Bride Rovers

It's Erins Own in 2018 SHC...

Our 2017 playing season is not yet finished but thoughts are already turning to next year. At Pairc UI Chaoimh on Sunday evening last the Draws were made for next year's County Championships. The highlight of the Draw is always the pairings for the County Senior Hurling Championship. Once more we got a 'local derby' draw when we were paired with Erins Own. We have met Erins Own several times in the County SHC over the years. In 2008 we defeated the Caherlag/ Little Island/ Glounthane based Club in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Our two most recent clashes have been in Riverstown and Carrigtwohill when, after, great games we were on the losing end on both occasions. Last year Erins Own reached the County Final against Erins Own and this year they lost the replayed County semi final against eventual County champions Imokilly so they have had great form in recent years. There has been great rivalry between the two clubs dating back to 1973. That was the year when Bride Rovers and Erins Own played two classic games in Midleton to decide the outcome of that year's East Cork junior A Grade Hurling Championship. The drawn game ended in a welter of excitement when Gus O Driscoll got a last minute goal to make it Bride Rovers 7 11, Erins Own 6 14. The replay on September the 9th was another brilliant game with Erins Own winning by two points. Because of the dictats of Croke Park introducing a new format for the Inter County scene next year it seems likely that no Club Championship games will be played during the best hurling months of the year- May and June so our first round game against Erins Own will almost definitely played in April- a little over fifteen weeks away. The losers of the game will play the losers of Na Piarsaigh and Bandon - though the back Door route is not one we will be anticipating for 2018 as the Club celebrates it's 90th birthday.

Juvenile Club AGM.

The Annual General meeting of the Bride Rovers Juvenile Club was held on Friday night last. After a fantastic year on the playing fields of East Cork and County Cork the attendance at the AGM was disappointing. Nevertheless the Meeting reflected on a tremendous year with a record number of games being played. Highlights of course were the winning of County Titles at Under 16 and Minor level but in reality all Club teams gave outstanding performances. The Under 13 and 14 teams were very unlucky in both League and Championship competitions. The younger age groups with huge numbers coming through were well catered for during the years. Outgoing Chairman Paddy Hynes thanked all the mentors, trainers, players, parents, sponsors and supporters who contributed to such a memorable year which saw East Cork, County, Munster and All Ireland medals coming to the Club and parish.

The Election of Officers for 2018 resulted as follows;

Chairman Mark O Connell,Vice Chairman (position not filled),Treasurer Ken O Riordan ,Assistant Treasurer Donnacha Carr

Secretary Lisa Collins,Ass Secretary Brendan Lyons,Childrens Officer Pa O Driscoll ,PRO John Arnold

Team Secretaries; Minor H & F Donal Roche, U14 & 15 H & F Ger Collins

U 12 H & F Paddy Hynes, U11 H & F Sean Cronin, U10 H & F Brendan Lyons

U9 H & F Jerome O Driscoll , U8 H & F John Lynch, U7 H & F Aine O Grady

U 6 H & F -position to be filled.

The Juvenile Club will be holding it's Fun Walk again this year on St. Stephen's Day.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO

The Jackpot for Tuesday December 12th was €17,299. The four numbers drawn were 24, 29, 30, 31 and there was no winner
The prizes of €30 each went to Pat Fouhy, Castlelyons,
M O'Connor, Scartbarry,
Ger & Martin @ Barry's,
John Murphy, Hightown,
and Kevin O'Keeffe, Bartlemy.

The Jackpot for Tuesday December 12th was €17,400. Tickets for the Lotto are just €2 each and can be bought from Club members, in local business outlets and online at locallotto.ie Your ongoing support of the Lotto is really appreciated. The Income from the weekly Lotto is vital in helping with the day to day running of the Club.

County Minor Hurling League Final.

The Co MHL final v Watergrasshill is expected to be fixed for this weekend but details had not been finalised at time of writing these note. Best of luck lads in the Final.

St Colmans Awards Night.

Last Thursday night was a gala occasion in St Colmans College Fermoy when a huge crowd attended the Annual Awards night. Back in the 1860's in St Colmans a showcase day of Exhibition and prize giving was held and the modern Awards Night is a continuation of that event. Last Thursday was great occasion for the Bride Rovers Club and for the Parish in general with Academic and Sporting awards coming to pupils from the parish.

The following were the local Awards.

Business; Jake Tobin.

Applied Maths & PJ Doherty Medal; Karol Przestrzelski

1st year Sport; Adam Walsh

Outstanding Achievement in Sport; Brian and Eoin Roche

Special Achievement in Sport; Bride Rovers Minor Hurling team.

Special Guest on the night was Boston Scientific Executive Sean Gayer, a former Past Pupil of St Colmans.

County Convention.

The Cork GAA Convention was held in the newly reopened Pairc UI Chaoimh on Sunday last. It marked the end of Gerard Lane's three year term as County Chairman -he also did three year terms as Vice Chairman and PRO, and many tributes were paid to his work as County Chairman. Over the last three years in particular especially with the Stadium redevelopment the workload taken on by Ger and his fellow Officers has been immense. Early morning, afternoon and late night meetings were the norm as well as continual meetings with Croke Park, Government and EU officials. The 'New' Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a brilliant amenity not just for Cork GAA but for the whole Cork area. The fact that the Stadium has been completed and will not place any financial burden on the GAA Clubs in Cork is a huge achievement and is due to the work of Gerard Lane and his Stadium Committee colleagues. Well done Gerard and all concerned. Gerard has been elected Vice president of the Board and as one of the two Cork representatives on the Munster GAA Council

Derry Gowen RIP.

We were all saddened last week when the news of Derry Gowen's death came through. One of the most able GAA administrators of all time Derry served his Club Fermoy and his County at all levels. Minor Club Secretary as a teenager Derry Gowen went on to become a long standing officer of the Avondhu Board and also served as PRO, Treasurer and Chairman of the Cork GAA Board. He was a selector with Avondhu and Cork- most memorably with the Cork SF team who won the All Ireland in 1973. He was instrumental in the introduction of the GAA winter talent competition Scor and it was he who masterminded the concept of Under 21 Hurling and Football competitions in the GAA. Born in Fermoy Derry had strong links with our parish as his father John was from Toberneague. Derry was deeply involved with the re-formation of our club in December 1964. The first meeting was held in Bartlemy Hall on December the 7th. Four nights later a meeting was held in Rathcormac Hall which Derry attended. He explained the procedures in re affiliating the Club and said he would assist in whatever way he could. At the conclusion of the meeting David John Barry proposed a vote of thanks to Derry and this was seconded by Fr Michael Ryan CC. Over the years Derry often advised the Club and helped with various issues pertaining to the County Board. During the 1970's and 1980's a lot of people from our Club would not have got tickets for different All Ireland Finals but for the intervention of Derry Gowen. Deepest sympathy to Derry's family, his sister Shiela, sister-in-law Kathleen Gowen, the Kearney family and all his relatives.

It was bitter sweet occasion at County Convention on Sunday last when Derry's son Diarmuid was elected as Cork GAA Treasurer, truly following in his fathers footsteps. Diarmuid was receiving handshakes of sympathy on his fathers death and handshakes of congratulations on his election.

All Change in Cork GAA.

Those critics of Cork GAA who claimed the it was incapable of change must have done a share of head-shaking at the weekend. The phrase 'All's Changed, utterly changed' comes to mind. For 2018 we have a new Chathaoirligh in TraceyKennedy from Killeagh, and newly elected holders of the Vice Chairperson, Coaching Officer, Development Officer and Treasurer positions. The long standing Runai Frank Murphy commences his last year in office so truly times are a changing Leeside. We wish the new Chathaoirligh all the very best. She becomes just the second ever woman to lead a County Board - Roisin Jordan is in her third year of a five year term at the helm of Tyrone GAA. Our new County Chathaoirligh has served her Club Killeagh and Imokilly Division in exemplary fashion over the years. She has also served the Cork County Board as PRO and Leas- Chathaoirligh in recent years and is a capable and very well respected GAA administrator and we in Bride Rovers offer her every support in her new appointment.

ASTRO TURF BOOKING.

All bookings of the two Astro Turf playing areas are to be made by contacting the Club Runaí 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.bride rovers.ie

Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League 2018 – Draw & Venues
FOUR TEAM ROUND-ROBIN GROUP STAGE
Saturday, 30/12/2017 (Round 1):

An Clár v Ciarraí (Páirc Chiosóg, Inis)

Corcaigh v Luimneach (Mála, Contae Chorcaí)

Sunday, 07/01/2018 (Round 2):

Luimneach v Ciarraí (Páirc na nGaeil, Luimneach)

An Clár v Corcaigh (Páirc Chiosóg, Inis)

Sunday, 14/01/2018 (Round 3):

Luimneach v An Clár (Páirc na nGaeil, Luimneach)

Ciarraí v Corcaigh a (Páirc Aibhistín de Staic, Trá Lí)

FINAL:

Sunday, 21st January 2018

Top Two Teams as determined by the Tie-Breaker formula