a dual player with the minor teams during the 1995 season. He made his first appearance with the Cork minor football team on 26 April and scored 1-02 from left corner-forward in a 4-20 to 1-03 defeat of Limerick in the Munster Championship. Deane was again at left corner-forward for the Munster final against Tipperary on 23 July, however, his contribution was limited to just a single point in the 2-06 to 0-10 defeat. By this stage Deane had also made his first appearance for the Cork minor hurling team. He scored 1-01 from full-forward in a 2-14 to 1-03 Munster Championship defeat of Limerick on 28 June 1995. He was again at full-forward for the Munster final on 9 July and collected a winners' medal after scoring two points in the 3-18 to 0-10 defeat of Waterford. On 3 September, Deane was selected at full-forward for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. He scored 1-02 in the 2-10 to 1-02 victory in what was his last game in the minor grade. On 17 July 1996, Deane made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team. He scored 2-04 from left corner-forward in a 2-18 to 1-12 defeat of Tipperary in the Munster Championship. On 25 July, Dean won a Munster Championship medal after top scoring for Cork with 2-05 in a 3-16 to 2-07 defeat of Clare in the final. After scoring 2-03 against Kerry in Cork's opening Munster Championship on 18 June 1997, Deane missed the rest of the provincial championship through injury. In spite of this he claimed a second Munster Championship medal on 30 July when he was listed amongst the substitute in Cork's 1-11 to 0-13 defeat of Tipperary. On 21 October, Deane was restored to the left corner-forward position for the All-Ireland final against Galway. On 23 August 1998, Deane won a third successive Munster Championship medal after scoring 1-07 from left corner-forward in a 3-18 to 1-10 defeat of Tipperary in the final. He was again named at left corner-forward for the All-Ireland final against Galway on 20 September. Deane scored seven points and collected a second successive winners' medal following the 2-15 to 2-10 victory. Senior Beginnings Deane was just 18 years and 4 days old when he made his first appearance for the Cork senior team. He scored a point from play in Cork's 2-16 to 1-13 National League defeat of Kerry