Niall McCarthy

Despite entering the Game as underdogs McCarthy's team caused a huge shock and ran out 0–15 to 1-11 winners to take the title for the first time since 1918.

Niall McCarthy (born 1 September 1981 in Carrigtwohill, County Cork) is an Irish sportsperson.

He first came to prominence on the club scene, as a member of the club's minor football team in 1998.

That year Carrigtwohill reached the final of county minor championship.

The Tadhg Mac Carthaigh's club provided the opposition on that occasion and went on to defeat McCarthy's side.

McCarthy later joined the Carrigtwohill under-21 teams.

McCarthy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team when he was just sixteen years-old in 1998.

In his debut season he failed to make the starting fifteen, however, he came on as a substitute in the Munster final.

Clare were the opponents on this occasion but they were no match for Cork.

A 3–13 to 0–8 score line gave Cork the victory and gave McCarthy a Munster winners' medal.

The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny.

McCarthy came on as a substitute once again as 'The Rebels' beat their rivals.

A 2–15 to 1–9 score line gave Cork the win and gave McCarthy an All-Ireland minor winners' medal.

In 2001 he lined out in the final of the county under-21 championship with Glen Rovers providing the opposition.

The Glen won the Game by 2–9 to 2–6.

By 2001 McCarthy was a member of the Cork intermediate hurling team.

That year he collected a Munster winners' medal in that competition as 'the Rebels' defeated Clare by 1–120 to 1–11.

McCarthy's side later reached the All-Ireland decider and faced Wexford.

Cork's hurlers defeated the Leinster champions by 2–17 to 2–8, giving McCarthy and All-Ireland winners' medal in this grade.

By this stage McCarthy had joined the Cork under-21 hurling team.

After little success in 2001 and 2002, Cork reached the provincial decider.

Tipperary were the opposition and, after an exciting Game that featured extra-time, Cork were eventually defeated by 2–14 to 0–17.

McCarthy's performances in the other grades of hurling brought him to the attentions of the Cork senior selectors.

He played hurling with his local club Carrigtwohill and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2002.

McCarthy plays his club hurling and Gaelic football with his local club in Carrigtwohill.

In 2002 McCarthy was a key member of the Carrigtwohill senior team.

That year the club reached the final of the county intermediate championship.

McCarthy's side lined out against Delaney's on that occasion and, after an exciting hour of hurling, the Game ended in a draw.

A week later both sides met in the replay, however, McCarthy's side narrowly lost out by 1–13 to 0–14.

He made his debut in the 2002 National Hurling League with Cork reaching the final of that competition.

McCarthy lined out at wing-forward in that Game against Kilkenny.

A close match developed, however, 'the Cats' secured a narrow 2–15 to 2–14 victory.

McCarthy later made his championship debut that year, however,Cork, showing little or no appetite for battle, were eliminated by Galway in the second round of the qualifiers that year.

It was 2006 before Carrigtwohill reached the decider of the premier intermediate championship again.

McCarthy was one of the key men in the forward line as Bishopstown provided the opposition.

Disappointment and defeat were McCarthy's lot as 'the town' easily won the Game by 0–20 to 1–11.

A year later McCarthy's club had as chance of redemption when they reached the intermediate final for the second consecutive year.

Watergrasshill were the opponents in that Game and an exciting and tense hour of hurling followed.

At the full-time whistle Carrigtwohill were the winners by 3–14 to 3-12 and McCarthy finally collected a premier intermediate winners' medal.

In 2011 Carrigtwohill made it to the Cork Senior Hurling Championship for the first time since 1935 where they faced a star-studded Cork Institute of Technology team.