BRIDE ROVERS GAA CLUB NOTES.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US ALL!

 One hundred and forty years old and still going strong, yes this week we can all take a little bow as the GAA celebrates it’s 140th Birthday. They say a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link and the GAA is truly an organisation of many parts. All this year the GAA has been promoting the Association with the slogan ‘Where We All Belong’ and in fairness we have come along way since that little gathering in the Billiard Room of Miss Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles on November the 1st 1884. We know that 7 men attended -there were probably more, and after a pretty inauspicious start Cusack, Davin & Co. set the ball rolling. For 1885 and 1886 the big emphasis was on Athletics. It was only from 1887 onwards that hurling and football gained prominence. It was in the autumn of that year, 1887, that the first stirrings of organised Gaelic games emerged in our parish -within two years the teams here were amongst the best in the County. Down the years there have been many ups and downs -at national and local level, but the GAA as an organisation has survived and prospered.  Now in it’s 140th year new challenges are on the horizon again – changes of rules, the  role of Clubs and the way Inter County players are  expected to train  like professional sportsmen. Should Inter County Managers be paid a salary? If that scenario comes in the next question is should we have ‘pay for play’? Major issues, major headaches and huge decisions to be made. This week however we should ‘park’ these problems and just reflect on 14 decades of achievement for the GAA. Next Friday November 1st the national History Advisory Committee will be meeting in Thurles in homage to the Founding Fathers of 140 years ago. Happy Birthday to us all.

UNDER 21’s WIN. On Bank Holiday Monday we had a game against Sarsfields at home in the East Cork under 21 A Grade Hurling championship. This was the first of two Round Robing games with an away fixture to come v Killeagh.  Monday’s game was a lively affair. We were on top for much of the match but could never put Sars away. We managed to score some great points and won by a margin of four points, 1 18 to 2 11.  With Killeagh still involved in East Cork Junior Hurling and County campaigns in under 21 football and Junior B grade football twill be hard to get an early date for the under 21 game.

Team v Sars; 1.Ronan O Riordan, 2.Ciaran Cotter, 3.Denis Cashman, 4.Eldon O Connor, 5.David Barry, 6.Cormac O Sullivan, 7.Liam Collins, 8.Cormac Barry, 9.Ronan O Connell, 10.Cillian Barry, 11.Edmond Cashman, 12.Adam Walsh, 13.Josh Ahern, 14.Louis Roche, 15.Cillian Tobin.; Subs made, Ryan O Callaghan & Frank  O Flynn.
Subs; Adam Hayes, Ryan O Callaghan, Adam Hynes, Frank O Flynn, Cillian O Sullivan, Oran Kielty, Ciaran O Dowd (Conor Hazelwood & Ben Knox  were both injured)

PADDY BERMINGHAM, RIP.

We extend our deepest sympathy to James and all the Birmingham family on the death last week of Paddy. An amiable and  outgoing man Paddy Bermingham was well liked by all who ever came into contact with him.  From a great GAA family his late father Owen Bermingham NT from Gortroe was a former Treasurer of the East Cork Board. When James took up refereeing Paddy was an ever-present as an umpire all over the County.  We will remember Paddy as a friendly, helpful and kind person. May he rest in peace. His funeral took place on Saturday. It was only fitting and a great tribute to the man that James fulfilled his role as referee on Sunday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh for the Senior A Football championship Final when Carrigaline defeated Knocknagree.

WELL DONE GIRLS. Congrats to the Club’s under 14 camogie team who beat Kinsale last Sunday to win their County title. Well done to players, parents and mentors on a great victory.

UNDER 16 FOOTBALL. The second County semi final between Kilmurry and Naomh Aban was fixed for Cloughduv last Tuesday night, Oct 29th, we await the winners of this game in the County Final.

BARTLEMY V WALTERSTOWN. The Bartlemy NS girls football team will meet Walterstown (Cobh) in their Section Final of Sciath na Scoil in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Monday 11th of November.

LISGOOLD IN FINAL.

It’s only three years ago that Lisgoold won their very first East Cork Junior A grade hurling title. Since the they have won two County Finals; the Junior Hurling and Lower Intermediate. Next Saturday in HQ they meet Erins Own in the Intermediate A Final with the winners going up to Premier Intermediate for 2025. It’s been a brilliant journey for Lisgoold and we wish them all the best on Saturday.

UNDER 15’s WIN. On Bank Holiday Monday our under 15 hurlers took on Eire Og in the premier 2 Hurling championship. It was a home game and we had a good win on a scoreline of 3 16 to 0 6. Full details next week.

GAA TALK. At 3 0 clock next Saturday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh there will be a very interesting GAA Lecture. Tyrone GAA historian Donal McAnallen will give a talk on GAA Founder John McKay who worked as a journalist with the Cork Examiner in 1884. McKay married Ellan Browne from Ballyclough in North Cork. The couple eventually moved to London. They died there and are both buried in Kensall Green cemetery. During the GAA 125 year back in 2009 a headstone was erected on the McKay/Browne grave.  The McKay family living in England knew absolutely nothing about their Irish/ Cork/GAA heritage until Donal McAnallen, after exhaustive research, put the amazing ’jigsaw’ together. John McKay’s great grandson Patrick along with his son Simon will be in Cork this weekend. There is no admission charge to the talk in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 3 o clock on Saturday and all are welcome..

JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100.

A few years back as we began planning for our Club’s centenary in 2028 the Club 100 concept was put in place.  With projected spending of close to  One Million Euro in the coming years the need for several ‘finance streams’ is vital. The Club 100 is  a method whereby supporters and benefactors of the Club can commit to financially helping the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major Club developments in recent years. Now with massive 3 pitch Development project in Ballybrowney well under way we will need huge funds over the next decade. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Siver and Bronze. The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this on gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus,2 Rebel Bounty Draw Tickets and family Membership of the Club.

The Silver costs €360 and give 2 Lotto and 1 Rebel Bounty and Membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children)

The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings 1Annual Club Lotto ticket plus, 1 Rebel Bounty and individual Membership. Many people make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ at this time of year- why not consider joining our Club 100.? Full details from any Club Officer.  At the end of each year the Bride Rovers Club holds a special draw confined the Club 100 members with substantial prizes. 

 CONGRATS.

‘To win just once’ was a great hit for the Sawdoctors a few years back and to win a title for the first time ever is so special.  We extend our hearty congrats to Killavullen on winning the Avondhu JAHC title for the first time last Saturday with a thrilling win over harbour Rovers of Glanworth. Killavullen won the Avondhu JAFC title last year with the same players- well done to all concerned including Pat ‘Heffo’ Heffernan the team trainer. Well done too to Whitechurch who captured their first Seandun JAHC crown recently.  Congrats also to the Doon Senior Hurlers who won the Limerick SHC title for the first time on Sunday when they defeated Na Piarsaigh. Centre back for Doon was Barry Murphy whose mother was Helen O Keeffe from Greenhall, Rathcormac.  Conor and Jerome Boylan on the Na Piarsaigh team have strong Woods links with Bartlemy. Feakle bridged a long, long gap in Clare defeating Sixmilebridge on Monday. In Kilkenny  Thomastown who defeated Castlelyons in the All Ireland Club IHC final in January captured the Senior title defeating O Loughlin Gaels and winning the County for the first time  in 78 years.

 

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