BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES. 

 TERESA WALSH CUP ON SATURDAY.

On this coming Saturday September the 28th Bride Rovers Juvenile Club will host the Teresa Walsh Cup competition.  The Cup is in memory of one of the most outstanding supporters the Bride Rovers Club ever had -Teresa Walsh

 

TERESA- A VERY SPECIAL PERSON. In any GAA Club there are fans and there are followers and there are supporters but most clubs also have a few special supporters who are just so dedicated and passionate about the games that they go to literally every single game. Distance or weather conditions make no difference. Nor does it matter whether the game is a challenge or a championship game. These people are the heart and soul and life of Clubs all over Ireland. Teresa Walsh was one such person. In the Bride Rovers Club we know of our long and proud, though not always successful, tradition. We speak of families who are third and fourth generation 'Rovers people'. Yet over the years into Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan have come so many new people and new families -people with no connection with the Club or Parish. 'Twas said about the Normans long ago that they became 'More Irish than the Irish themselves' and so it has been with so many people who have made their homes in our parish and got involved with the Bride Rovers Club. We never had an award for 'Supporter of the Year' but if we had the late Teresa Walsh would surely have been a contender annually. Ollie and Teresa Walsh came to live in Ballinakilla, Bartlemy in 1971. Here they reared their five children who attended Bartlemy NS. All the young Walsh family got involved in sport, athletics, hurling, football and soccer were amongst their pursuits. From the time they were able to kick a ball or puck a sliotar they were encouraged by Ollie and Teresa who drove them all over Munster to sporting events. In East Cork and all over the County  they were there. In 2003 when we had a ‘Tour of Munster’ for Challenge games they were there. When we played in the 7’s in Dublin on All Ireland weekends Teresa and Ollie were  always on the sideline. Pat and Brendan and son in law Andrew were integral members of the Bride Rovers Hurling team firstly at Junior, then Intermediate and then Senior.  When the Golden Era arrived for the Club the Walshs were at the heart of it -they still are with a new generation of the family.  Teresa Walsh died in July 2016 and everyone in Bride Rovers GAA Club still miss her every day- she was like a special mother to us all.  She gave so much to our Club with her smile and words of encouragement. It’s a big day for the Club on Saturday with games in this under 14 Tournament being played in Pynes Field. It’s hoped to start at 12 noon.  We have invited Ballycastle Gaels (Ballyhooley/Castletownroche), Inniscarra and Lisgoold.  The plan is for two semi-finals;  Bride Rovers v Ballycastle and Inniscarra v Lisgoold with the winners going to the final. It promises to be a great hurling event in memory of a great woman who loved hurling so much.

 

JUNIORS GO OUT. We had an East Cork quarter final and a semi final over the weekend but lost both. Our Junior A team lost by a single point to St Itas on Friday night after a 47 score thriller. On Sunday morning the great run of our Junior C team came to an end with a semi final loss to Lisgoold.

JUNIOR A GRADE EAST CORK QUARTER FINAL.  St Itas 3 20 Bride Rovers 1 25.

 A score of 1 25 would win many a hurling game but on Frida night under lights in Castlelyons we lost out by a single point. It was great game with end to end hurling. We had an extra man in the second half but our wides tally reached double figures and yet we drew level with a few minutes remaining.  It was a really great game of hurling, we came from well behind to lead by a goal at one stage but Itas came back again.  Since we played our First Group game against Carrigtwohill  we’ve lost four players from the team to our Senior side. Up against the first team of St Itas it was always going to be a difficult task. In fairness our lad showed great hurling in an evenly balanced game. St Itas led by a goal, 2 12 to 1 12 at half time.  There were some mighty scores early on including a sideline cut over the bar from Shawn Knox. We were level at   12 points to 1 9 when we went a goal ahead from an og. Unfortunately the Gortroe side went straight up the field and raised a green flag. They went six ahead after the break with a Harnedy goal but our lads responded well with Conor Barry unerring from frees all throughout the match.  A string of points, including superb efforts from Kieran Cotter and Oran Kielty saw us roar back into the game. The momentum was with us now but a few wides hurt us badly.  Their corner back saved a certain goal and though we had a few late chances we didn’t raise the white flag often enough. To lose such a roller coaster of a game by a single point was tough, very tough but credit where credit is due- it was the best team performance all year from our lads. We won the Division 2 Hurling League title earlier this year and got a good run in the East Cork championship. Well done lads.  We wish a speedy recovery to Ben Knox  after he picked up a serious injury. Team: W Finnegan, E O'Connor, L Collins, O Roche, K Cotter (0-1), D Buckley (0-1), A Hynes, S Ahern (0-1), O Kielty (0-1), Cillian Barry, Conor Barry (0-10, (5 fs)), S Knox (0-4, (1 sl)), C O'Connor (0-5), D Dooley, B Knox (0-1). Subs: M Collins (0-1) for Cillian Barry, E Cashman for B Knox . A big thank you to the team selectors and management.

EAST CORK JUNIOR C HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL. We travelled to Dungourney on Sunday morning for the Semi final of the East Cork Junior C Hurling championship against Lisgoold’s ‘second string’ . We started the game brightly with the first two points from Ryan and Darragh. Lisgoold responded with three of their own before the sides traded next few scores, our coming from Frank 2, Ryan and Darragh to leave us trailing at the break by the minimum 8 points to 7.

The second half was equally a tight a fair as both team were going score for score. Points from Ryan, 2, Frank, John and Jason saw us stay in touch with Lisgoold and the score of 13 points to 12 after 45 minutes. Lisgoold hit a purple patch and rolled off 4 points on the trot to take a 5point lead. The lads responded well and a goal from Frank after great work from Jason and Cameron followed by points from Frank and Tom either side of a Lisgoold point saw the minimum between the teams 1-14 to 0-18 points at the 55 minute. Lisgoold got the crucial score next when their full forward doubled on a high ball to the back of the net. Tom responded with another point to leave 3 points between the teams, our lads went in search for an equalising goal but it was Lisgoold who got one instead to see them out winners on a final score of Lisgoold 2-18 Bride Rovers 1-15.

This sees the end of the season for the Junior C team who saw great progress this year and will no doubt be equally as competitive again next year. Team & Scorers; R O'Riordan, J Kearney, B Collins, J Conor, J O'Sullivan, L Forde, J Mannix, L Harrington, C O'Sullivan, F O'Flynn (1-4), D O'Sullivan (0-2), K Obi, R O'Callaghan (0-5fs), J Buckley (0-1), T Macak (0-2) Subs J Pratt (0-1), C Swalbe O'Sullivan, L O'Flynn, G Gubbins, C O'Dowd, D Kelleher.

ITS BLARNEY.

Last weekend the semi final lineup for the Cork Senior A Hurling Championship was completed with the two quarter finals down for decision. On Saturday night after a penalty-fest Castlelyons overcame Na Piarsiagh and will meet Glen Rovers in one semi final. On Sunday at a thronged Clonmult Memorial park in Midleton Blarney defeated Killeagh and we will meet Blarney. Both semi are on in Pairc UI Chaoimh on Saturday week October the 5th. Castlelyons and the Glen are playing at 5.45 and our game is at 7.39pm.

 GOOD WEEKEND BY THE BRIDE. It was a good few days for hurlers in the Bride Valley with Castlelyons and St Catherines winning and joining ourselves Lisgoold and Watergrasshilll in County semi finals.

SCRAP. Thanks to all who donated scrap for the recent collection. Enquiries re future collections ring 087 9538077. It will probably be late October before the next collection takes place.

FIXTURES;

Sat October 5th SAHC Semi final Bride Rovers v  Blarney in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 7.30pm

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veoli.