AGM TIME.   As the words of the song says ‘the seasons they go round and round’ and so it comes that once more as we near the end of November it’s time for our Club Annual General Meeting.  General GAA Rule states that each Club must hold it’s AGM on or before November the 30th each year. So next Monday November the 18th the Bride Rovers Club AGM will be held in the Clubroom at Pairc na Bride. Truly We’ve come along way since f the Club was formed. It was around this time of year 96 years ago that a gathering of less than twenty sat down on rough timber benches in the Band-Room in Bartlemy. in 1928 there were two separate Clubs in the parish and at that historic meeting the Bride Rovers Club came into existence.  Now we’re only a little over thirty six months away from our Centenary. This year of 2024 will be reviewed on Monday night , truly it was a mixed bag with some brilliant milestones achieved in Club Development. On the playing fields we had some outstanding results yet our  fourth Senior A Hurling semi final defeat in a row was a major disappointment. Fielding three adult hurling teams we won the Division 2 JH L title and in the JAHC and JHC we had some great results. Football in our Club needs a major overhaul because we are a GAA Club and must promote all Gaelic games and treat football in a serious manner.  With huge numbers at underage the major challenge is to provide adequate games at all levels over the full season. If our ‘founding fathers’ in 1928 could ever have visualised the  fledgeling Club actually owning a playing field they’d have been delighted so the prospects of having five pitches would have been an impossible dream for them. This past year we have spent several hundred thousand Euro on our Development programme and the work goes on. We have brilliant players, fabulous supporters a hard work Executive and outstanding Officers but we must always strive to do better. The AGM looks back but more importantly looks to the future and makes plans.  The AGM is a place for people to have their say and new members are always very welcome in our Club.  We all belong in the GAA -there is a role for everyone. Whether you can commit even an hour or two each week- or more, to the Bride Roers Club, you are important and a valuable resource to the promotion of Galic Games in our parish.  

WELL DONE NEIGHBOURS! What a year for hurling in East Cork with Imokilly winning the Premier SHC, Russell Rovers the Premier JAHc and now after last Sunday two more titles for the East. Well done an congratulations to both Watergrasshill and Lisgoold on their magnificent wins in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. In 1974 the Hill won their first ever Est Cork Junior A hurling title and followed up with a County Title. Now, fifty years later, they have attained Senior status for the first time -well done to the Club, the players and management. They set out on the Munster trail next Saturday against Wolfe Tones of Shannon and we wish them the best of luck.  For Lisgoold, first time East Cork winners in 2020 these five years have been truly a Golden Era.  Last Sunday in the replay they defeated Erins Own in the Intermediate Final and will be up at Premier Intermediate Grade next year. They have an outstanding team and like the Hill have supplied players to this years winning Imokilly Senior side. So on December the 3rd when next years County Championship Draws/Groupings are made what are the odds on Bride Rovers, Castlelyons, Fermoy and Watergrasshill all being together in the same Group?

REBEL OG COUNTY UNDER 15 SEMI FINAL. Our U15 hurlers played Mallow in the P2 Hurling championship on Sunday last in Bishopstowns 4G pitch. This was our 3rd game of the championship having defeated Kiltha Og and Eire Og in previous weeks. 

Mallow started the game brighter scoring some early points. We started to get to grips with the surface with scores by Finn, Mícháel and Oliver before Mallow scored a fortuitous goal. This put Mallow ahead by 1-6 to 0-4. Both teams traded points before a well worked goal from Finn gained us some parity. Cathal finished up with a great score form play to leave the half time score level at 1-9 a piece. 

We started extremely slowly in the second half and left Mallow dominate. They scored several points in succession while we were finding it difficult to register anything. Mallow scored another goal which made the game look behind us as they led by 8 points with 15 to go. However credit to our lads who battled away to try to create some goal opportunities. Eventually we worked the ball from Cathal at centre back through midfield to Mícháel who scored a great goal. We tacked on a couple of points before Mícháel again scored another great goal. Mallow kept scoring the odd point to maintain a few points ahead. With about 5 to go Cathal scored a goal from a free which created some excitement in the crowd. Mallow however tacked on a couple  of points in the final few minutes to win by 4. Final score 4-11 to 2-21. 

This was a game that could have gone either way with some luck going Mallow’s way. This was also a huge step up for some of our U14s who will benefit from the experience. 

On Sunday next we play Feile champions Ballinora in the P2 football semi final. 

SCIATH NA SCOIL FINAL. Bartlemy lost out to Waltertown of Cobh in last Monday’s Sciath na Scoil girls Football Final. Hard luck girls but well done in reaching the decider.

SCRAP. Last week we had our final scrap metal collection for 2024.. Thanks to all who donated scrap metal to the Club for this fundraiser. It’s the scheme ‘that keeps giving’- we started it as part of the Night at the Oskars  drive for cash in 20223.. Since then the scrap has continued  to bring funding to the Club. We hope to be ‘back on the road’ looking for everything from a wheelbarrow to a combine harvester next March. In the meantime if you have any unwanted scrap metal-little or large quantities, just let us know and we ‘ll gladly take it. Thanks again for all donations to date.

IMOKILLY CELEBRATION. Next Saturday night November the 16th marks the culmination of the Imokilly GAA Centenary year 1924 -2024. A Gala Dinner is being held in Garryvoe Hotel at which an update History of the Division covering 20100 to 2024 will be launched Guest of honour on the night will be GAA President Jarlath Burns. It promises to be a great Gaelic gathering.

JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100 -YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!

Four years ago 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.

 

GOOD LUCK. To Sars and Russell Rovers this weekend we say ‘go n eiri an t-adh libh’ as they set out on the Munster Club Championship road.  Sars meet Clare Champions Feakle in the SHC whilst the Rovers meet Moyle Rovers of Tipperary.

REBELS IN MIAMI. We wish Brian and Eoin Roche and all their Cork comrades a great holiday as the Cork Hurling panel head for Miami. The travelling part leave on Thursday for 10 days on a well deserved break. This very week seventy years ago the Cork Senior Hurling team were ‘on tour’ in America playing several exhibition games.  In New York the County Corkmen’s Association and the County Cork Associated Societies hosted a banquet for the Cork team in the Commodore Hotel.   The Menu included Avondhu Potage Mongole, Imokilly Iced hearts of Celery & Colossal Queen Olives, Duhallow Roast Stuffed Turkey, Muskerry Giblet Gravy, Inniscarra Cranberry Jelly, Bride Rover String beans, Shandon Sweet potato Glace and Blarney Castle Ice Cream!  Seven decades later the mystery of the ‘Bride Rover String Beans’ has not been solved.  Many years ago I got a copy of the Menu from the late Owenie McAuliffe of Glanworth who was part of that 1954 Cork Senior Hurling panel.  Chairman of the Cork County Board back then was Andy Scannell. Andy won an East Cork JHC medal with us in the 1930’s -is that the string beans solution?

COUNTY SEMI FINAL IN PITCH.

It might be mid-November but in fairness the weather is mighty and signs on pitches are in good condition. On Next Sunday November 17th Pairc na Bride hosts a big Junior Hurling Championship tie. The County Board have fixed the JAHC semi final between Killeagh and Killavullen for our venue at 2 o clock. First time ever winners of the Avondhu JAHC Killavullen will face East Cork Champions Killeagh for a place in the County Final. Killeagh had two games v Carrignavar in the East Cork Final and last Sunday won by  0 28 to 1 24 against Whitechurch after extra time. Killavullen are coached by a man well-known to us all, Pat Heffernan, the former Limerick, Blackrock (Kilfinnane) and Brothers Pearses hurler. All Club members who can help out on the day please be at the pitch by half 12. Ballinora and Tracton are in the other semi final.

 RUBY MOHALLY HOPE FUNDRAISER.

Local girls Ruby Mohally along with eight of her classmates plan to travel to Kolkta in Inda next March with Hope Foundation which does tremendous work in that city of 14 million people. A Fund raising Coffee Morning is being held at the Mohally home at 86 ,Shanowen, Rathcormac on Sunday November 8th from 10.30 until 1 o clock. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

 DIARY DATES;  Thursday November 14th;  Bride Rovers Camogie & ladies Football AGM in the Clubrooms.

 Saturday November 16th Imokilly GAA Centenary Dinner and Book Launch in Garryvoe Hotel.

Sunday November 17th County Junior A Hurling semi final 2 pm in Pairc na Bride; Killeagh v Killavullen.

Monday November 18th Bride Rovers GAA club Annual General meeting in the Clubrooms.

Sunday November 24th Ruby Mohally HOPE Foundation Coffee morning.

Wednesday November 27th Imokilly GAA Convention/AGM in the Sarsfields pavilion, Riverstown.

Thursday November 28th Pakie O Callaghan in Bartlemy Hall ‘Stories of Eamonn Kelly’

Saturday November 30th Special GAA Congress in Croke Park -New Football Rules etc

Tuesday December 3rd, Cork GAA 2025 Championship Draws, Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Thursday December 5th East Cork Scor AGM, Lisgoold.

 Tuesday December 10th Cork GAA Annual Convention.

SYMPATHY. All in Bride Rovers extend our deepest sympathy to Anthony O Regan of Ardra, Castlelyons on the death of his wife Angela -nee Hegarty. The O Regan and Hegarty families are part of the ‘backbone’ of the Castlelyons/ Britway/ Coolagown parish, involved in every aspect of community, sporting and cultural activity.  Our deepest condolences to Anthony and family and all of Angela’s relatives. May she rest in peace.  Our sympathy also to our local CE/FAS Supervisor Geraldine Butterworth on the death of her sister Anne Meagher (nee Caples) of Carrick on Suir. Co Tipperary.

 

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