1966 Bride Rovers Team to be Honoured..

Fifty years ago excitement and hurling fever were high in the parish of Rathcormac, Bartlemy and Kildinan. The Bride Rovers Club had been reorganised  in the autumn of 1964 and in the first year 'back' the Junior B hurling team reached the East Cork semi final, losing on a scoreline of 5 6 to 3 9 to eventual champions Castlelyons. Twelve months later a win over Dungourney meant the team was back in the semi final  once more.  Originally this semi final against St. Catherines was planned for late August but circumstances dictated otherwise. The reason for the postponement of the Junior B semi final was the important matter of the All Ireland Hurling Final Cork v Kilkenny. Back in 1954 when Cork won the All Ireland and Christy Ring his eight Senior medal few could have envisaged that a dozen years would elapse before the Red and White of Cork would be worn to victory in Croke Park on the first Sunday in September. In the spring of 1966 when Kilkenny trounced Cork in the National Hurling League Final at Croke park the dream of winning the All Ireland seemed very remote indeed. Yet a few months later those two teams were in the Championship Final. Cork came through a four match Munster campaign, beating Clare in a replay, Limerick and Waterford.  Our own Seanie Barry playing in the half forward line was one of the stars of the team. He was also playing Senior Hurling with UCC and of course with his beloved Bride Rovers. So this very week fifty years ago the people of Cork and especially in our parish were full of anticipation and hope for a Cork win. It had been all of twenty years since a Bride Rovers player, Con Murphy, had worn the red of Cork to victory in an All Ireland. That was on Sunday September the 1st 1946 when the Rebels defeated Kilkenny by 7 5 to 3 8, with Con scoring two second half goals. While Kilkenny were the raging hot favourites to beat Cork in the 1966 Final there was optimism in the Bride Rovers Club of a Cork win. The week before the final -half a century ago this very week, at a Club Meeting Treasurer Tommy Barry was told to 'contact a local Pipe band to be ready for the victory celebrations in Rathcormac' -there's confidence for ya! Cork had a great win by 3 9 to 1 10 with Seanie scoring four points.

The Pipe Band was needed and in the early hours of Tuesday morning September the 6th Seanie Barry and the Liam McCarthy Cup came back to Rathcormac in triumph.

Just two weeks after the All Ireland Final the Bride Rovers team won the East Cork semi final. It was seven weeks later- Sunday November the 6th before the final against Youghal was played. Bride Rovers won on a scoreline of 6 12 to 6 3 thus bringing the first junior Championship title to the parish since 1932. The team was captained by Willie Sheehan. To mark the Golden Jubilee of this win a reunion is being held on Friday week September the 9th in The Rathcormac Inn. Three of the panel Tony O Brien, Tony Walsh and Michael Twomey have gone to their eternal reward and they will be fondly remembered on the night. All the surviving members of the panel have been invited to what should be a night of reminiscing and chat. The team selectors in 1966 were the late Dave Hogan, Dinny Howard, Joe Browne and Willie Sheehan, the Captain, and Seanie Barry the Vice Captain.

IT'S DOUGLAS or CIT in CO. SHC.

The draws for the Quarter Finals of the Cork County SHC were made on Sunday night last. We nearly know who we will be meeting as we were drawn against the winners of the last Round 4 game Douglas v Cit which has yet to be played.  This tie goes ahead next Saturday evening in Pairc Ui Rinn  so by about 7.15 pm (barring a draw!) we should know our opposition.

The full draw is

Quarter-Finals (A) Erins Own v Blackrock (B) Midleton v St Finbarr's (C) Glen Rovers v Bishopstown (D) CIT/Douglas v Bride Rovers

Semi-Finals A v B  C v D

It's a tough draw but then in the last eight of the County there are no easy games. The expectation is that our game will go ahead on Saturday week September the 10th but this will be confirmed later this week. Training goes full speed ahead all this week and early next week in preparation for this important game.

JUNIOR C HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

It now seems likely that our JCHC quarter final game against Cobh will go ahead on Sunday week September 11th but time and venue are yet to be confirmed.

The late Paddy Murphy.

The parish was saddened last Saturday when the news came through that Paddy 'Pinchers' Murphy of Glenagowl had passed away. Though in ill-health for some time his death was the cause of widespread regret. Paddy was one of that rare breed of people that can be classed as 'characters' -a person that brightened up so many people's lives. He was witty and outgoing and called a spade a spade. You knew where you stood with Paddy on all matters whether you agreed with him or not. A native of the Millstreet area Paddy came to this area as a child. His upbringing near the Kerry border, which was and is a very strong Gaelic football area, led to his love/hate relationship of Kerry football. He maintained that if Kerry was moved into Connacht or if Cork was in Leinster we'd have won at least twenty five All Ireland senior football titles! He loved going to games all over the country especially with his late great friend Pat O Connell. He was great Bride Rovers man as a member, supporter, Lotto seller and selector. His proudest moment came in 1995 when along with Tom Mulcahy and Eamonn Heskin he was selector on the Rovers Junior B team that won the East Cork Hurling title. He loved ploughing and vintage and modern machinery too and gave great service at local level to the Ploughing association and the Vintage Club. Paddy had a word for everyone and despite his declining health in recent years he kept up his interest in everything going on locally. People like Paddy Murphy brighten our days and make us laugh. He will be missed by many. Paddy, may you rest in peace, you ran the race, you fought the good fight. Our deepest sympathy goes to Maisie, Kevin and Jerry and Paddy's nephews and nieces.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot on Tuesday August the 23rd was €3800. The four numbers drawn were 15, 18, 21 and 23 and there was no winner. The winners of €30 each were Kathleen O Driscoll Dublin, Pat Walsh Bartlemy, Tommy O Flynn Rathcormac, Finn O Driscoll Shanowen and Julianne Barry Rathcormac. The Jackpot for Tuesday August the 30th was €4000.

A weekly ticket for the Club Lotto costs just €2 and every ticket sold helps with the day to day running of the Club. Tickets are on sale every day in local business outlets and of course from Club Members. Tickets can also be purchased online at locallotto.ie Your ongoing support for the Lotto is deeply appreciated.

MINOR FOOTBALLERS IN ACTION TONIGHT.

Our Minor Football team are in Rebel Og Championship action away to Killeagh/Itas in the quarter final at 6.45pm. Well done to all our players who were involved with Cork under age squads last weekend.

CORK 1966 TEAM REUNION.

The Cork senior hurling team of 1966 which won the All Ireland had their reunion gathering in the Imperial Hotel last Friday night. It was a great occasion and Co Board Chairman Gerard Lane made a presentation on behalf of the Board to the players and Denis Hurley, selector.

BEST OF LUCK.

Best wishes to Castlelyons who play Cloyne in the East Cork JAFC final on Friday night in Killeagh. Also to Ballyhooley who replay their Co JBFC final v Cobh on the same night in Pairc Ui Rinn at 7.30.

 FIXTURES. Thurs Sept 1st MFC v Killeagh/Itas, away at 6.45

Fri Sept 9th 1966 team reunion, Rathcormac Inn 8pm

Sat Sept 10th Co SHC Quarter F v Douglas or CIT

Sunday Sept 11th East Cork JCHC v Cobh.

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