Carrig drew level ten minutes into the second half, the impetus was with them. Top scorer Sean O’Farrell and centre back Sean Barrett stretched Carrig‘s lead with a couple of good points and in the end they coasted to victory, 0-9 to 0-4.

The year dragged on so long that, in the build-up to the East Cork final, Carrig were unable to line up practice matches. Desperate to keep training fresh, Diarmuid O’Donovan brought a rugby ball to the session on the Sunday before the final and for the first time in the club’s history a game of tip-rugby was staged in the field.

Glenbower Rovers were Carrig‘s opponents, contesting their first East Cork junior A football final in thirty years and reviving memories of a long forgotten link between the clubs. In those days Carrig didn’t field a junior football team, but persuaded by Seanie Barry – a Killeagh man who was hurling with Carrig – a handful of Carrig lads agreed to play football for Killeagh.

Johnny O’Riordan and John O’Connor lined out when they won the junior B title in 1966 and a year later Pat O’Connor, Tim O’Connor and Donie McCarthy joined the Killeagh panel for their run to the junior A final. Midleton beat Killeagh that day and thirty years later they didn’t fare any better.

In the 1997 final, Carrig were clearly superior but took an age to assert it. A goal from a penalty by Joe Deane left Glenbower in front at the break, 1-4 to 0-5. Carrig had been awarded a penalty too, but Cian McSweeney put it over the bar; when they got another in the second half Sean O‘Farrell stepped up, but his effort was saved. By then, at least, O‘Farrell had found the net from play and Carrig were into their stride.

Seamus Collins and free taker Cian McSweeney were outstanding in attack and Jason Barrett, a first half substitute for the injured John Paul O’Riordan, made a big impression. The defence restricted Killeagh to two points in the second half and Carrig weren’t flattered by their margin of victory, 1-10 to 1-6.

“We heard a few harsh words in the dressing room at half time,” said Sean Barry in the Imokilly People. “The goal was the tonic we needed and once we hit the front we were always going to be difficult to beat.”

“At the start of the second half when we were two points down I was a bit worried,” said Seamus Collins, “but then we got on top in vital areas. Jim O’Connor’s influence at centre field was vital as was the contribution of Jason Barrett at centre forward.”

It ended a great year for Collins. He was brought onto the Cork senior football panel for the National League and played a couple of matches, including one against Kerry. He won a McGrath Cup medal and, even though he wasn’t on the championship panel, he was outstanding for the Cork juniors, scoring 2-2 in their first round defeat by Clare.

Carrig: Adrian Kidney, Sean Barry, John Horgan, Brian Nolan, Terence O’Brien, Sean Barrett(c), Kieran Horgan, Paudie O’Mahony, Gerard Barry, John Paul O‘Riordan, Sean O‘Farrell 1-0, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Jim O’Connor 0-1, Seamus Collins 0-1, Cian McSweeney 0-7.
Subs: Martin Healy, John Ronan, Niall Kidney, Paul Keegan, Jason Barrett, Sean McCarthy, Donal Scannell, Paul Nolan, Patrick O’Sullivan, Paul McCarthy, Thomas O’Brien, Shane Cuddigan, John Fitzgibbon.
Selectors: Diarmuid O‘Donovan (coach), Sean McCarthy, Ned Barden.

Because the East Cork championship was so delayed, Carrig were nominated to represent the division in the county championship and, on the last Saturday of October, they met the Duhallow champions Kiskeam at Glanthane. It was an outstanding match which swung one way and then the other in a dramatic second half.

The sides were level, 0-7 apiece, at half time but Carrig started the second half strongly and after 10 minutes were 0-11 to 0-8 in front. The twists, however, had yet to begin. A goal from a penalty brought Kiskeam level and a minute later they found the net again. Carrig took the hit and dug in.

A goal by Jim O’Connor with ten minutes to go levelled the scores again; Kiskeam responded with a point and Sean O’Farrell replied in kind. With six minutes to go nothing separated the sides; then Kiskeam struck for their third goal and this time Carrig had nothing left and lost 3-9 to 1-12.

Incredibly, the East Cork board insisted on Carrig playing their final two league matches on the following day. That year the league was played in a straight round robin format with no semi-finals or final and Carrig needed to win both of their remaining matches to take the title. Remarkably, they pulled it off. In the morning they beat Carrignavar, in the afternoon they beat Castlemartyr and the most punishing weekend imaginable had, at least, ended with silverware.

Carrig (Kiskeam match): Adrian Kidney, Sean Barry, Terence O’Brien, John Ronan, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, Kieran Horgan, Gerard Barry, Paudie O’Mahony, Noel Gubbins, Sean O’Farrell 0-6, Cian McSweeney 0-4, Jim O’Connor 1-0, Seamus Collins 0-2, Donal Scannell.
Subs: John Paul O‘Riordan for G Barry; Jason Barrett for Scannell; Sean McCarthy for Gubbins.

The junior B footballers made an impression in 1997 too. They hammered St Catherines 4-13 to 0-6 in the first round of the championship on the last day of May and a week later accounted for Russell Rovers. They trailed by a point early in the second half after Russell Rovers converted a penalty, but, with Adrian Kidney outstanding in attack, they gathered themselves to win by four points, 0-11 to 1-4.

At half time in their quarter-final against Youghal on the first of July they were six points down and looked dead and buried. Carrig finished the first half with just a point to their name but the introduction of John Fitzgibbon and the switch of Donal Scannell to centre field for the second half made a huge difference. A goal from Davy Barry brought Carrig level and a late point from Adrian Healy took Carrig through, 1-7 to 1-6.

By the time the semi-final against Dungourney came round the junior Bs had lost Donal Scannell, John Fitzgibbon, Sean Barry and Paudie O’Mahony to the junior As but they regrouped well. With time running out they looked like hanging on in a tight match, until a late penalty turned the game in Dungourney‘s favour and they went on to win by two points.

Carrig panel (quarter-final): Pat Doyle, Sean Barry, Patrick O‘Sullivan, Paul Nolan, JJ Barry, Pat Horgan, Robert Kidney, Paudie O‘Mahony, John O’Connor, Adrian Healy, Fergal Power, David Barry, Donal Scannell, Niall Kidney, John Fitzgibbon.
Subs: Conor Lehane, John Ronan, Paul McCarthy, Derek Nolan, Alan Collins, James Horgan, Mark Nolan.

The junior B hurlers engaged Cobh for 150 minutes in the first round of the championship before bowing out. In the drawn match Carrig came from three points down with five minutes to go. Jason Barrett hit the last two of his six points and Peter Manning finished the job.

The replay was a curtain-raiser to Imokilly and UCC in the senior championship and, for those with the prescience to come early, it was the game of the night. Carrig led for most of the match, and were ten points up at one stage, but Cobh came back and a late goal left Carrig scrambling to force extra time. After another half an hour locked in a clench Cobh sneaked victory by a point, 3-18 to 3-17.

Carrig panel: Damien O’Donovan, Liam Barry, Martin O’Riordan, John Ronan, Paul Keegan, Pat Horgan, Paul Nolan, Paul McCarthy, Terence O’Brien, Conor Lehane, Thomas O’Brien, Jason Barrett, Derek Healy, Shane Cuddigan, Niall Kidney, Peter Manning, John Paul O’Riordan, Martin Healy, Kieran Barry, Conor McCarthy, John Roche, James Horgan, Mark Nolan, Kieran Horgan.

The U-21s were graded B in both championships. The footballers went out in the first round to Carrignavar, 1-9 to 0-9, but the hurlers enjoyed a great run. A second half goal from John Roche squeezed Carrig through against Dungourney in the first round, 1-9 to 0-11 but Cobh were easly dispensed with in the semi-final, 3-13 to 1-9.

Carrig met Bride Rovers in the East Cork final in the middle of August and left the title behind them. Three goals from the outstanding John Roche put Carrig ten points up at half time and the issue was apparently decided. But Sean O‘Farrell retired injured at the break and Carrig collapsed in the second half. With time ebbing away Bride Rovers pulled into a one point lead, before Derek Healy popped up with his third point and the last score of the match: 3-9 to 4-6.

The replay didn’t take place until the first Sunday of December and in heavy conditions Bride Rovers‘ greater strength did for Carrig. Circumstances conspired against Carrig too. Injury deprived them of John Paul O‘Riordan and Derek Healy before the start and Sean O‘Farrell mid-way through the first half. After 15 minutes Carrig trailed by 3-3 to 0-0 and at half time it was 4-7 to 1-1; there was no way back.

O‘Farrell bravely returned for the second half, but it later transpired that he had a fracture in his leg and he could do no more. The defence tightened up considerably after the break, with captain Thomas O’Brien outstanding at centre back, but defeat was decisive, 5-7 to 2-3.

Carrig: Damien O’Donovan, Mark Nolan, Liam Barry, Niall Kidney, Peter Furlong, Thomas O’Brien(c), Derek Nolan, Paul McCarthy 0-1, Jason Barrett 1-0, Conor McCarthy, Sean O‘Farrell 0-1, Conor Lehane, John Roche, Sean McCarthy, Martin Healy.
Subs used: Michael Fitzgerald 0-1, Niall McCarthy, Seamus O’Farrell 1-0.
Other subs: Noel Furlong, Fergal Golden, Stephen Holland.

At underage 1997 was a muted year. The only championship that came to the club was U-14 B football. Victories over Lisgoold and Cloyne took Carrig to a final against Glenville which they won in dramatic fashion after a replay. Carrig trailed by five points with two minutes to go until Dominic Cashman set off on a solo run from full back and launched a huge kick into the square. A melee ensued and the ball was embezzled over the line.

Straight from the kick out Leonard Healy gathered possession and rattled the net again. A sweet victory. As East Cork nominees Glenville had already played and lost in the county championship so Carrig’s season ended at the East Cork final.

Carrig panel: Stephen McCarthy, Stephen Dineen, Stephen Kidney, Dominic Cashman, James Murray, Gary Maher, Donal Collins, Eoin O’Brien, Peter Seymour, Leonard Healy, Tim O’Connor, Sean Flannery, John Devaney, Brian Lordan, Neil O’Connor, Eoin O’Donnell, Michael O’Riordan, Craig Horgan, David Keane, Shane O’Mahony, Jason Foley, Ronan Power, Andrew Knowles, Michael White.

Further afield, Carrig players covered themselves in glory. Imokilly won the Cork county senior hurling championship for the first time with 1-18 to 2-12 defeat of Sars in the final. Sean Barrett played full back, Sean O’Farrell full forward and four other Carrig players were on the panel: Sean Barry, Jim O’Connor, John O’Connor and Noel Gubbins.

O’Farrell and Barrett enjoyed an extraordinary year. They both played on the Cork team that won the intermediate All Ireland – Barrett having played on the Cork team which won the Munster junior championship a year before. O’Farrell won his second All Ireland medal of 1997 with the U-21s.

Injuries gave him his chance to start in the semi-final against Wexford and he did well. He was back on the bench for the final against Galway, but was introduced at the start of the second half and within a couple of minutes found the net. That goal altered the course of the match and Cork went on to win well. It was the first U-21 hurling medal to come to the village since Tom Browne in 1966.

A decade of unprecedented underage achievement reached its apogee in 1998. Since their first success in Sciath na Scoil six years earlier this group of players had continually pushed back boundaries, establishing themselves as the best underage team ever fielded by the club. Winning a minor hurling county title proved that status beyond argument.

The campaign began with a testing first round against Sars. Carrig led by three points early on, but Sars recovered to lead by a goal at the break. Carrig drew level in the third quarter, Sars pulled two clear again; those points, however, were their last. Five points in the last ten minutes, two each from Michael Fitzgerald and Niall McCarthy and another from Jason Barrett, saw Carrig home by 0-13 to 1-7.

Courcey Rovers were their opponents in the semi-final of the country county and Carrig took a long time to impose their superiority. They controlled the first half but squandered their dominance and only went in level at the break, 1-4 to 0-7.

Sean McCarthy was switched to centre field for the second half, 15 year old Dominic Cashman was introduced to the attack and the moves sharpened things up. In the first five minutes of the second half Carrig surged into a five point lead and, though Courcey‘s got through for another goal, Carrig were never really threatened. Cashman deflected a long delivery to the net for Carrig‘s goal and they ran out decisive winners, 1-19 to 2-6.

The country county final against Aghabullogue needlessly became a cliffhanger. Carrig were clearly the better team and, playing with the wind, coasted through the first half. Two goals from Michael Fitzgerald and another from Aidan Lehane put them 3-2 to 0-0 ahead after just six minutes and by half time they were ten points clear, 3-6 to 1-2.

Carrig got the first score of the second half too, but gradually the game turned against them. The team had been destabilised by the loss of full back Niall Kidney and wing forward Shane Kennedy through injury in the first half and when they came under pressure they lost their shape. A couple of Aghabullogue 21 yard frees finished in the back of the Carrig net and Carrig panicked. More and more players filtered back into defence, Fitzgerald wandered from corner forward out to centre field looking for ball and, in the confusion, Carrig became vulnerable.

With four minutes of normal time remaining only a goal separated the sides and the game was up for grabs until Carrig finally gathered themselves. Seamus O’Farrell, who had been switched from centre back to full forward, drove a ground shot to the net and the emergency was over; 4-9 to 3-6.

Carrig: Damien O’Donovan, Frank Flannery, Niall Kidney, Peter Furlong, Kieran Barry, Seamus O’Farrell 1-0, Noel Furlong, Jason Barrett, Sean McCarthy, Shane Kennedy, Niall McCarthy 0-3, John Ahern, Michael Fitzgerald 2-4, Dominic Cashman, Aidan Lehane 1-2.
Subs: Alan Walsh for Kidney; Stephen Holland for Kennedy.

The county final against Na Piarsaigh was scheduled for Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a curtainraiser to the senior final between Imokilly and Blackrock. However, the Pairc was waterlogged and the senior match was postponed. Instead, the minor final went ahead at Ballygarvan.

Carrig and Na Piarsaigh had a history in minor county finals. When Carrig reached their first in 1962 Na Piarsaigh dismembered them, 10-8 to 2-3, and, when they reached their third 15 years later, Na Piarsaigh were too good again, 2-11 to 2-4. In 1994 these Carrig minors had lost two U-14 county finals to Na Piarsaigh, suffering a hiding in the football final. But on this chill October Sunday, a measure of redress was taken.

The first half was dour and oppressed by bad shooting. Carrig won the toss and gave Na Piarsaigh the favour of a significant wind but they could do little with it and a point from a free on the call of half-time was the only lead they carried into the break, 0-4 to 0-3.

Carrig began the second half with a goal from Sean McCarthy but Na Piarsaigh responded with a sideline cut that went all the way to the Carrig net. “It was just the score the game needed,” reported the Examiner, “and the tempo picked up considerably.”

“With both sides producing the kind of hurling the huge crowd had come to see,” continued the Examiner, “Michael Fitzgerald drew the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he latched on to a breaking ball before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the corner of the Piarsaigh net in the 37th minute.”

Carrig were never headed after that but it wasn’t until the closing minutes that they shook Na Piarsaigh off. The imperious Fitzgerald landed a brilliant free from the left touchline to give Carrig the comfort of a four point lead and a minute from time Kieran Barry’s goal aligned the scoreboard with the run of play; 3-9 to 1-7 was about right.

“Physically stronger in the key areas, Carrig produced a masterful second half display,” reported the Examiner. “While their three inter-county men, Jason Barrett, Niall McCarthy and Michael Fitzgerald were excellent – the latter in particular – Carrig owed much to the brilliance of Noel Furlong at wing back and Sean McCarthy when moved to midfield early in the second half. ”

“Two years ago we failed to the Barrs in the under 16 county final,” said the coach Maurice O’Donoghue in the Evening Echo, “but we made a vow to ourselves that there was going to be no repeat at minor level. From a long way out we felt we had the team to win the title.”

“Apart from our greater physical strength, which is always essential at minor level, we also had the skill and I’ve no doubt but you will hear a lot more of some of those lads in the future.”

Carrig: Damien O’Donovan, Peter Furlong, Niall Kidney, Frank Flannery, Alan Walsh, Seamus O’Farrell(c), Noel Furlong, Jason Barrett, Niall McCarthy, Cian McSweeney, Kieran Barry 1-0, John Ahern, Aidan Lehane, Sean McCarthy 1-0, Michael Fitzgerald 1-9.
Sub: Dominic Cashman for Lehane.
Selectors: Maurice O’Donoghue (coach), Noel Kidney, Donal Harnedy, Ollie Healy, Anthony Barry (The Rock).

The minors who were sponsored by Millipore Ireland Ltd. had their own anthem. Written by a member of the panel, Kenneth Landers, to the air of Red is the Rose the song was called Blue is the Jersey. That night it was heard in every pub in the village.

Blue is the jersey we wear on our backs 
And gold is the devil upon us
Fierce is the hurling we played with
our hearts
And Carrig are better than anyone.

It’s not for the beating of Cloyne 20 nil
It’s not for the beating of the pirates
It‘s beating Na Piarsaigh, the Rockies and 
the Glen
And Carrig are better than anyone.

(First verse repeated)

It’s down in the West End where we hurl
and we train
It’s down in the GAA we play our matches
It’s beating North Mon back to Cork,
they‘re all gone 
And Carrig are better than anyone.

(First verse repeated)

The minors were unable to juggle a run in the football championship with their hurling exploits, although they should have beaten Clonakilty in the first round of the Premier county. A goal by Seamus O’Farrell eight minutes into the second half put them two points clear and, with three minutes to go, they were five points ahead. Clon, though, saved themselves with 1-2 in the time that remained and it finished, 2-7 to 1-10. Carrig, couldn’t raise it again for the replay and on the third Sunday of September Clon won easily, 3-9 to 1-3.

Carrig (drawn match): Leonard Healy, Derek Daly, Noel Furlong, Kieran Barry, Niall Kidney, Peter Furlong, Niall McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Shane Kennedy, Aidan Lehane, Cian McSweeney, Jason Barrett, Jamie O’Rourke, Seamus O‘Farrell, Michael Fitzgerald.

For Jason Barrett, Niall McCarthy and Michael Fitzgerald it was a momentous year. All of them were on the Cork panel that won the minor hurling All Ireland, the largest ever Carrig representation on a Cork minor panel. Barrett scored 1-2 in the final from centre field and McCarthy scored three points when introduced at half time; his first from the shadow of the Hogan Stand was a treasure.

Fitzgerald had come on as a half time substitute in the All Ireland semi-final against Wexford, but so little ball came into his corner that he had no opportunity to make an impression. Earlier in the year, though, he had been outstanding for Cork Vocational Schools in their All Ireland triumph; Niall Kidney and Noel Furlong were also on that team.

The deeds of Seanie O‘Farrell and Sean Barrett added to the best year for Carrig players in the Cork jersey since the1950s. Both O’Farrell and Barrett were promoted to the Cork senior panel after Irnokilly‘s victory in the 1997 county final. Barrett was on the bench for all of Cork‘s league and championship matches but O’Farrell made his first league start against Laois in the final regulation match.

He kept his place for the play-offs, and in Cork’s defeat of Waterford in the final, he scored 1-3. His good form continued into the first round of the championship against Limerick, contributing three points to Cork’s victory. However, he carried an injury into the Munster semi-final against Clare and was replaced in the second half. Consolation came in September with his second All Ireland U-21 medal.

Two months later he collected his second successive county medal with Imokilly, his goal early in the second half turning the final against Blackrock. Sean Barrett at full back and Jim O’Connor at corner forward were the other Carrig players on the team. Sean Barry and Noel Gubbins were on the bench.

Having stumbled badly for the previous three years, the intermediate hurlers found their feet in 1998. Five minors started in the first round against Valley Rovers and a sixth joined the match in the second half. A couple of them struggled but the gamble on youth paid off and Carrig ground out a two point victory at Pairc Ui Chaoirnh, 3-9 to 3-7.

The concession of a couple of soft goals in the second half made things difficult but Carrig endured. Sean Barry converted two penalties, one in each half; Sean O‘Farrell was the designated penalty taker but he took a knock early on and did exceptionally well to finish the match with a goal to his name.

Three points from the excellent Niall McCarthy immediately after half time ought to have given Carrig the platform to pull away, but they were clinging on to a one point lead with five minutes left. Then Jim O’Connor delivered the last and best point of the match and Carrig were through, 3-9 to 3-7.

The quarter-final against Eire Og at Church Road in the middle of August was a colourless match which Carrig pilfered in the last minute with Seanie O‘Farrell’s only point of the evening.

“While there was plenty of commitment and passion on display” reported the Examiner, “the overall standard of hurling was poor and the game itself never rose above the ordinary.”

Having faced the breeze Carrig only trailed by a point at half time, 0-6 to 0-5, and drew level for the third time three minutes into the second half. But they were as impotent with the breeze as Eire Og had been and with 60 minutes on the clock a stern match looked like going to a replay. But then O’Farrell found some space forty yards from goal and his shot was the winner, 0-11 to 0-10.

Carrig scorers: Michael Fitzgerald 0-3, Noel Gubbins 0-2, Niall McCarthy 0-2, Seanie O’Farrell 0-1, Jim O’Connor 0-1,
Jason Barrett 0-1, Sean Barry 0-1.

The semi-final against Killeagh at Ballymacoda on the last Saturday of September was Carrig‘s first for 27 years and turned out to be a bitter disappointment. Apart from a good spell in the first ten minutes and another in the third quarter Carrig were soundly beaten.

They played with a very strong wind in the first half and yet trailed by six points at the break. That deficit became eight before Carrig roused themselves: “Carrig were thrown a lifeline in the 37th minute when Jim O’Connor first timed Sean Barry’s long range free to the net,” reported the Examiner, “and, with O’Connor on fire, Carrig hit over three points in a row to leave just two points between the sides at the three quarter stage. Kieran Scully’s 46th minute goal, however, nipped Carrig’s recovery in the bud.”

Carrig never really got to grips with Mark Landers and Dick Walsh in the half back line or Joe Deane in attack. Deane played most of the match at centre forward and four of his seven points came from play. The match simmered at times, eight players were booked and a couple were lucky not to be sent off but, for all the heat, Carrig searched in vain for light. It finished 3-14 to 2-11.

Carrig: JJ Barry, Brian Nolan, Sean Barrett, John Horgan, Thomas O’Brien, Sean Barry, Niall Kidney, Shane Cuddigan 0-1, Jason Barrett, Sean McCarthy 1-0 , Noel Gubbins 0-1, Niall McCarthy 0-1, Jim O’Connor 1-3, Sean O’Farrell 0-1, Michael Fitzgerald 0-4.
Subs: John Roche for Gubbins, Michael Barry for O’Brien, Seamus O‘Farrell for Niall McCarthy.

The junior Bs put the final veneer on a great year for hurling in the club. Their run to the final began with a seven point defeat of Watergrasshill in the first round. With Niall Walsh and Eoin O‘Mahony outstanding in attack, Carrig were six points clear at the break, 1-9 to 1-3, but the Hill came back strongly in the second half and it wasn’t until Kieran Horgan‘s late goal that Carrig were out of danger, 2-14 to 1-10.

Four first half goals accounted for Youghal in the next round, 4-14 to 3-10, before they eased past St Catherines third team in the semi-final on the morning after the intermediates were beaten. Only two points separated the sides at half-time, but a goal by Eoin O’Mahony prompted a run of five unanswered points to make it 1-11 to 0-4 at the finish.

The final against Dungourney was played in muck and rain on the last day of October and ended in the most terrible circumstances. Eight minutes from the end one of the Dungourney selectors, Raymond O‘Riordan, suffered a heart attack and later died. The match was abandoned with Carrig leading by 2-8 to 0-4 and though Carrig were happy to replay the match Dungourney decided against it.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Liam Barry, Pat Horgan, Paul Keegan, John Paul O’Riordan, Donal Scannell, John O’Connor, Paul McCarthy, Terence O’Brien, Robert Kidney, Gerard Barry, Derek Healy, Kieran Horgan, Niall Walsh, Eoin O‘Mahony.
Subs: Damien O‘Donovan, John Ronan, Paul Nolan, Cormac Carroll, Mark Nolan, Derek Nolan, Adrian Healy, Anthony Barry, John Ahern, Kieran Barry, Peter Furlong.
Shane Kennedy, Michael Barry and Seamus O’Farrell were on the panel for earlier matches.
Selectors: Michael John Roche (coach); Seamus Cotter, Conor Quinlan, Sean McCarthy (Garda).

A successful year on the playing field coincided with Seámus Cotter of the Gaelic Bar becoming the club’s first sponsor, for a three year period commencing in 1998.

Carrig nearly pulled off what would have been an unprecedented double for the club when the junior B footballers also reached the East Cork final. Cobh were despatched convincingly in the first round, 3-8 to 0-5; all of the goals came in the first half, two from Tony O’Flynn and a wonderful individual effort from Derek Healy.

Carrig struggled early on against Castlemartyr in the next round and were four points down before Jason Barrett broke their duck. Carrig recovered to lead by a point early in the second half only to fall three behind again. A goal from Paul McCarthy, however, changed the game once and for all and Carrig accelerated to a five point victory, 1-13 to 1-8.

It needed a much improved second half performance to see off Lisgoold in the semi-final as well. Trailing by three points at the break, Carrig reeled off five points in the third quarter before a goal from a penalty by Donal Scannell settled the issue and they cruised into the final, 1-10 to 0-7.

Glanmire didn’t field a junior A team in 1998 so their junior Bs were their second team and, for most of the East Cork final they had the measure of Carrig. A penalty five minutes before half time put Glanmire 1-4 to 0-5 ahead at the break and their second goal late in the second half put them clear, 2-7 to 0-7. Carrig mustered an extraordinary surge in the last half a dozen minutes and shot five points without reply, but couldn’t find a sixth and the game was lost, 2-7 to 0-12.

Carrig: Martin Healy, Paul Nolan, Paul Keegan, Shane Kennedy, Robert Kidney, John Fitzgibbon, John Roche, Shane Cuddigan, Martin Horgan, Eoin O‘Mahony, Donal Scannell, Jason Barrett, Paul McCarthy, Tony O’Flynn, Derek Healy.
Subs: Kieran Barry for Horgan; Fergal Power for Cuddigan; Pat Horgan for Nolan.
Other subs: Conor McCarthy, Mark Nolan, Peter Furlong, Derek Nolan, Adrian Healy, Liam Barry, Brian Kidney, Seamus O’Farrell, JJ Barry, Cormac Carroll, Thomas O’Brien.

In defence of their East Cork title, the junior A footballers went out in the first round, although it wasn’t as simple as that. They led by 0-4 to 0-0 after only eight minutes against Fr O’Neill’s and were still in control at half time, 0-7 to 0-4. But Carrig conceded a goal in the opening minutes of the second half and with Fr O’Neill’s taking over at centre field they took a grip on the match. A goal by Sean O‘Farrell brought Carrig level again with ten minutes to go and a Noel Gubbins point in the last couple of minutes looked like being a winner, but Fr O‘Neill’s had the last word and it finished 1-9 to 1-9.

The replay didn‘t take place for three months and on the night Carrig scarcely raised a gallop. Fr O’Neill’s led by four points at the break, having played with the breeze, and though Carrig cut the deficit to a point mid-way through the second half Fr O’Neill‘s pulled away again to win decisively, 0-10 to 0-5.

The high point for football in the club in 1998 was Niall Barrett’s excellent handling of the National Football League final between Derry and Offaly in Croke Park, making him the first Carrig referee to take charge of a national final. The only football championship which fell to the club in 1998, though, was delivered by the U-21s on the Sunday before Christmas.

The opening two rounds of the B championship were dashed off in seven days at the end of April, but the success of so many Carrig teams and Seanie O’Farrell’s involvement with Cork and Imokilly delayed the final for nearly eight months.

Dungourney were Carrig‘s first victims. Goals by Shane Kennedy and O‘Farrell on either side of half time put Carrig in a commanding position, but it took two penalty saves by Conor McCarthy to preserve it. A late Dungourney goal made it close but Carrig went through, 2-8 to 1-9. A Week later Russell Rovers put up no resistance and a hat trick of goals from O’Farrell led Carrig’s charge to a total of 5-18; Sean McCarthy and Aidan Lehane got the other goals.

The final against Carrignavar was switched to Carrig at the last minute when Glenville was unplayable and, without half a dozen first choice players, Carrig went into the game as underdogs. For most of the first half Carrig’s play reflected that status. Cian McSweeney had Carrig‘s first two scores – the second a goal from a penalty – but Carrignavar dominated the rest of the half.

A Seanie O‘Farrell goal just before half time gave Carrig an undeserved lead at the break, 2-1 to 0-6; Carrig accepted their luck and in the second half it multiplied. Carrig‘s excellent half forwards Cian McSweeney and Derek Healy opened the Carrignavar defence in the very first minute and, though McSweeney’s shot was saved, O’Farrell buried the rebound.

Carrig were five points ahead when they had a man sent off and, undaunted, were soon six points clear. In the last quarter Carrig’s outstanding defence never looked like conceding a goal and it finished 3-6 to 0-8. On home soil John Roche lifted the cup.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Derek Daly, Noel Furlong, Cormac Carroll, Niall Kidney, Jason Barrett, Fergal Power, John Paul O‘Riordan, John Roche(c), Seamus O’Farrell 2-0, Cian McSweeney 1-5, Derek Healy 0-1, Aidan Lehane, Sean O‘Farrell, Mark Nolan.
Subs: Derek Nolan for Carroll; Fergal Golden for Seanie O’Farrell (injured).

An U-21 B double was foiled by Watergrasshill in the hurling final early in the new year. Carrig had their chances to win. They led by four points coming up to half time and, though Watergrasshill drew level mid-way through the second half, Carrig pulled away again and took a three point lead into injury time. But then Carrig went to sleep at a 20 metre free and Watergrasshill crashed it to the net. In extra time Carrig collapsed, mustering one point to Watergrasshill’s 2-6 and the final margin was a hammering, 3-12 to 0-10.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Liam Barry, Niall Kidney, Derek Nolan, Kieran Barry, John Paul O’Riordan, Noel Furlong, Sean McCarthy, Jason Barrett, Derek Healy, John Roche 0-1, Niall McCarthy 0-2, Mark Nolan, Sean O’Farrell 0-2, Michael Fitzgerald 0-5.
Subs used: Seamus O‘Farrell, Peter Furlong, Damien O‘Donovan, John Ahern.
Other subs: Fergal Golden, Cian McSweeney, Brian Barry, Brian McCarthy, Aidan Lehane, Cormac Carroll, Brian Kidney.

A new wave of young talent came on stream to make 1998 another distinguished year for the juvenile club. The U-12s were unbeaten in the round robin stages of the A hurling championship and went on to take the title. They thrashed Cobh in the semi-final, 7-8 to 2-6, and goals from Jason Fitzgerald and Kieran Healy in the first ten minutes of the final against Midleton suggested the beginning of another rout. Midleton, though, forced their way into the match and Carrig didn’t clinch it until Fitzgerald’s second goal a few minutes from time closed the scoring at 3-4 to 1-4.

Carrig: Cian O’Hara, Eoin O’Donnell, Brian Hegarty, Jason Fitzgibbon, Aidan Meade, Shane Harte, Ronan Barrett, Dominic Cronin, John Lordan, Seamus Roche, Cian Lehane, William Kidney, Cathal McSweeney, Jason Fitzgerald, Kieran Healy.
Subs: John Coleman, Ivan O‘Mahony, Darren Sylvester, Michael Sheehan, Pat O’Connell, Conor Healy.

The U-13 hurlers won an A championship with victories over Sars and Watergrasshill and the U-14s emulated them. Victory over Erin’s Own landed them in the final as underdogs against Sars. Carrig had suffered a hammering by Sars in the league, but, at half-time in the East Cork final, Carrig were just a couple of points behind. Two goals in the third quarter turned the game in Carrig‘s favour and they held out to win.

They got past Eire Og in the semi-final of the country county but made a dreadful start against Mallow in the final and ultimately it cost them the match. Two brilliant goals from Leonard Healy rallied Carrig and they recovered from four goals down to come within four points, but there the comeback ended.

Carrig (East Cork final): Cian Lehane, James Murray, Craig Horgan, Sean Flannery, Paul McGrath, Ronan Power, Barry O’Rourke, Leonard Healy, John Devanney, Neil O’Connor, Brian Lordan, Andrew Knowles, David Keane, Pat Foley, Tim O’Connor.
Subs used: Dominic Cronin, John Lordan.

For the club’s flagship hurling teams the century ended badly. After their run to the semi-final in 1998 and the success of the minors, optimism for the prospects of the intermediates soared, but, in the middle of June against Na Piarsaigh‘s second team, they flopped and were well beaten, 1-14 to 0-11. Sean Barrett was injured and Sean Barry was in Australia, robbing the team of two pillars, but their absence couldn’t explain a listless performance.

Carrig started well enough and were to 0-1 ahead after 11 minutes, but then former Cork senior Mark Mullins thundered into the match at centre field and Carrig didn’t score again until the stroke of half time. By then Na Piarsaigh were 0-7 to 0-6 in front and they stretched further ahead when a long delivery from Mullins ended up in the Carrig net early in the second half. With ten minutes to go Carrig were still only three points behind, but they didn’t have the wherewithal to save themselves. The match ended in a mass brawl with two players from both teams sent off. It was an evening to forget.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Brian Nolan, Thomas O’Brien, Noel Furlong, Noel Gubbins, Seamus Collins, Niall Kidney, Shane Cuddigan, Jason Barrett ,Niall McCarthy 0-5, Seanie O’Farrell 0-1, Sean McCarthy, Michael Fitzgerald 0-4, Jim O’Connor 0-1, Seamus O’Farrell.
Subs: Paul McCarthy for Barrett; John Roche for Sean McCarthy.

The junior A hurlers fared no better in the first round of the 1999 championship against Fr O’Neills and went down by 2-12 to 2-3. Carrig trailed by 1-6 to 0-2 at half time and the game was well beyond their reach when Eoin O‘Mahony and Niall Walsh – Carrig‘s only scorers on the night – mustered a couple of late goals. Fr O’Neills went on to take the East Cork title and to contest the county final.

Carrig: Gerard Barry, Paul Nolan, Brian Kidney, Peter Furlong, John Paul O’Riordan, Liam Barry, Robert Kidney(c), Terence O’Brien, Adrian Healy, Derek Healy, Niall Walsh, Frank Flannery, Alan Walsh, Donal Scannell, Eoin O’Mahony.
Sub used: John O’Connor.

For the first time in nearly 20 years Carrig fielded a third hurling team in the championship and they joined Castlelyons in an epic first round match which took three matches and two bouts of extra time to resolve. For Carrig defeat couldn‘t have been more noble.

They recovered well from an early four point deficit to nearly snatch the first match. A goal from Maurice O’Donoghue levelled the teams with nine minutes to go and a fifth point from the excellent Johnny Ahern put Carrig in front four minutes later. Castlelyons, though, had the last say and it finished 1-9 apiece.

The second match was even better. Carrig trailed by six points after twenty minutes but then rattled off seven points in a row to take the lead and, after that, the teams were scarcely out of each other‘s sight. Normal time ended in stalemate, 0-15 to 1-12, and so too did the first half of extra time, 1-17 each. Fatigue paralysed the second half and as darkness fell the final whistle blew without another score struck.

In the third match Carrig looked to be through. On the stroke of 60 minutes Sean Barry – returned from Australia – pounced for his second goal and, when Johnny Ahern pointed a free deep into injury time, Carrig were three points clear, 2-7 to 0-10. But there was no end to the suspense and in the fifth minute of injury time Castelyons found the net.

Carrig drew their breath and surged again in extra time with a goal and a point from substitute Kenneth Kidney but Castlelyons were undeterred and there was only a point in it at the break. Two minutes into the new half a powerful shot from Kieran Barry skimmed the crossbar to put Carrig two points clear; but it turned out to be Carrig’s last score. Castlelyons racked up six points without reply and the issue was put to rest, 1-20 to 3-10.

Carrig (2nd replay): JJ Barry, Paul Keegan, John Horgan, Denis O’Connor, Mark Nolan, Sean Barrett, John Ronan, Shane Kennedy, Johnny Ahern, Davy Barry, Peter Manning, Kieran Barry, Cormac Carroll, Maurice O’Donoghue, Sean Barry.
Subs used: James Horgan, Kenneth Kidney, Sean Buckley.
Other panellists: Aidan Lehane, Anthony Barry, Eddie Camlin, Kenneth Landers, Brian Barry, Eoin O’Leray, Martin Horgan, Philip Kidney.

The only juvenile championship which came to the club in 1999 was provided by the U-16s. With Sars and Erin’s Own playing in the Premier grade, Carrig won the East Cork A grade title. Carrig beat Wategrasshill handily in the semi-final, 2-11 to 0-7, and accounted for St Catherines in the final, 1-7 to 0-5. They met Cloughduv in the semi-final of the county and lost, by a point, a match they should have won.

Carrig (panel): Craig Horgan, Sean McCarthy, Michael O’Riordan, Sean Kennedy, James Murray, Dominic Cashman, Eoin O‘Brien, Ronan Power, John Devanney, Andrew Knowles, Stephen Dineen, Stephen Kidney, Donal Collins, Alan Collins , Pat Foley, Tim O’Connor, Leonard Healy, Brian Lordan, Shane O’Mahony, Michael White.

Carrig’s minor hurlers entered the championship without nine of the team which had won the county the year before and were unable to cope with an exceptional Erin’s Own team which would go on to take the county title. Carrig were undone in a terrible fifteen minute spell mid-way through the first half when they went from 0-2 apiece to 3-8 to 0-3 behind.

The switch of Noel Furlong to centre back and the excellence of Niall McCarthy at centre field revived Carrig but two further Erin’s Own goals in quick succession at the end of the third quarter made the score 5-12 to 0-10. Erin’s Own didn‘t score again, but they hardly needed to: 5-12 to 1-13 was how it finished.

Carrig: Craig Horgan, Leonard Healy, Noel Furlong, Alan Walsh, Killian McCarthy, Frank Flannery, Stephen Kidney, Niall McCarthy 1-7, Donal Collins, Johnny Ahern 0-4, Dominic Cashman, Eoin O’Leary, Michael Fitzgerald 0-2, Stephen Holland, Brian Lordan.
Subs used: Kerry O’Mahony, Michael Buckley, Eoin O’Brien.

The minor footballers competed in the East Cork A championship and went one step further. They hammered Midleton in the first round, 5-14 to 2-5, with the brilliant Michael Fitzgerald shooting 4-9, all but a point of which came from play. In the semi-final, however, Youghal were too good. Carrig led by 2-2 to 0-4 at half time with goals from Fitzgerald and Stephen Kidney, but they hadn’t deserved their lead and Youghal controlled the second half to win comfortably, 1-10 to 2-3.

Carrig: Leonard Healy, John Ahern, Cian Walsh, Donal Collins, Dominic Cashman, Niall McCarthy, Frank Flannery , Alan Walsh, Noel Furlong, Jamie O’Rourke, Kerry O‘Mahony, Brendan Ryan, Michael Fitzgerald, Killian McCarthy, Stephen Kidney.
Subs used: Michael O’Riordan, Stephen McCarthy.

Beginning with the minors it turned out to be another extraordinary year for Carrig players in the Cork jersey. In the footsteps of Billy O’Neill and Seamus Collins, Noel Furlong became Carrig’s third dual Cork minor. Having played corner hack for the hurlers, he manned the square for the footballers in their Munster final victory over Kerry.

For the first time in the club’s history the honour of captaining the Cork minors fell to a Carrig player. Niall McCarthy was nominated but injury prevented him from lining out against Clare in the first round and Michael Fitzgerald took over. Fitzgerald did well, landing four points from frees, another from play and forcing a penalty which wasn’t converted; Clare, however, went through. Then in September Seanie O’Farrell was a sub on the Cork team that won the championship, bringing a senior All Ireland medal to the parish for the first time in 45 years.

Niall McCarthy was also picked for a couple of challenge matches by the Cork U-21s after he had been immense for Carrig against Sars in the first round of the East Cork U-21 championship. His nine points drove Carrig to a convincing victory, 2-17 to 2-8.

Carrig were favourites to beat Midleton in the semi-final but in the event they were lucky to survive. Midleton led by 0-11 to 0-6 with a quarter of an hour remaining and it needed a nerveless free by Michael Fitzgerald, from hard against the touchline, deep into injury time, to force a replay, 0-12 each.

Carrig led by 1-9 to 0-2 at half-time in the replay, but the drama had yet to begin. Aengus Cotter, who had been confined to the bench with flu, came on to score three goals and make a fourth to drag Midleton level at 1-12 to 4-3. The dismissal of Niall McCarthy compounded Carrig’s crisis but a few bad wides let them off the hook and then the outstanding Michael Fitzgerald took a grip on the match. His goal from long range clinched it and Carrig were through to the final, 2-14 to 2-3.

McCarthy’s three month suspension ruled him out of the final against Erin’s Own and the concession of three goals in the first 15 minutes left Carrig concussed. A goal from Kieran Barry helped them gather their senses and, when Michael Fitzgerald shot his fourth point after two minutes of the second half, Carrig had cut a seven point deficit to just one. But there the comeback ended. Carrig failed to score for the remainder of the match and Erin’s Own’s fourth goal in the dying minutes turned defeat into a beating, 4-10 to 1-7.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Frank Flannery 0-1, Liam Barry, Mark Nolan, Noel Furlong, Jason Barrett, John Paul O’Riordan, Derek Healy, Sean McCarthy, Niall Kidney 0-1, Seamus O‘Farrell, Johnny Ahern 0-1, Kieran Barry 1-0, John Roche, Michael Fitzgerald 0-4.
Sub used: Alan Walsh.

Consolation was to be had in the U-21 A football championship. The campaign began with a 0-12 to 1-3 victory over Midleton, though Carrig made hard work of it. They had much the better of the first half, only to sloppily concede a goal and a point in the two minutes before the break. There the charity ended. Carrig held Midleton scoreless for the second half, pulled two points clear at the three quarter mark and stretched out of sight in the final quarter.

The semi-final against Youghal was played on a miserable night in Cobh, but Carrig made light of the conditions and their opponents to go through, 1-12 to 0-5. Capitalising on the wind, Carrig were 1-7 to 0-1 clear at half time, Michael Fitzgerald pouncing for the goal four minutes before the break. Carrig were 1-10 to 0-1 ahead before Youghal got their first score of the second half and Carrig were never troubled.

The final against the holders Glenville was played on such a bad night at the end of April that Lisgoold was declared unplayable and the match was switched to Pilmore at the last minute. Carrig took whatever advantage was offered by the crosswind in the first half and after two minutes it reaped an unexpected dividend.

Liam Barry’s man had been given a roving commission from corner forward and, picking up a loose ball fifty yards out, Barry launched a high ball into the Glenville square. The goalkeeper seemed to have it covered but in the treacherous conditions it squirted through his hands and over the line.

Two quick points from Cian McSweeney and Michael Fitzgerald put Carrig 1-2 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes but Carrig’s forwards had difficulty judging the wind and Carrig’s rate of scoring tapered off as Glenville found their feet. At the break a lead of 1-5 to 0-2 looked vulnerable, but three minutes into the second half it was buttressed significantly.

Fitzgerald’s wonderful ball control drew a foul in the square and McSweeney slotted the penalty beautifully to the corner. Glenville piled the pressure on in the last quarter but they never threatened a goal and Carrig held out comfortably, 2-7 to 0-6. Fourteen years after the first one a second title was in the bag.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Liam Barry 1-0, Noel Furlong, Peter Furlong, Niall Kidney, Jason Barrett, Shane Kennedy, John Paul O‘Riordan, Sean McCarthy, Niall McCarthy, Cian McSweeney 1-3, John Roche, Michael Fitzgerald 0-4, Seamie O’Farrell, Kieran Barry.
Subs: Derek Daly, Fergal Power, Mark Nolan, Sean Buckley, Cormac Carroll, Aidan Lehane, Cian Walsh, Derek Healy.

Carrig played Mallow in the quarter-final of the county championship in the first week of August and won a thrilling match, 2-8 to 1-10. Carrig were first to take the initiative with a goal by Cian McSweeney after four minutes, but at half time the sides were level, 1-2 to 0-5, and at the three quarter stage they were still deadlocked, 1-4 to 0-7.

Then Carrig switched Shane Kennedy to centre field and he thundered into the match, finishing a great move with a goal and following it immediately with a point. Mallow, however, responded in kind and Carrig needed one more surge; they found it. McSweeney kicked his fourth point, Derek Healy his second and Carrig were through.

A glorious run came crashing to an end six weeks later. Injury and suspension deprived Carrig of John Roche, Niall McCarthy and John Paul O‘Riordan and, against the might of Beara, Carrig needed everyone. Beara were able to call on two Cork senior panellists for the semi-final at Ballineen and Carrig were comprehensively outclassed.

Trailing by three goals at half time, 1-9 to 0-3, Carrig matched Beara score for score in the third quarter, but Carrig failed to score again and Beara tacked on 1-6 in the final quarter to win easily, 2-18 to 0-6. Beara went on to win the county final.

Carrig: Conor McCarthy, Peter Furlong, Noel Furlong, Liam Barry, Niall Kidney, Jason Barrett, Mark Nolan, Shane Kennedy, Sean McCarthy, Cormac Carroll, Cian McSweeney, Derek Daly, Michael Fitzgerald, Derek Healy, Seamus O’Farrell.
Subs used: Frank Flannery, John Ahern, Cian Walsh.

The junior A footballers opened their campaign with a stirring victory over Cobh, 1-18 to 0-14. Carrig led by two points at half time, 0-9 to 0-7, but were only level with 15 minutes to go, 0-11 apiece. Then Carrig out loose. Noel Gubbins, Sean O’Farrell and Seamus Collins were outstanding in the final quarter but Cian McSweeney was exceptional for the hour. Of Carrig’s total he kicked 1-14, from play and from frees. His goal in the final minute resulted from a fumble by the Cobh goalkeeper but it was fitting that McSweeney should have the last word.

Carrig started badly against Dungourney in the second round and trailed by four points after 20 minutes but, in what remained of the half, they gathered themselves. Points by Cian McSweeney and Michael Fitzgerald revived Carrig before Sean O‘Farrell set up Fitzgerald for a goal and a lead they scarcely deserved.

After half-time Carrig were much more assertive and 1-1 by Seamus Collins in the third quarter put the game beyond Dungourney’s reach. With ten minutes to go they reduced the deficit but that was as close as they got and it finished 2-7 to 1-5.

In the semi-final against Youghal, however, Carrig took a hiding. They played against the wind in the first half which meant that Youghal’s eight point lead at the break wasn’t unassailable, but the poverty of Carrig’s performance was such that they were outscored in the second half as well. By the end it was a rout, 2-12 to 0-4. Youghal went on to win the county title and a year later contested the intermediate final.

Carrig: Adrian Kidney, Shane Kennedy, John Horgan, Sean Barry, Niall Kidney, Jason Barrett, Noel Furlong, Paudie O’Mahony, Sean O‘Farrell, Noel Gubbins 0-1, Sean McCarthy, Cian McSweeney 0-3, Paul McCarthy, Jim O’Connor, Seamus Collins.
Subs used: Peter Furlong, Liam Barry, Seamus O‘Farrell.
Other subs: Kieran Barry, Gerard Barry, Derek Daly.

Redemption was delivered by the junior Bs. They dismissed Glenville’s third team in the first round, 1-22 to 1-0. Derek Healy led the scoring with seven points, four of which came from frees, and David Barry was next with six, all from play. The second round against Castlemartyr though, was a much different affair.

A goal by John Roche gave Carrig lead for the first time after 20 minutes, but the sides were level at the break and Castlemartyr were back in front five minutes into the second half. Such was the dominance of Carrig’s backs in the second half, however, that Castlemartyr failed to score again and two points each from Adrian Healy and Davy Barry was enough to see Carrig through, 1-8 to 0-8.

St Catherines were no match for Carrig in the quarter-final. Jim O’Connor, who missed the first two rounds of the A championship through injury, made a cameo appearance for the Bs and weighed in with seven points from play, six of which came in the first half. Donal Scannell also had two first half goals, killing the game by the break. Carrig eased off in the second half and still won pulling up, 2-13 to 0-5.

At half time in the semi-final against Youghal Carrig trailed by 0-7 to 0-1 and looked beaten; the second half however, was astonishing. Joining the match from the bench Eoin O’Mahony transformed Carrig’s attack kicking six points – and Derek Daly invigorated centre field.

A goal by Adrian Healy early in the second half gave impetus to Carrig’s comeback and when Healy was fouled in the square in the 13th minute Paul Nolan despatched the penalty emphatically to the net. That gave Carrig the lead, 2-4 to 0-8, and they never relinquished it. In the last eight minutes Carrig added four points without reply and a 12 point swing was complete, 2-10 to 0-10.

For most of the final against Lisgoold Carrig looked to be heading for the title. Towards the end of the first quarter Carrig took the lead for the first time after a brilliantly worked goal by Derek Healy and, when Eoin O’Mahony found the net eight minutes before the break, Carrig were cruising.

Carrig allowed a seven point lead shrink to three by half time, 2-5 to 1-5, but a Paul Nolan penalty early in the second half helped stretch Carrig‘s lead to seven again, 3-6 to 1-5. The drama hadn’t even begun. Lisgoold dominated the next 15 minutes and, under pressure, the Carrig defence conceded a rash of frees. Five of them were converted, and another point from a sideline kick reduced Lisgoold’s deficit to the bare minimum, 3-6 to 1-11, with ten minutes left.

Carrig seemed to have snapped out of it just in time when Eoin O‘Mahony landed three frees but, leading by four points with as many minutes remaining, Carrig let it slip. A goal was followed by a point and before the end Carrig were reduced to fourteen men. All of a sudden a 3-9 to 2-12 draw became acceptable.

Carrig: Brian Kidney, Paul Nolan 1-0, Paul Keegan, John Ronan, Thomas O’Brien, Kieran Horgan , Derek Daly, Gerard Barry, John Fitzgibbon, Davy Barry, Donal Scannell, Derek Healy 1-1, Kieran Barry, Eoin O‘Mahony 1-7, Seamie O’Farrell 0-1.
Subs used: Shane Cuddigan for Kieran Barry; Mark Nolan for Keegan (injured); Martin Healy for Davy Barry.

The replay at Glenville on the second Sunday of November was the last East Cork final of the century and Carrig attacked the match with relish. Propelled by a Donal Scannell goal Carrig put 1-3 on the board before Lisgoold kicked their first point in the 17th minute. Carrig‘s lead was cut to three points by half time, but, with fifteen minutes to go, their advantage was five, 1-8 to 0-6. Just as in the drawn match, though, Carrig lapsed badly for a quarter of an hour and it was enough for Lisgoold to save themselves; 1-8 apiece meant extra time.

Amazingly, all of the scores in extra time arrived in the first half. Critically, Carrig got five of them. Four came in a surge which put Carrig clear and when Lisgoold replied with two, Carrig added another; 1-13 to 1-10 was how the first half finished and that is how it remained. Donal Scannell, one of the greatest servants of football in the club, accepted the cup.

Nineteen years after Carrig‘s first team brought the junior B football championship to the village for the first time the second team returned it. If the men of 1900 ever wondered how Carrig‘s century would end, they never could have imagined it.

Carrig: Brian Kidney, Paul Nolan, Paul Keegan, John Ronan, Thomas O’Brien, Kieran Horgan, Robert Kidney, Gerard Barry, Seamus O‘Farrell, Davy Barry 0-1, Donal Scannell 1-1, Derek Healy 0-3, Derek Daly, Eoin O’Mahony 0-8, Adrian Healy.
Subs: JJ Barry, John Fitzgibbon, Mark Nolan, Shane Cuddigan, Derek Nolan, Kieran Barry, Cormac Carroll, Aidan Lehane, Martin Healy, Sean Buckley, Fergal Power.
Selectors: John ‘Junior’ Buckley, Frank Savage, Donie Mulchay, Noel Kidney.