BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.

SENIORS EXIT IN SEMI FINAL.

 It was a disappointing end to our Senior Hurling Championship campaign for 2024 last Sunday night. Because of the torrential rain on Saturday our game and the other semi final were moved back by a day.  We cant blame the weather or the pitch but what unfolded in Pairc Ui Chaoimh under lights on Sunday was just shocking from our point of view. After a close and tight first half we went in at the break ahead by a point.  Blarney edged ahead early on in the second half and scored at will. We scored just a single point in the regulation thirty minutes and got a goal in injury time.  It was just unbelievable what happened in that second half as Blarney powered ahead and we simply had no answer to them. So for the fourth year in a row we exit this Senior A hurling Championship at the semi final stage- having been briefly in the Final last year. After the 2023 saga we were well up for this game. Victories over Cloyne, Castlelyons and Fermoy put us straight into the semi final -just an hour from a first County Final appearance since 2008. Though Pairc Ui Chaoimh had hosted three major games before ours on Sunday the playing surface was perfect despite the deluge on Saturday.  The first half was tense and close but we led for most of the half. Twice we had a two point lead 6 to 4 and 9 to 7.  Blarney scored three in a row at one point to lead by 7 to 6 but we were ahead at the break by 10 points to nine.  We played reasonably well in that opening period in a contest that was so dour and a bit scrappy.  Paddy O Flynn struck two great points from play as did Ronan O Connell  while Brian  Roche and Conleith Ryan added a point each. Adam Walsh raised two white flags -one from a free and Cian Hogan sent over a long range free.  While we were in the lead for most of the opening thirty minutes we never looked like pulling away from Blarney. We often hear the phrase about a team ‘didn’t come out in the second half’ or being ‘flat’ -whatever it was the second half was a nightmare from our point of view. Blarney levelled quickly and went two points ahead. Adam pointed a 65 in the 43rd minute and we were just a point behind. Then everything went right for Blarney, scoring 2 7 on the trot. Our lads kept trying hard but nothing went right for them in defence or attack.  Kieran, Josh and Louie all came on but our only further score came when Josh sent a nice pass to Paddy for a late, late green flag.   A devastating defeat, hard to explain it but sport can be so brilliant and so cruel. The night in Killeagh and our two trips to Ballynoe were wonderful occasions but now this defeat is galling.   Stick together lads and we’ll get there. Cian Hogan, Denis Cashman, Eoin Roche,  Jamie Peters,  Conor Hazlewood,  Brian Roche 0 1,  Shane O Connor,  Cormac O Sullivan,  Davy Barry , Conleith Ryan 0 1, Cillian Tobin,  Paddy O Flynn 1 3, Jason Mannix, Ronan O Connell 0 2, Adam Walsh  0 3, Subs; Kieran Kearney, Josh Ahern, Louie Roche.   To all the management team a huge ‘Thank You’ to ye all -the amount of work, time effort, blood, sweat and tears that goes on behind the scenes is just colossal and the Bride Rovers Club is forever grateful to ye. We have a great team on and off the field so please stick with this bunch of players. Thanks to our huge band of supporters who made the journey to Cork on Sunday night.

UNDER 10’s in the PARK.

It was a brilliant occasion for our under 10 players who got to play in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday night. Of a normal Sunday night 8.30pm might be getting close to bedtime for these youngsters but not last Sunday! It was great to see them play against Blarney at half time in Mini games. Well done to each and every player and thanks to their mentors and parents. We will see them back again and again on this pitch in the future.

WELL DONE CASTLELYONS. Strange isn’t it all along the Bride Valley we were hoping for a Castlelyons  Bride Rovers ‘local derby ‘final -now it’s local derby between the Glen and Blarney.  Castlelyons can be proud of their great effort against Glen Rovers  especially after losing Colm Barry and Niall O Leary to injury so early on. From winning the PIHC last year, a Munster title, an All Ireland Final in Croke park and Senior A semi-finalists at the first attempt -some odyssey in twelve months

 UNDER 12’s LOSE Out. Our Under Football 12 League campaign finished last Saturday with a Shield Final against Killavullen who beat us by 3 points earlier in the league campaign. An early warning sign for Rovers when the Killavullen no.9 and captain broke in field from the right put Killavullen a point up inside 30 seconds. Rovers had some chances to equalise but missed a few. Killavullen broke upfield and No.9 was on hand to drill the ball into the net from a tight angle. Rovers replied through a Conor Healy point and a Kai Roddis point and two minutes later, Noah Collins broke through to rattle the net to make it 1-2 to 1-1.

Within a minute, Killavullen broke upfield and scored an identical goal to the first with the ball being drilled in from a tight angle. They added another point two minutes later to make it 2-2 to 1-2. Killavullen were now beginning to cause us some problems and scored a 3rd goal on 12 minutes after a scrappy goalmouth scramble. Rovers replied with points from Matthew Finn and Noah Collins. However, Killavullen came back again and got a fourth goal. To make matters worse, Alex McCarthy, who was having a great game, had to go off injured and was replaced by Cameron Hoare who himself would go on to have an excellent game. Killavullen added a further point before half time to make it 4-3 to 1-4. Adam Hackett got an early point for Rovers at the start of the second half. The game was end to end now and Conor Healy added another point to bring Rovers back to 6 points. Killavullen added a point themselves to keep it at 7 points. They then added 3 points in a 7 minute spell where Rovers just couldn't break them down despite having some great chances and some top saves being made by the Killavullen keeper. With 3 minutes to go,  Rovers found themselves down by 10 but in fairness refused to stay down. Jack Fitzgerald went on a mazy run and finished to the net and two minutes later, Kai Roddis danced around several defenders to send a rocket to the top of the net. It was too late for Rovers but the never say die attitude was evident for all to see. Final score: Killavullen 4-8 Rovers 3-7.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO. The Lotto Results for Tuesday the 1st of October – the umbers drawn were 4, 6, 9 & 24 and there was  No Jackpot Winner. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: John Arnold, Bartlemy, Rian Coakley, Bartlemy, Mary Arnold, Bartlemy, Aidan Hayes, Jerry Murphy, Castlelyons. This  week's jackpot on Tuesday October 8th was an incredible €6,400. Tickets at just €2 each can also be purchased from Club members and in local business outlets. A Yearly Ticket can also be purchased. Please tell friends and relations all over the place to join the Rovers Lotto.

WELL DONE ST CATHERINES.

Well done to St Catherines for reaching the premier Junior Hurling County Final for the second year in a row. A narrow win over Ballygarvan means a Final date with Russell Rovers or Nemo Rangers in a few weeks time.

 BARTLEMY NS IN FINAL. Congratulations to the Bishop O Brien NS Girls football team on reaching their Sciath na Scoil Final. A semifinal win by 4 points to 2 points over Little Island last week was a thrilling game. Down by 1 point to nil at half time Bartlemy went 0 2 to  0 0 behind in the second half but kicked 4 points to win. They meet Conna or Walterstown in the Final in Pairc Ui Rinn or Pairc Ui Chaoimh.  

EAST CORK under 21 HURLING

Our Under 21’s will have two tough games in their East Cork campaign, at home v Sarsfields and away to Killeagh.

CAR BOOT SALE. Thanks to all who helped out with the Car Boot Sale on Sunday last. Sunday Nov 3rd and Sunday December 1st are the dates for the remaining sales for 2024.

1974 COUNTY CHAMPIONS.

Congrats and well done to the Watergrasshill Junior Hurling team of 1974 who had a reunion lately.  That Hill team blazed a trail by winning the East Cork title and then going on to win the County Junior Championship- the first East Cork team to win the County JHC since Carrigtwohill in 1966. 1974 was a great year for our neighbours as Fermoy won the County Junior Football title and that group of players are planning a get-together shortly.  Well done to all those ‘local heroes’ from Watergrasshill and Fermoy. Some are gone to their Eternal Reward and we remember them also.

1937 Co IHC v Blarney.

Blarney  6 2 Bride Rovers 1 4. On Sunday May 2nd 1937 in Riverstown Blarney led by 2 0 to 0 4 at halftime and won by 6 2 to  1 4. Bride Roers team; T. Heskin, N. Heskin, M Cranitch,  C. Collins, DC Hogan, W.Murphy, T. Collins, J.Ryan, M.Collins,  P.Collins, M.O Brien, J.Murphy, J.O Brien, J.Healy, J.Barry.

 

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres             

                                                                      Fermoy Print & Design             

                                                                    Gerard Gubbins Construction and  Veolia