The match had to be abandoned. Between 1919 and 1920, Ballysteen played fifteen matches, losing only one to Abbeyfeale. On the night of 17 April 1920 which was the night before the Abbeyfeale game, members of the Ballysteen ‘D’ Company of the 4th Battalion, West Limerick Brigade IRA carried out a raid for arms in the townland of Castletown. One of Ballysteens star players, Lieutenant Dan Neville was shot dead during this raid. To avoid drawing attention to the death of a member of the team, killed in covert paramilitary action, the rest of the team decided to go ahead with the match the following day. Ballysteen footballers in the first 30 years of the club included Pat Holland, Tom Holland, Ned Holland (Upper Ballinvoher) Jack Somers (Ballyvaddock) Joe Somers (Ballyvaddock) Jim Casey (Ballyvaddock) Dick McKnight (Ballinacourty) Mick Doran (Ballynacourty) Paddy Meskell (Ballinvoher) Dan Meskell (Ballinvoher) Jack (Boney) O’Shaughnessy (Ballycanauna) Dan Holland (Lower Ballinvoher) Tom Mann (Ballyaglish) Dan Neville (Ballyaglish) Tom Walsh, Paddy Walsh, Henry Walsh (Drominycullane) Paddy O’ Shaughnessy (Ballinvoher) Michael Kenrick (Ballycanauna) Jack Shaughnessy. Still Separate In 1927 Askeaton hurlers took part in a Hurling tournament at the Ferrybridge. Askeaton were playing Shamrocks from the city and Croom played Kilfinny in the other match Admission to the field was 1 Shilling. In December of the same year there is mention of a Ballysteen hurling team when they played Askeaton in Mr. T. Kelly's field in Askeaton. Askeaton defeated Ballysteen on the scoreline of Askeaton 1-4, Ballysteen 1 Goal in a match that the reporter referred to as a clean and thrilling display of scientific hurling. Askeaton and Ballysteen were still separate in 1929 when Askeaton defeated Ballysteen in a football friendly by 2-1 to 2 goals. The two clubs in the parish joined forces in the early 1930s and this was to prove a catalyst for unprecedented success for both the footballers and hurlers of the parish.