BRIDE ROVERS GAA CLUB NOTES.

REBELS REPEL THE DRIVE FOR FIVE.

 How many times have we heard it said as a  throwaway comment ‘Sure hurling is the best game in the world’? well anyone lucky enough to have witnessed the two Cork v Limerick Senior Hurling championship games this year will no doubt claim to have seen two classics. In May it was here on the Banks of our own Lovely Lee on a Saturday night that Cork showed heart, true grit and pride and passion to fashion a famous victory.  They told us Limerick had watched and rewatched and viewed and re-viewed video footage of the Cork fans wild celebrations after the final whistle. This was to motivate the Limerick players to even greater heights after their convincing Munster Final win over Clare. In truth last Sunday’s game in Croke Park was history making stuff. Limerick on the cusp of  reaching another Final and a near certain Five-in-a-row. It has never been done in hurling but many pundits felt if anyone could do it ’twould be the Shannon-siders. In fairness this Cork team hasn’t come overnight, like a mushroom, no over the last two seasons the Blood and bandage wearers have been getting closer all the time. Were Limerick falling back? I don’t think so but as I wrote last week if they were to be caught in 2024 the semi final was the game to do it. Before a full house at headquarters on Sunday another absolutely rip-roaring contes unfolded. Cork controlled the game for ages and twice had a substantial lead. Limerick haven’t won 4 in a row for nothing and champions done fall easily. So the epic ebbed and flowed with savage defending and brilliant point scoring.  Facing into the last ten minutes Cork were six points up and looking good. Then it was only, five, then four, then three and then down to just two -a very precarious lead in the ancient game of hurling. Limerick were coming at the right time but the Cork team were defiant -as if saying ‘so far and no further’. With outstanding defending the Rebels held out for a fantastic win  by two points. Cork kept a clean sheet and Niall O Leary from Castlelyons was brilliant as was Patrick Collins between the sticks. Back in the 2018 semi final we score 2 31 but Limerick hit 3 32. Three years later in the 2021 Final we got 1 22 but Limerick again hit a massive 3 32. Look, they have been mighty champions and brought  hurling to a new level in the last 6 years. Now at last Cork have the chance to cure that 19 year ‘itch’ -yes it’s nearly two decades since Liam McCarthy came ‘home’ to Cork, back in 2005. Hopefully that gap can be bridged can be bridged on Sundy week. We owe Clare one since 2013. It’s great to be back in the Final and from a Club point of view mighty to have Brian and Eoin involved with Cork.

 

REBEL OG MINOR FOOTBALL.

Bride Rovers welcomed near neighbours Glenville to Pairc Na Bride on Wednesday evening for the second last round of the minor Football League in an unusually blustery and cool July evening where top coats were all the rage. 

Our guests called the coin toss correctly and opted to use the elements to their advantage for the first half. 

The game started coyly but soon became a game where the elements began to dictate the patterns of play, the lads worked extremely hard in the first half, tracking runs, tackling hard and countering whenever possible, indeed the half time report stating that the lads had only raised one flag was no fair reflection on the hard work and chances made in the first thirty minutes.

In the second half the lads pressed hard to add to the score board and while they were successful in that aspect they were also vulnerable to Glenville counterattacks where the visitors padded out their score. Full time score Bride Rovers 1-04, Glenville 5-05

Match day squad, Thomas Hackett, David O'Connell, Gearoid Gubbins, Ronan Barry, Eanna Lyons, Sean Dowling, Oran Kielty, Tomas O'Riordan, Luke Harrington, Cillian O'Sullivan, Gearoid O'Connell, Cormac Barry, David Cash, Rudi Elfekky, Shane Prendergast, Jack Mannix 

Ml. O CONNOR MOTOR FACTORS EAST CORK JAFC.

Two goals inside the opening ten minutes and a third five minutes into the second half, helped Cloyne get the better of a youthful Bride Rovers side at the splendid Dungourney venue on last Saturday night. Adam Walsh had shot the opening point for us but a Keith Dennehy goal put Cloyne into a lead that they would maintain throughout an otherwise even contest. A second goal from Ian Cahill in the 10th minute had the Rovers on the back foot. Points from Adam Walsh, Nicky Kelleher and Cian Hogan steadied the Rovers ship. A Black Card for Oisin Roche did not help matters either as two late points from Keith Dennehy had Cloyne leading by 2-2 to 0-5 but it might well have been closer as Ian O’Donoghue blazed wide with the goal at his mercy just before half time. Cloyne controlled most of the second half with Paudie O’Sullivan pointing before setting up Ian Cahill for the third goal. To be fair to our lads they never threw in the towel and three splendid points from Conor Barry kept us in the hunt. Cloyne were content to keep their distance as the goals proved the main difference between the sides. For Cloyne, Jordan Sherlock, Paudie O’Sullivan, Ashley Walsh and Keith Dennehy impressed while Eldon O’Connor, Adam Walsh, Cian Hogan, Oisin Roche and Cian Barry stood out for our side. Fair play to our lads on a great performance -if we had a bigger panel of players available ‘twould make a huge difference.

Bride Rovers scorers : A Walsh 0-3, C Barry 0-3, C Hogan, T Morrissey and N Kelleher 0-1 each.  Bride Rovers: B Hogan, L Harrington, A Hynes O.Roche, D. Buckley,  C.Hogan, EO Connor, L. Harrington, N.Kelleher,  Ciarain Barry, Adam Walsh, T.Murray, C O Dowd, I O Donoghue, C. Barry. Subs  C O Sullivan, J Kearney . The JAFC campaign continues this weekend with games v Fr O Neills on Friday night and Midleton on Monday night with Junior C FC game v Glenville, away, on Saturday night.

REBEL OG UNDER 16 HURLING LEAGUE.

Bride Rovers played St Finbarrs away in Togher in their final hurling league match on Monday night last, July 8th, in what felt more like wintry conditions than a July evening.  The Rovers’ lads started the brighter of the two teams and went in comfortably ahead against a strong breeze.  In the second half the breeze died down and the wet wintry Autumn-like conditions turned it into more of a dogfight.  St Finbarrs, to their credit also upped their game and it resulted in a tighter second half although the Rovers lads won by eight points in the end.  This was the final game of the boys’ league campaign with championship starting in 2 weeks - they finish with 10 points (4 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss) and are still in contention for a league final place dependent on other results.  A football league semi final beckons also with four wins from four.  But back to the ‘Barrs game, final score: St Finbarrs 3-10 Bride Rovers 3-18.  Panel: Calum Somers, Eoghan Buckley, Jamie Walsh, Darragh O’Farrell, Éanna Lyons, Denis Fitzgerald, Garry Quirke, Micheál Walsh, Cathal Barry, Sebastian Byrd, Shane O’Dowd, Con McCormack, Finn O’Driscoll, Jack Lynch, Adam Kelleher, Mark Hynes, Oliver Harris. 

TICKET FEVER.

The hot topic over the next two weeks wont be global warming, hay-making, Olympics or was it a handpass or a throw? NO it will be tickets, tickets all the way. Without a Hurling title at Senior level since 2005 it’s been a real hurling famine and  no doubt if Cork fans could get the 80,000 tickets for Jully 21st they’d take them all! In the meantime fans are urged to check their family trees to see if they have relations in Fermanagh, the Bronx, New Mexico, Iceland or Yemen -is so send them a cheque (remember what a chequebook is?) and a Stamped Addressed Envelope making sure the stamp is properly licked and stuck in the top right-hand corner of the envelope. Anyone trying to contact this scribe please note I will be returning from a botanical trip to Frihiliania on July 31st -or contact me at 098 5828283.

LOTTO. The weekly Lotto Results for the first draw in July on Tuesday  2nd of July 2024 were as follows;  Numbers drawn were 4, 9, 16 & 28 and there was No Winner of the Jackpot of €19,400. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: James Ahern, Hightown, Murphy Family, Toberneague, Kevin Hogan, Quarter Lane, Killian Murphy, Scartbarry and Padriag Hoskins, Ballinagore. Our first weekly Lotto draw was held in march 1996 so we are now in our  28th year. Tickets which are just €2 each can also be purchased from Club members and in local business outlets. An Annual Lotto Ticket would make an ideal present for a friend or a family member at home or abroad any time of the year. Contact Club Cisteoir Aiden Dorgan.  Social Media can spread the message far and wide so please let everyone, everywhere know that Bride Rovers GAA Club is always appreciative of support from all corners of the world. Thank you again for all your ongoing efforts which are deeply appreciated.  Remember the Lotto Jackpot on Tuesday July 9th was €19,600.

CLUB MEETING. There was a full Agenda for the July Executive meeting on Monday night. A long discussion was held on the situation re football and it’s promotion in the Club. The situation will have to be fully reviewed this coming Autumn. Treasurer Aiden Dorgan reported a healthy Credit balance but stressed that huge expenditure will be incurred in the next two months when much of the profit from the 2023 Oskars will be spent. Chairman Pa O Driscoll reported on major progress with the second new pitch at Ballybrowney. Levelling should be finished this week with seeding to follow. Members commented that it was great to see the goal-posts up in Pitch No 1 and the ball-stop nets should be erected shortly. Reports from the East Cork and County Boards were dealt with.  Brian and Eoin Roche were congratulated with all their Cork comrades on reaching the All Ireland Final v Clare on Sunday week.  Katie Quirke and Sarah Murphy played vital roles last Saturday as the Cork Senior ladies football team qualified for the semi final. They will play Galway on Saturday week in Tullamore. As regards All Ireland Tickets there will be no public sale of Tickets but the Club will get a limited number of tickets.   Votes of sympathy were passed to the Walsh family Kildinan on the death of Nora Walsh, to the Hourihan family Waterfall (Our pitch contractors) on the death of their father Tim, and the Smith family Rathcormac on the death of Patty’s father Johnny Delaney.

HARD LUCK GRANGE. It was so close but victory eluded Grange in their County Junior Football Final in Pairc Ui Rin on Saturday evening last. Inspired by Jake Hegarty who scored 2 6  Ballnacurra were the winners. Having lost 4 County Finals Goleen from far West Cork captured the County JBFC title with a win over Ballyphehane

CAR BOOT SALE on SUNDAY.

Next Sunday July 14th is Car Boot Sale day so if you have an hour or wo to spare anytime from 7am onwards please come along to the Community Field to lend a hand. Help is also needed on Saturday morning in making preparations.

FIXTURES Friday 12/7 JAFC v Fr O Neills, Ballynoe 7.30pm, Under 18 HL v St Colmans home 7pm. Under 14 HL v Eire Og Ovens 7pm.  Sat 13/7 JCFC v Glenville in Glenville  .7.30pm, Sunday 14/7 fe 15 Hl v Mallow Home at 11am, fe 13 HL v Kiltha Og 7pm. Monday 15th/7 JAFC v Midleton Lisgoold, Te=ues 16th/7 fe 12 HL v St Vincents away, Wed 17th/7 fe 18 FL v St Dominics Glanworth 7pm.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres            

                                                                      Fermoy Print & Design            

                                                                      Gerard Gubbins Construction and  Veolia