Club and Parish Mourn Teresa.

In any GAA Club there are fans and there are followers and there are supporters but most clubs also have a few special supporters who are just so dedicated and passionate about the games that they go to literally every single game. Distance or weather conditions make no difference. Nor does it matter whether the game is a challenge or a championship game. These people are the heart and soul and life of Clubs all over Ireland. Teresa Walsh was one such person. Sadly Teresa passed away last week and our community is in mourning still because of her death.  In the Bride Rovers Club we know of our long and proud though not always successful tradition. We speak of families who are third and fourth generation 'Rovers people'. Yet over the years into Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan have come so many new people and new families -people with no connection with the Club or Parish. 'Twas said about the Normans long ago that they became 'More Irish than the Irish themselves' and so it has been with so many people who have made their homes in our parish and got involved with the Bride Rovers Club. We never had an award for 'Supporter of the Year'  but if we had the late Teresa Walsh would surely have been a contender annually. Ollie and Teresa Walsh came to live in Ballinakilla, Bartlemy in 1971. Here they reared their five children who attended Bartlemy NS. All the young Walsh family got involved in sport, athletics, hurling, football and soccer were amongst their pursuits. From the time they were able to kick a ball or puck a sliotar they were encouraged by Ollie and Teresa who drove them all over Munster to sporting events. Pat and Brendan and son in law Andrew were integral members of the Bride Rovers Hurling team. Firstly at Junior, then Intermediate and then Senior.  When a Golden Era arrived for the Club the Walshs were at the heart of it.  Teresa and Ollie followed all the club teams men, women and juveniles. If there was a match in Kilmallock, Thurles or Lismore Ollie and Teresa were there on the line. Several years we took part in the 7 a Side All Ireland competitions in Dublin on the eve of the All Ireland and you could be sure that the earliest arrivals at St. Judes or Kilmacud Crokes would be Ollie and Teresa. They loved the games, win, lose or draw. Teresa was thrilled to see both Pat and Brendan Captain All Ireland winning sides - Pat the All Ireland 7's with the Rovers and Brendan with Cork Intermediates. Teresa was always a vocal supporter and shared in the victories and defeats. Once she fell foul of officialdom! While attending a Senior Hurling League game at an East Cork venue - which we wont name, she felt and rightly so, that some of our lads were getting a lot of 'sledging' and the ref was turning a blind eye! She explained the Rules of Hurling to the said referee who didn't appreciate Teresa's knowledge of the game. After an initial verbal warning and a 'ticking' she received a 'Red Card'. It didn't upset Teresa though because she just loved the games and the involvement. She had the privilege of seeing her grandchildren wear the green, white and gold of Bride Rovers also. Teresa's illness in recent years was borne with dignity and right up til last autumn she attended the games. Bright, bubbly and cheerful always Teresa brought joy and happiness into so many lives. The love and care given to her by family and friends during her long illness was truly deserved. She was proud of her Ballyduff and Waterford roots but her adopted parish, her Club but most of all her adoring husband and family were her treasures. Teresa, those of us outside your family circle were proud to call you our friend. We have been enriched by knowing you. May you rest in peace, you will be sorely missed but never forgotten.  Club members and mentors and players from every Club side from under 6 to Senior mens and ladies teams formed a guard of honour at Bartlemy Church for Teresa's removal on Thursday night and again on Friday. The huge crowds present on both occasions were testament to the popularity and esteem in which Teresa Walsh was held in our community. Our sincere sympathy is extended to Ollie and family and all of Teresa's relations and friends.

JUNIORS GO OUT

We played Cobh in the Junior hurling championship, losers round, in Lisgoold last Friday night. Before the game there was a minute silence in the memory of Teresa Walsh.
The match was a very even and tough game of hurling in the first half.  Cobh were early off the mark with a point.  We levelled shortly after from Jerome, Cobh scored a couple more points but we pegged them back with  scores of our own from Colm Power, Damien Buckley and Jerome to leave the half time score 6 points to 5 in favour of Cobh.
The Rovers started the second half in attacking mode but  were narrowly off target for a few points, scores which could have put us ahead.  After this period of pressure Cobh went down the field and in the space of ten minutes they scored 3 goals and 3 points to go into a commanding lead. Some positional changes for the R overs put more life into the team and for  the last ten minutes we took the game to the opposition and scored a goal from a Stephen Hackett free and points from Jason ,Colm, Stephen and Jessie. The margin was too wide and  unfortunately time ran out for the lads and Cobh held on to win on a score line of Cobh 3-12 bride rovers 1-10
It was a brave effort from the Rovers players who have been unlucky in their two championship games this year. Thanks to the players and management who gave the commitment over the season
Team;  Frank Hogan,  Brian Collins,  Brennie O Driscoll, Jakub Macak , Tadhg O Sullivan, Liam Forde, Adrian Buckley, Fergus Collins, Stephen Pratt, Jason Mannix, Jerome O Driscoll,  Damien Buckley, Colm Power,  Stephen Hackett, Padraig Noonan Subs Jessie Barry O Keeffe, Owen Murphy and Barry Collins.  Best wishes to Jerome and Leon O Flynn on their recovery from injuries they suffered in recent games 

Under 16's Win Thriller.

At Pairc Ui Chonaill, Caherlag -the home of Erins Own GAA Club, on Monday night last our under 16 hurlers took on Douglas in the Rebel Og Championship. Our panel was weakened somewhat with two players missing due to injury and holidays but the team that played gave it their all. Before the match started one would imagine that Douglas were physically a much stronger team but our lads battled hard. It was a tight game with scores well earned. For most of the first half the teams traded points with the lead changing hands several times . Douglas had forged ahead by a point coming up to half time. A great ball in from Eoin Roche was broken down by John O Sullivan and Conleith Ryan scored a vital goal to help us lead 1 4 to 0 6 at half time.  Douglas had the wind in the second period but heroic defending from Ben Hogan and his backline saved us several times.   The city side drew level and went ahead after twenty minutes. Back came our lads to go into a two point lead as the game entered the last five minutes. With two minutes left Douglas pointed a free. The closing minutes were hectic as we held out for a great 1 7 to 0 9 win. Team Ben Hogan, Rory O Connor , Patrick o Flynn, Seamus Ahern, Peter O Leary , Eoin Roche , Jordan Mannix, Griffin O Keeney, Kieran Kearney, Conleith Ryan Cian Hogan , Conor Barry, Tom Murray John O Sullivan , John Buckley. Subs , Sean Knox , Edmond Cashman , Jacob Powell, Michael Quinlan, Craig O Callaghan.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot on Tuesday July the 5th was €2400 and the four numbers drawn were 4/6/13 and 26 and there was no winner.

The winners of the five €30 lucky dips were
John Sheehan Watergrasshill
Hugh Kelleher Ballincollig
Pat Donoghue Rathcormac
Ella Barry Knocknaboola
Maurice Kearney Ballinterry
The last draw was on  Tuesday July 12th for a jackpot of € 2,600

Senior Hurling Championship.

This coming week from July 16 on wards the remaining games in Rounds 2A and 2B are to be played. Then a new draw will take place. Bride Rovers will be in a group of six teams, three will get straight to the Co. quarter finals and the remaining three will join the winners from Round 2B in Round 4 -sounds complicated! Well it is as this is a new format this year and takes a bit of getting used to. In the meantime we have three Senior games penciled in as follows;

Red FMSenior Hurling League

Tuesday July 19th Bride Rovers v Youghal in Youghal at 7.45pm

Tuesday July 26th Bride Rovers v Newtownshandrum in Rathcormac at 7.45pm

Tony Walsh Memorial Cup Final

Thursday July 28th Bride Rovers v Tallow in Rathcormac Time TBC - the Tournament final is Provisional on Minor Championship fixtures.

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. 

Membership Fees for 2016.

Club Membership Fees for the 2016 season are now well 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

SEISIUIN IN FERMOY.

Anyone looking for a night of song, dance and story should go along to the Seisiuin in the Adair Hall, Fermoy. It starts at 8.30pm each Monday night until the end of August.

PHOTOGRAPH SOUGHT.

Recently members of the Mulvey family were back in Rathcormac. They are descendants of Frank Mulvey who was a publican at main St. Rathcormac. Originally Arnolds Public House the Mulvey family from Araglen took over the premises before 1920. Since then the Public house changed hands many times - the most recent owners were Benskins. The Mulveys would dearly love to get an old picture of the Public House when the name 'Mulvey' was over the door. If anyone has such a photograph or knows where there might be one please contact 087 9538077.

KELLOGS CUL CAMP

The 2016 Kellogs Cul camp in Pairc na Bride will be held this year from July 25th to July the 29th.

Full details from Aileen O'Driscoll at 086 8779720