Double Defeat..

 In what was a very tough and disappointing weekend for the Club both our Junior and Senior Hurling teams made their exits from the 2017 Championships. Our club Vice President Martin Murphy died after a short illness. The results of matches was put in sharp perspective with the shocking news of the death of Majella Duffy in Tanzania while on a  fund raising trek with the Irish Heart Foundation.

 SENIOR HURLING.

Having reached the quarter final of the County Senior Hurling Championship last year, losing out narrowly to Douglas, hopes were high of an extended run in this years campaign. This came to a crashing end on Sunday last in Pairc Ui Rinn when the Duhallow divisional  team put us out of this year's championship by a margin of two points. This was a huge disappointment to everyone in the club especially the players and management who have put in a truly massive effort in recent seasons. To be out of the Senior championship in mid July allied to the Junior team's defeat is a fierce setback. On Sunday in sun drenched Pairc Ui Rinn we got off to a flying start but in a short period before half time we conceded 1 3 to go in a goal behind when, on the balance of the play, we probably should have been four or five points ahead. The second half saw Duhallow go five points ahead before we staged a late rally. When Michael Collins scored a levelling goal in the 27th minute it seemed we might snatch a victory or at the very least a draw but it was the Duhallow team that scored the last two points to win by 1 20 to 1 18. We had three early points on the board inside the first two minutes, a pair from Daniel Dooley and one from a free from Barry Johnson. Indeed two wides followed our opening scoring burst as were in complete control Gradually Duhallow got going and our lead was only a point  0 4 to 0 3 after ten minutes. With Barry unerring from frees we were 0 11 to 0 8 ahead approaching half time but the disaster struck. First a goal and then three points in a row turned the game completely around and we went in down 1 11 to 0  11. After a great start it was a poor finish to the half. On the restart Duhallow went four ahead. Then Dinny Fitz saved a rasper of a shot from Howard. This should have really ignited us but the Divisional side went five points ahead. In the last quarter we came fighting back into the contest. With 27 minutes gone the margin was still three points 1 18 to 0  18. Then Michael Collins hit a sweet score and the sides were level. From the puck out Duhallow sent wide. Into the last minute now and Duhallow stole possession and went into the lead. We had a chance to level but a wide was the result. Deep into injury time Duhallow sealed the win with a point from a free. This was a sickening defeat -we outnumbered the Duhallow supporters by twenty to one so the reaction at the final whistle was one of a numbed silence. The Duhallow side had ten scorers while we had just four. We often struck more wides in championship games but with just a two point margin our wides were telling. A win last Sunday would have seen a summer of hurling stretching out before us til late August at least and now that championship dream is ended. A sincere word of thanks to all our panel and backroom team who were devastated by this result. After the Glen game they regrouped to defeat Avondhu only to lose out last Sunday in such a cruel manner. A huge effort has been put in with the last six months which makes this defeat all the harder to stomach but we must rise again and keep going. Sport can be glorious as we say two weeks ago in Thurles and sport can be so cruel also.

Team and scorers; D. Fitzgerald, M. Liddane, D. Carr, S. Kearney, l. Forde, B. Murphy, S. Walsh, S. O Connor, B. Johnson  (0 10, 0 7 frees, 0 1 65), SW. Glasgow, D. Dooley (0 5, 0 1 free), R. Whitty, M. Collins (1 1), C. O Connor (0 2), R. Prendergast, J. Mannix, M. Kearney, DJ. Cahill, W. Finnegan.

Pictures from last Sunday on http://briderovers.ie/

JUNIOR HURLING.

Having lost to Russell Rovers in the first round of the East Cork JHC we faced Erins Own in Watergrasshill on Saturday evening. Erins Own had a goal in the third minute and a further four points before Owen Murphy got our first point. We managed just one more point in the opening half as Erins Own led 1 8 to 0 2 at the break. The second half was more competitive. When Owen Murphy goaled and Podge Noonan hit over his third point from a placed ball we were just six points behind. However Erins Own reeled off some great points to win by a margin of nine points 1 17 to 1 8. no fault to our side who fought gamely and tried hard but on the night the Caherlag side were simply too strong for us.

Team and scorers; F. Hogan, T. Kearney, Brian Collins, F. Collins, J. O Connor, B. Walsh( 0 2), Barry Collins, J. Murphy, O. Murphy (1 2), S. Ryan, C. Howard, D. Buckley(0  1), S. Pratt, B O Driscoll, A. Buckley, P. Noonan ( 0 3 frees), J. Kearney, D. Burke. Thanks to all the players and Oliver and Dave for the work put in all year. This team is still very much involved in the shake up for the East cork Div 2 Hurling League so keep it going lads.

UNDER 16 HL

Bride Rovers 1-15
Ballyhea 2-8
Last Saturday morning the U-16 hurling team had their first match since the exams finished. We welcomed Ballyhea to Pairc Na Bride on a glorious day. It was simply perfect day for hurling.
Summer months can be hard for clubs to field Juvenile teams as it's a time for family holidays but the games must go on. We were minus a few regulars so  we called on quite a few young players who must be given great credit for helping us out.
The first half was a good thirty minutes of hurling which was nip and tuck all the way with two points the most between the teams at any time. The game was let flow under the guidance of John Kirby from Midleton which led to an enjoyable game. We led 7 points to 5 at half time. We stretched the lead to 4 but Ballyhea raised the green flag. Our lads responded well and stretched the lead out 6 before Ballyhea hit the net with five minutes to go. We went up the field to get the insurance point. A good day at the office for the boys.
Panel.Shaun Knox. Tomas Macek. Ruairi O Sullivan Connor Hazelwood Jacob Powell Matthew Quinn John Buckley Kieran Kearney Seamus Aherne Michael Quinlan Cian Hogan Craig O Callaghan  Ronan O Connell Adam Walsh Eoghan O Sullivan David Barry. The next match in the u 16 hl is
Fri 28th at home to Kanturk.
The under 16 Hurling Championship is down for Aug 14 v Charleville. 

MINOR HURLING.

After a good game v Erins Own last week the challenge game against Mallow never materialised. The Championship v Ballygarvan has now been fixed for Monday week July 31st in Mayfield. The game had been fixed for Friday the 28th but due to the Cork under 17 teams involvement in the All Ireland semi final v Galway our game was refixed. The Cork v Galway game was pencilled in for this coming Saturday July 22nd but has been refixed for Thursday July 27th. We wish Brian and Eoin Roche and Cork all the best in this game

CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot for Tuesday July 11th was  €13,100 and the four numbers drawn were 1, 10, 11, 26. There was no winner. €30 each to Kevin Carey, Monanig, Larry Kearney, Hannah O'Sullivan, Terramount, Caragh Arnold, Mondaniel and Anne Galvin @ TVM

The Jackpot for Tuesday July 18th was €13,200.  Tickets for just €2 can be got from Club members, on local businesses or online at locallotto.ie Your continued support for the weekly Lotto is deeply appreciated.

Martin Murphy RIP

On Monday last we buried our club Vice President in Gortroe cemetery looking down on Hollyhill where Martin was born in July 1929. The second son of Innishannon -born Johnny Murphy and Nora McCarthy of Hollyhill Martin was predeceased in 1991 by his brother Tom. Martin lived all his life in Bartlemy, firstly in Hollyhill and in Hightown since his marriage to Nora Sexton. He loved hurling and lived for Bride Rovers. He played Minor and Junior for the Club - the only medal he won was a Bartlemy Carnival Tournament medal in April 1951 -amongst his team mates on that team was the recently deceased Willie Cotter. Martin followed the Rovers everywhere and when the Club was reformed in 1965 he became an ardent supporter. He enjoyed the great victories in the 1960's. When titles were scarce in the 70's and 80's Martin never lost the faith. He always praised the youth and saw the future of the Club in promoting good juvenile teams. He served as Vice Chairman of the Juvenile Club and was so proud to see his son Jim wear the Green, White and Gold and Red and White Jersies. The successes of recent years brought great joy to Martin and he travelled to games all over Cork with the Rovers. He was appointed Vice president of the Club a few years back and his son John serves as Grounds Officer. Martin loved talking hurling and his chats outside the Bartlemy chapel gate were legendary. He knew what hurling and Bride Rovers means to the people of the parish and he well deserved the Guard of Honour at his removal to Bartlemy on Sunday night. Condolences to Nora and John and Jim and his friends and relations.

 MAJELLA DUFFY RIP.

The whole parish was numbed last Friday when we heard of the death of Majella Duffy, a young, vibrant and talented member of our community. Having lost her father Michael so suddenly a number of years ago it was Majella's wish to undertake a major fund-raising project for the Irish Heart Foundation. It was while undertaking this trek in Kilimanjero in Tanzania that Majella passed away. The grief of the parish is only surpassed by that of her Mother Bernie, stepfather Seamus, grandmother Mary and other family members. Majella's maternal grandparents Bill Hoskins and Liz (Carey) were from two of Bartlemy's oldest and most respected families.  On behalf of all in Bride Rovers we extend our deepest sympathy to all of Majella's grieving relations. She was a bright light, a doer, a free spirit but above all a very special daughter. May she rest in peace.

 ASTRO TURF BOOKING.

All bookings of the two Astro Turf playing areas are to be made by contacting the Club Runai Daniel Lane at 087 2070100

 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

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres

                                                                      Fermoy Print & Design

                                                                      Veolia Environmental Services.