On The Road For Thurles..

The Sun has been shining and though the hay isn't saved yet there's a mighty feeling of summer in the air when it's Munster Championship time. Next Sunday the oldest rivals in the GAA, Cork and Tipperary, meet for the umpteenth time - but the magic is still there. Way back in the year of Our Lord 1741 teams drawn from Cork and Tipperary met in a grand hurling challenge in Glenagoul in Kildinan. Yes 275 years ago they met in what was regarded as the first 'inter-county'  hurling match. We know the year and the venue but the result is a still disputed ! All memory and knowledge of the game might well have faded away in the mists of time were it not for the fact that there was an argument over who actually won the game. Poetry was the 'social media' of the time and sure enough Sean O Murchu  (An Raithineach) a great Cork gaelic poet was prompted to put quill to vellum in regards the game in reply to some blackguard of a scribe from Tipp who had the temerity to suggest that the home team were defeated!  That Glenagoul game was the start of an enduring sporting rivalry that will be renewed in Semple Stadium in the town of Thurles on next Sunday afternoon. I've been at most of the Cork V Tipperary championship games since 1972. We've won games we should have lost and Tipp have beaten us when we should have been victorious -that's what makes these contests unique. Sunday's game isn't a Munster Final, not even a semi- final -just a first round game. Maybe the paninis, wraps and quiches have replaced the ham sandwiches and the flask of 'tay' and maybe the dust doesn't fly in the square anymore but make no mistake about it the game on Sunday is one of the sporting highlights of the Irish summer. Tipperary are the favourites but playing in Thurles never upset a Cork team, the Rebels love Semple Stadium. It wont be the end of the championship for either side but a win on Sunday would be so special. Cork will relish the role of underdogs as they   start their 2016 campaign. Safe driving to all on the roads.

Countdown to Senior Championship.

It's only a little over a week away to our Cork Senior Hurling Championship game against Youghal. The game is down for decision on Saturday May 28th in Ballynoe at 7.30pm.ET  The Seniors had a League game against Erins Own on Sunday, losing by 2 points. Sunday was busy day with the Juniors playing Fr O Neills away in the East Cork JHL and the u 14 team defeated Whites Cross 8  4 to  2  3  in the championship. The evening before in Mahon our u-16 hurlers defeated the Cork Intermediate camogie team by 1 17 to 0  14. On Thursday in Rathcormac the u 12 hurlers defeated Na Piarsaigh.

East Cork JHL Division 1

Bride Rovers 1-12 Fr O Neill's 2-12

This was a very competitive match played under perfect hurling conditions in Aghavine, Ballymacoda on Sunday Morning. The first half was very even with both teams picking off very good points from play. After twenty minutes the score was level - four points a piece. O Neills then had a fast attacking movement which resulted in a well taken goal. The home team held on to this lead until half time. The Rovers 'never say die' attitude was prevalent in the second half where they were level on the fortieth minute. Both teams exchanged points until a dangerous ball across the goal mouth was caught by a Fr. O Neills player who struck it to the back of the net. They added three more points until the Rovers regrouped and came storming back into the game. We scored three points only for O Neills to reply with two of their own. In typical fashion Rovers we scored a goal off the hurl of Brendan O Driscoll.  The teams were finally balanced as play swung from end to end. Two efforts of points were narrowly denied but it was to be the home side who scored the last score. It was very disappointing to lose this match as the Rovers put in a huge effort to win the game and were very unlucky not to get a result. Our thanks to the lads for the great effort they gave and a speedy recovery to Damien Buckley from his injury. 

Team and scorers: J O Driscoll, J Macak, B Collins, R Prendergast (0-1), B Walsh(0-1), T O Sullivan, S O Connor, S Pratt, S O Brien, B O Driscoll(1-1), DJ Cahill(0-1), P Noonan, A O Keeffe, J Mannix(0-8), B Collins, C O Grady.

RED FM Senior Hurling League.

 We played Erins Own in this RED FM SHL game on Sunday evening in Pairc na Bride. It was score for score, point for point in the first thirty minutes at the end of which the visitors led by a single point;  Erins Own 0-09 Bride Rovers 0-09. The second half was more open but Erins Own took over with some great scores. They had a five point advantage going in to the last five minutes of the game when we goaled to leave just tweo points between the sides.
Full Time: Erins Own 1.23. Bride Rovers 2.18

Panel v Erins Own: D Dooley, M Collins, W Finnegan, S Glasgow, S Ryan, DJ Cahill, J Pratt, B Johnson, M Kearney, S Walsh, B Murphy, F Collins, D Carr, S Kearney, D Fitzgerald, S O Connor, B Walsh, R Prendergast.

Weekly Club Lotto.

The weekly Lotto Jackpot for Tuesday May 10th was €4600. The four numbers drawn were 5, 21, 22 and 28 and there was no winner. The winners of thirty Euro each were Paddy Murphy Glenagoul, Claire Lynch Dungourney, Hazlewood family, Hanah O Driscoll and Pat O Connor Scartbarry. The Jackpot for Tuesday May 17th was €4800. Tickets for the Lotto are just €2 each and can be bought from Club members and in local business outlets or online at locallotto.ie

Astro Turf 

Our Astro Turf facility is proving very popular at the moment and some slots are still available. The schedule is on the Club websitewww.briderovers.ie 

Anyone wishing to book, change or cancel their slot, please contact  Daniel Lane 087 2070100 or  James Bermingham 086 8350741. .

 Avondhu v Ballymartle.

Avondhu had a good win over Ballymartle in the opening game of the 2016 Cork Senior Hurling Championship in Pairc na Bride on Saturday evening last. There was nice crowd present for a high-scoring game. Avondhu now wait to play the winners of our game v Youghal. Thanks to all who helped out with the match arrangements.

Membership Fees for 2016.

Club Membership Fees for the 2016 season are now overdue. The fee for Adult Players is €100. For Student Players and non playing ordinary Club members the fee is  €50. For OAP's the fee is €20.  Membership Fees can be paid to the Club Treasurer or any Club Officer or Team mentors. If anyone wants to pay the membership fee in two instalments or more  arrangements can be made to facilitate this.

Twitter and Website. 

So many people at home and abroad are now very hi-tech when it comes to keeping in touch with the activities of the Bride Rovers Club. The online editions of newspapers are growing in popularity. Meanwhile you can follow the Club on twitter at twitter@ BrideRoversGAA or on our own website at www.briderovers.ie

Any news items or general items of interest are very welcome for inclusion and can be sent to Gerard Lane.