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Some of the 1999 and 2000 Tralee CBS team with trainers and mentors at the reunion in Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Sunday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
THEY bridged a gap of 23 years when captain Garrett Walsh lifted the Corn Uí Mhuirí cup back in 1999.
Twenty years on, members of the CBS The Green team, coaching team and family members met up again at Kirby’s Brogue Inn on Sunday evening to recall that victory and their 2000 win when they retained the title.
The Green beat St Flannan’s in both finals and Declan Quill was one players who took to the field in both finals.
“We were the surprise package in 1999. St Fachtna’s of Skibbereen had a star-studded team and we played them in a semi-final in Macroom where a last minute penalty got us a draw,” explained the former Kerry star.
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“The replay in Inchigeelagh was one of the greatest games I ever played in in my career and we won it with a last minute goal by Kevin Walsh. Then we beat St Flannan’s in Rathkeale in the final.”
“We had a great support from the school with three or four buses from CBS and even two from Presentation school. We had massive following from the clubs in town, Ballymac and St Pats too. It was a brilliant time to be involved in football at CBS. We didn’t win it for 23 years so it’s good to mark it again tonight.
It’s good to see such a turnout here, guys have come back from England and the US for it and shows the bond that was there between us at that time,” said Declan.
Garrett Walsh was captain of the 1999 team. “I don’t have great memories of the final, only the celebrations after. I remember holding the cup aloft on the dugout. Later that evening, Bill Kirby got us a Garda escort through the town and we ended up here in the Brogue with the teachers. I remember before the game there was great hype created by the Press and that fed into the school,” said Garrett.
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Brother James Whelan, the Principal at the time, was also present and said it was a great period for the school. He said that the foundations were laid for those successes in the first year leagues and that led to numerous trophies.
The coaching team for both victories were Damien McLoughlin, Eamon Walsh and Liam Scully and the latter remembers how significant bridging the gap was.
“As coaches, we were very conscious of the gap and we hoped everything would work out, but we had a great bunch of players who trained hard. I played on a De La Salle Waterford side which won a Munster Colleges title and I knew the significance of that, so I told them at the time that they would appreciate winning a title for years to come,” said Liam.
Looks like he was right and the Class of 99/00 certainly had a lot to look back on at the Brogue. Scroll down for photos…
Annette Walsh, Gary Walsh, Carmel Quill and Francis Quill at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Thomas McGrath, Ger Brassil, Shane Griffin and Colin Magner at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
Stephen Enright, Eamon Walsh, Richie Houlihan and Liam Scully at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Mikey Collins, Kevin Leen, John O’Connor, Garett Walsh and Declan Quill at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
Catherine Brosnan, Jed O’Connor, Richard Houlihan and Elaine Houlihan at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
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The trainers, Damien McLoughlin, Eamon Walsh and Liam Scully, at the Tralee CBS Corn Uí Mhuirí winning teams of 1999 and 2000 reunion at Kirby’s Brogue Inn. Photo by Dermot Crean
