BRIDE ROVERS FORMED
The actual date of the meeting at which the Bride Rovers GAA Club was formed is not known but it was sometime in late Autumn of 1928. In the East Cork Championship Hurling draws for 1928 Rathcormac were paired with Killeagh. The full draw was:

Though it was reported in The Cork Examiner that the Bartlemy club was affiliated it appears they took part in league only. Tim O'Regan was the Rathcormac delegate at the East Cork meetings, while 'Mr. Ahern' was the Bartlemy delegate - this may have been 'Old' Mike Ahem of Bartlemy Village. Rathcormac met Killeagh in their championship tie at Lisgoold and were beaten 5-0 to 2-4. The team lined out as follows: Jack Leahy (Captain), Mick Geary (Goal), Edmond Finn, John Bannon, Jim Murphy, Billy Hanan, Mick Dorgan, Jerh O'Gorman, M. Dorgan, E. Cronin, Tom Barry, Tom Collins, Ned Daly, Tommy Condon, Patrick Canavan.
Earlier in the year Bartlemy and Rathcormac had met each other twice in the East Cork League. The first game was at Rathcormac and the home side won by 6-4 to 2-4. Mr. Tim Cotter refereed the match "which was evenly contested". The second game was at Bartlemy and was reported as follows:
On Sunday last Rathcormac and Bartlemy teams met at Bartlemy in their second engagement of the East Cork Hurling League. The teams has met as Rathcormac a few Sundays previously in the first tie when after an interesting game Rathcormac proved the victors. Sunday's match was looked forward to with more than added interest by the immediate supporters of both teams as Bartlemy seemed keen on upsetting the previous ous verdict. The game proved most interesting but the piling up of a large score even against a strong wind and sun by the Rathcormac fifteen in the first half hour, robbed the game of most of its interest from the spectators point of view. The half time whistle showed the score sheet as, Rathcormac 3 goals 3 points to Bartlemy nil. During the second moiety of the game Bartlemy made herculean efforts to reduce the lead but the Rathcormac back division was inpenetrable and the final whistle went showing the score, Rathcormac 3 goals 4 points to Bartlemy I point.
Rathcormac: Jack Leahy, John Bannon, Ned Twomey, Edmond Finn, E. Cronin, Jim Murphy, Billy Hanan, Mickey Flynn, John Sullivan, Tom Collins, Mick Lillis, Tom Barry, Jerh O'Gorman, Mick Dorgan, John Hanan.
Referee: Mr. M. Ahern, Bartlemy Hurling Club.
Bartlemy's participation (or not) in the championship is further confused with an ad on The Cork Examiner on Thursday July 5th
East Cork Championship game next Sunday at Lisgoold Bartlemy v Lisgoold 4pm.
Whether it was a championship or league Lisgoold won by 2-4 to 2-0. The teams lined out as follows:
Bartlemy: Ned Hoskins (Captain), B. Spillane, Billy Barry, Jim Heskin, Johnny Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Kearney, Connie O'Brien, Dinny O'Leary, Patrick O'Connell, Patrick Leahy, Mike Ahern, William O'Shea, Maurice O'Shea, D. O'Leary.
Lisgoold: M.H. McCarthy (Captain), M. Hurley, P. Stack, J. Heaphy, D. Green, D. Kenneally, J.J. Barry, E. Kenneally, J. McCarthy, T. O'Shea, M. O'Shea, Tom O'Shea, W. Connery, Jack Stack, J. Higgins.
Though the two teams were out of the main competitions in East Cork practice matches were played throughout the year. On October 6th at Watergrasshill Rathcormac played Brooklodge while 3 weeks later at Rathcormac Bartlemy and Rathcormac met for the third occasion during the year. The following Sunday Rathcormac were back to Watergrasshill to face Brooklodge again. Rathcormac finished their playing season with a home game against Lisgoold.
Athletic Sports were very popular down through the years in the parish and Tim O'Regan, as well as being involved in the GAA, was also Secretary of the Sports Committee. Tim was a great believer in advertising that caught the imagination. The 1928 sports were held on 12th August and the following ad. appeared on The Cork Examiner the previous day:
Rathcormac Sports Tomorrow
Nineteen hundred and twenty eight men were found sound asleep last night on the roadside between Fermoy and Cashel. No information could be got as to where these men came from or as to their destination but plainly stamped on the soles of each mans boot were the words "show me the way to Rathcormac.

Meeting in Bartlemy Bandroom The fact that both Bartlemy and Rathcormac clubs were able to field separate teams was evidence that there was no shortage of players in the parish. Perhaps both clubs realised however, that on their own neither would be strong enough to challenge for major honours. Whatever the reason a meeting was arranged for the Bandroom. in Bartlemy. Billy Barry, who was a member of the Bartlemy team, recalled that there was a certain amount of tension at the meeting. Amongst those present at the meeting were Tom Barry N.T., David John Barry, Pat Foley, Joe Healy, Dan Barry N.T., Billy Barry, Jim Roche, Martin Murley, Mike Ahern, Ned Hoskins, Jim Heskin, Johnny Fitzgerald and Patrick Fitzgerald, and after a long discussion it was agreed to form a parish team. The name for the new club proved problematic. When "Bride Rovers" was first suggested by David John Barry some felt that the "Rovers" part was more associated with the English 'foreign game' but eventually Bride Rovers was agreed to. Dan Barry N.T. (pictured) was appointed chairman with Tom Barry N.T. as secretary and Jim Roche as treasurer. Pat Foley was vice-chairman thus ensuring two officers from Rathcormac and two from Bartlemy. Jack Leahy was selected as captain of the junior hurling team with Matt Walsh captain of the minor hurling team. The club colours were picked as blue and white which were the colours worn back in the 1880's. Billy Barry was working in Cork at the time and he was appointed to buy a set of jersies. He priced a few sets of jerseys but in one shop a set of 'cheaper' green, white and gold Jersies were available. These were purchased and thus the Bride Rovers colours from thereafter were green, white and gold. In order to raise funds it was decided that members and players would pay a fee of 1d. a week. The Bandroom in Bartlemy was hired out as a club 'hall' from Mike Leary at a fee of 1/- a week.