Erins Own too strong in SHC..

On the first fine Sunday we had this year we travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday last to take on East Cork rivals Erins Own in the first round of the Cork Senior Hurling championship -our 15th season on Senior ranks. The game had been transferred from Lisgoold earlier in the week because of ground conditions. In fairness great credit is due to the ground staff at the Boreenamanna Road venue as the pitch was in perfect order for hurling. Fielding a much changed team from that which lost to Duhallow last year -we had 8 different players in our first fifteen, we went into the game as under dogs but with a degree of confidence. We were defeated by a margin of fourteen points in a strange game. Strange, because after twenty eight minutes of the contest we were just three points in arrears, 0 8 to 1 8 having come from five points down to level with twenty minutes. Then in a twinkle on the cusp of the short whistle Erins Own rattled in two goals to leave the half time score 3 8 to 0 8. Truly we had a mountain to climb in the second half. It didn't get much better and with quarter of an hour gone we were twenty points behind. We never gave up and our efforts were rewarded with two goals in the last quarter. Erins Own got a blistering start and had 1 3 scored in five minutes. A point from Brian Roche settled us and further white flags from Cian O Connor, Michael Collins and Barry Johnson (free) saw us just a point in arrears. At this stage of the game, after quarter of an hour we were really back in the contest big time. Though Erins Own went two ahead we levelled with lovely points from Wm Finnegan and Barry Johnson- both frees, Barry's one a monster from over 75 yards out. This left it  0 7 to 1 4. Significantly in the next two attacks we registered two wides -and we also had three wides early on in the game while our opponents had not a single wide in the first half. We had the aid of a stiff breeze and one felt that it was worth a few points at least. The late scoring blitz left us in a very tough position at half time. In fairness to the lads they gave of their very best in the second half but on the day there was no doubt about it but the Knockraha/Glounthane/Little island side were just too good for us. Brian Roche got a great goal and Barry Johnson added another from a 20 metre free to take our final tally to 2 13 but we only scored 1 4 from play which is never going to be enough to win a Senior Championship game. It was a heavy defeat but fair play to all the players they kept trying right til the very end which is what we expect from these lads. It was a really disappointing start to the 2018 Championship but at least we are still in it. Our Round Two opponents will be the losers of the Na Piarsaigh and Bandon game which is on this weekend. Team and scorers; Jerome O Driscoll, Jason Pratt, Brendan Walsh, Fergus Collins, Barry Johnson(Capt) (1  4 frees), Brian Murphy, Shane Walsh,  Shane O Connor, Eoin Roche, Cian O Connor (0 1), Brian Roche (1  1), Daniel Dooley, William Finnegan (0 5 frees), Michael Collins (0 1), Conleith Ryan (0 1). Our next game will be at least two months away with the new League Style Munster Championship going on until late June and both Na Piarsaigh and Bandon have players on the Cork panel. Pat Walsh and his selectors and the team will have a short break from Senior Hurling and then get back in action with League and Tournament games. Bride Rovers can still have a big say in this championship, we know we've work and hard training to do but those were never a problem for Rovers men. The team which lost by 1 20 to 1 18 against Duhallow last July was; 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), S. Glasgow, D. Dooley (0 5, 0 1 free), R. Whitty, M. Collins (1 1), C. O Connor (0 2), R. Prendergast.

Minor Hurlers in Championship Action Tonight.

Our premier Minor Hurling team are out in first round Minor Hurling action tonight Thursday April 26th with a tough opener against St Finbarrs. The Barrs are always competing at premier level whereas it's our first time in this Grade. The game is  at 6.45 Venue to be confirmed  so the very best of luck lads.

Under 14 in Feile Semi Final.

Last Saturday the opening games were played in the 2018 Feile na nGael under 14 hurling competition. The National Finals of Feile this year will be held in Connacht in early June. Over last weekend and this week Cork Clubs vie to get the honour of representing Cork in this prestigious competition. We travelled to the St Itas Club grounds in Pilmore last Saturday to play our opening games. We had three games in total and after some great hurling we were victorious in all three. The first game Killeagh/Itas was one sided enough and we won comfortably on a scoreline of Bride Rovers 3 14  Killeagh Itas  1-5. Our next contest was against Youghal and in a thriller we won by a single point- Bride Rovers  1 5 Youghal  1-4. Our third game was against Midleton and here again it was a low scoring contest and we emerged victorious by two points; Bride Rovers 1 8 Midleton  1-6. Well done lads on three great wins which means we are in the semi final. The two semi finals and final are down for decision in Togher on this Friday night April 27th. We have been drawn against the favourites Na Piarsaigh while Douglas meet St Finbarrs in the other semi. All games will be 15 minutes a side with the semis and final decided on Friday night. Go for it boys.

Under 14 team panel last  Saturday; Frank O Flynn Eldon O Connor Liam Collins Cormac O Sullivan David Barry Conor Hazelwood Nicky Kelleher Ronan O Connell Killian Tobin Adam Hayes Adam Walsh Denis Cashman Ryan O Callaghan Louis Roche Josh Ahern Adam Hynes Cillian Barry Luke Harrington Ben Knox 

Under 13 Hurlers Defeat Inniscarra. After a heavy defeat by Na Piarsaigh in their opening game our under 13 hurlers had a good win over Inniscarra in Rathcormac on Monday night. Leading by 2 4 to 0 7 at the break they won by 2 13 to 0 9.

Team panel; Frank O Flynn, Oran Kielty, Liam Collins, Darragh Kielty, Ben Knox, Adam Hynes, Luke Harrington, Cillian Barry, .O Sullivan, R. O Riordan, Denis Cashman, Jack Keating, E. O Connor, R. O Callaghan, C. O Sullivan, T. O Riordan, K. Ryan, J. Collins, K. Cotter, J. Hynes, G. Gubbins, C. O Dowd. The under 13's are away on next Monday night April 30th to Blackrock at 7pm.

No Lotto Winner

On Tuesday April 17th the four numbers drawn for a €20,000 Jackpot were  9, 10, 13, 32 and there was no winner. The prizes of €30 each went to Anne Daly, Ashfield Place, Esther O'Keeffe, Pat Kelleher, Cobh, Catherine Murphy, Kilbrien and Eva Walsh, Bartlemy. The jackpot for last Tuesday night April the 24th was €20,000. 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.

Fixtures:

Thurs 26th Pr MHC V St Finbarrs, Friday 27th Feile (Under 14 Hurling) semi Final v Na Piarsaigh in Togher -time prov.6.45-to be verified Sun 29th JF practise v Aghada, time to be confirmed. Mon 30 the u13 HL v Blackrock, away at 7pm.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are;    Rathcormac Tyres

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