Historic Day.. 

The first Sunday of September is nearly upon us and for anyone with even the slightest interest in sport that date will be forever associated with the culmination of the Senior and Minor Hurling Championships, All Ireland Sunday. Cork have had a great run with the inter-county hurling teams this year, winning Munster titles at Senior, Minor and Under 17 level. Our under 17 team has won the first ever All Ireland at this level and on Sunday next the Cork Minor team will bid to make it two underage titles for the Rebels. We hoped our Senior team would make it to the Final after a marvellous campaign in Munster. When the Senior Draws were made last November pairing Cork against the All Ireland champions Tipperary in a Provincial quarter final it looked ominous. What odds would one have got even in March or April on Cork to beat Tipperary, Waterford and Clare? They did just that before losing out to Waterford in the All Ireland semi final. From a Bride Rovers point of view next Sunday is truly a historic and unique occasion. The Roche brothers, twins Brian and Eoin are on the Cork Minor team that meets Galway in the last Minor final to be contested by under 18 teams. The Minor Grade at under 18 level was introduced in 1928 but from next year on will revert to under17. This summer has been a fairytale for us as we followed the various Cork teams all over the country. Brian and Eoin were key players on the under 17 team that won the inaugural Munster Championship and then accounted for Galway and Dublin to capture All Ireland Honours. For the Final v Dublin Manager John Considine and his selectors picked Brian Roche as captain. It was a very special moment for Bride Rovers people at home and abroad to see the twins go up the steps of the Hogan Stand to jointly accept the Cup - a moment to savour and one that will never be forgotten. A week later they were back in Croke Park with the Minor team helping to defeat Dublin in the semi final. Brian and Eoin are marvellous ambassadors for the Club and County and we wish them well on Sunday. Team Manager Denis Ring has been a guiding light behind the Cork Minor hurling teams in recent years. Cork have had great teams over the last few years but never got out of Munster. Everyone in the Club sends the very best wishes to Brian and Eoin and Diarmuid Linehan from Ballyhooley, Barry Murphy of Castlelyons, James and Ian from Kildorrery and Liam O Shea of Lisgoold and the entire panel and backroom team. Galway will be hard to beat and with their Senior team in the final against Waterford they'll have huge vocal support. The talk all week has been of tickets -I'd safely say we would have 150 there from the parish if we could get enough tickets. The search goes on! For the Roche family it's a huge occasion and we wish Eileen, Emma and Donal all the very best. For those travelling to Dublin for the Finals we say safe travelling, Bride Rovers Abu and Come on the Rebels.