Nine Rovers in the Red of Cork...

This weekend is a very special one for our Club. An unprecedented nine players from the parish of Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan will don the famed Red and White Jersey of Cork. Ninety years after the foundation of the Bride Rovers Club we will have players with three different Cork Hurling teams at under 14, under 15 and under 21 level. To have nine players representing our County is an honour, a historic achievement and a great credit to all involved with the Club. On Saturday in Waterford the Under 14 Inter County Hurling Tony Forristal/Sonny Walsh Tournament takes place. We have six players involved with Cork- Adam Walsh, Ronan O Connell, Cillian Tobin, David Barry, Josh Ahern and Conor Hazelwood. Well done and best of luck lads and we wish their families all the best on this special occasion. Meanwhile on Saturday in Tipperary the Arrabawn Cup under 15 Inter County Hurling competition takes place and  Edmond Cashman will represent Bride Rovers on this Cork team. Edmond's mother Siobhan is a proud and happy Limerick woman from the Blackrock Club area in Kilfinnane so she's been celebrating well this week. Best wishes to Edmond and his Cork colleagues.

On Sunday evening in the Gaelic Grounds in limerick Cork will meet Tipperary in the All Ireland Under 21 Hurling Final and the Roche twins, Brian and Eoin are on the Cork panel. Having played Under 17 and Minor last year the two lads have progressed to the Under 21 side who attempt to bridge a long gap to bring the Under 21 title back to Cork. Best of luck lads, yes indeed a great weekend for our Club.

Under 14 Hurlers  Win Thriller.

Our Under 14 hurling team travelled to the Na Piarsaigh's ground in the Northside of Cork City last Wednesday night to take on the home side in the Premier Co Rebel Og Championship. We had defeated the City side in a close Feile Semi Final earlier this year but that form counted for little in this game. The contest was timed for 7 but didn't start til nearly half past due to the referee being told the wrong time. Our lads played with a strong wind in the first half but found scores hard to come by. Gradually the boys got into their stride with Adam Walsh and Conor Hazlewood winning great possession and Liam Collins controlling the rearguard. The forwards began to motor and we had 2 8 on the board to 0 6 for the home side by half time. An eight point lead seemed a decent margin but Na Piarsaigh tore into the game in the last quarter. With 12 minutes to go we were ahead by 3 11  to 1 8 when Piarsaighs struck for three goals to level the game 3 11 to 4 8. With the aid of the wind and our lads tiring the City boys kept attacking but great defending repulsed them. Adam Hayes was unerring from placed balls and we restored a three point lead as the game entered four minutes off added time in semi-darkness. Thankfully we held on to win by 3 14 to 4 8, well  done lads on a great win. Next up is a tie v old rivals St Finbarrs in early September.

Team; Frank O Flynn, Eldon O Conor, Liam Collins,  Cormac O Sullivan,  Josh Ahern,  Conor Hazelwood,  Nicky Kelleher, Cillian Tobin,  Denis Cashman, Adam Walsh, Adam Hayes, David Barry, Cillian Barry, Ryan O Callaghan, Louis Roche, Ben Knox, Jack Keating. 

EAST CORK JB FOOTBALL FINAL 2018.

We contested the East Cork Junior B football final on Saturday last in Ballinacurra.  Our opponents were Russell Rovers, the only team to have beaten us this year in football league or championship.We played the first half against a strong breeze.  Terry Broderick opened the crossing with a point from play, the only score from either side in the first ten minutes.  Russell Rovers leveled with a point from play, before they opened up a lead through two well taken goals.  When half-time came we found ourselves eight points behind on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-2, our second point coming from a Terry Broderick free. As we were well behind we knew we would have to take advantage of the strong breeze.  Long balls were played into the full-forward line, and with Éinne Ó hEochaidh winning aerial possession we fought our way back into the game.  Liam Forde started with a well taken point from play, followed by two points from Terry Broderick.  Russell Rovers responded with two points, before Brendan Walsh scored a point a leave the scoreline 2-6 to 0-6.  Our midfield pairing of Daniel Dooley and Brendan Walsh were now dominating, well supported by Liam Forde, Jason Pratt and DJ Cahill.  We scored another five points to put us at 0-11, while Russell Rovers scored another three points to leave them at 2-9.  While we threatened the Russell Rovers goals on several occasions in the last few minutes, we could not find a way to get the goal that we needed.  The four point gap remained at the end of the game.  While we were disappointed, it was great to get to a final, after good wins over Ballinacurra, Glenville and Glanmire.  We are also currently top of the league and could potentially face Russell Rovers in a league final later in the Autumn.  We wish Russell Rovers all the best for the County series. Thanks to all the players and selectors who have restored football to it's rightful place in the Club after a low ebb. In our dressingroom after the game manager Pa O Driscoll and team Captain Daniel Dooley both spoke eloquently. They expressed our disappointment at losing out but pride in the effort put in by all the players at football this year.

Team: Frank Hogan, Tadhg O'Sullivan, Shane Walsh, Jason Mannix, Shane O'Connor, Jason Pratt, Barry Johnson, Daniel Dooley, Brendan Walsh, DJ Cahill, Liam Forde, Ryan Prendergast, Damien Buckley, Éinne Ó hEochaidh, Terry Broderick Jordan Mannix, Griffin O'Keeney, Shane O'Flynn, Cian Howard, Shane O'Connor, Ben Hogan, Dylan Browne, Conleith Ryan.

One Point Win For Senior Hurlers.

In our last game in the RED FM Senior hurling league Bride Rovers secured a playoff place in the league with a one point win over Bishopstown on Monday night.

Played in Bishopstown the Rovers had a 5 point lead midway through the second half and in control of the game but 5 unanswered points from Bishopstown ensured a close finish with Conleith Ryan grabbing the all important winning point 4 minutes into injury time.

Daniel Dooley was first to register a score for the Rovers and this was quickly followed by a kicked point from Éinne Ó hEochaidh following a great catch. Pa Cronin levelled the game with two pointed frees for Bishopstown. Two points apiece from Conor Barry  and Barry Johnson restored the Rovers lead. The concession of frees was a concern with former Cork star Pa Cronin unerring from the placed balls. By the interval the Rovers were leading 0-09 to 0-07 with the additional Rovers scores coming from Daniel Dooley, Conor Barry and a long range effort from Brian Murphy.

The Rovers started well in the second half and after the third quarter had opened up a five point lead with points from Dooley, Conor Barry, Michael Collins and Barry Johnson. Bishopstown were awarded a dubious penalty which Pa Cronin struck wide. However Bishopstown fought back and with 5 minutes left had wiped out the Rovers lead. Barry Johnson pointed a free to edge the Rovers in front before Tomas Murray equalised for Bishopstown. With the game well into injury time up stepped Conleith Ryan to grab the winning score. The Rovers had good performers in Mike Liddane, Ryan Prendergast and Conor Barry and this win ensures a place in the top 8 of the league. It was a great game and mighty to see over fifty supporters from Bride Rovers in Cork city of a Monday evening for a Senior League game.

Team: F.Hogan, T.O’Sullivan, S.Walsh, S.Kearney, J.Pratt, B.Murphy (0-1), M.Liddane, R.Prendergast, B.Johnson (0-5 F), M.Collins(0-1), C.O’Connor, D.Dooley (0-3), J.Mannix, E.Ó hEochaidh (0-1), C.Barry (0-5F). Subs: C.Ryan (0-1)

We have now finished our thirteen game League programme and depending on a few games this week we will finish fifth or sixth in the RED FM SHL table. The Cut off date for all SHL games is this Friday August 24th. The Top 8 qualify for the Quarter Finals and the bottom two are relegated. Our SHC game v Newtownshandrum is fixed for Saturday week September the 1st at 6pm in Mallow.

UNDER 9 Football.

Our U9 boys took on Douglas in football last Saturday morning in the main pitch. We had  20 boys togged who enjoyed 2 good games each. While we probably shaded the result it’s worthwhile considering that Douglas also sent 2 teams to play Valley Rovers the same morning!! Next up is hurling against Whitechurch which again is at home next Saturday. Fixture time to be confirmed. 

John Gettings RIP

It was with great sadness that we heard the news that John Gettings died last Saturday. Living in Little Island for many years John was a proud Rathcormac man who loved Bride Rovers dearly. Having spent time in England in the early 1960's John returned on holidays in 1966 and as he often said himself 'the rest is history' and what a history!  After playing at corner forward in a few League and Tournament games John took his place between the posts for the Junior B Hurling campaign in 1966. We won the Junior B championship that year in what was the start of a Golden era for the Club. In 1968 and again in 1969 John was our goalie when we won two East Cork A Grade Titles. Ironically a reunion of these teams is planned for next month but sadly now John has gone from us. He was a passionate Bride Rovers man down the years and a great character too. He passed away on All Ireland Hurling weekend -how fitting for a man who really loved our native game. Talking over recent days to his former team mates they all had a smile on the face and a twinkle in the eye as they recalled the lovable rogue that was John Gettings. He never lost touch with the Club and took great pride in recent times in seeing our exploits at Senior level and he was equally proud of so many Rovers players wearing the Red and White of Cork. We extend our deepest sympathy to all of John's family and friends.  We have now lost John Ryan, Tony O Brien, Tony Walsh, Michael Twomey, Davy Hogan, Willie Cotter, Johnny Barry and John Gettings from those history-making Bride Rovers teams. May they all rest in peace.

ALL IRELAND FINAL. 

Well done to Limerick on their great win on Sunday, it was long overdue as 45 years is a huge gap. We have many happy Limerick natives in our midst and to them we say enjoy the feeling, it's mighty. We think too of former Limerick player Pat Heffernan who soldiered with us, well done Pat and I know he is very proud of his Blackrock club mater Richie McCarthy who came on last Sunday

ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL.

On Sunday week James Bermingham will be a linesman for the All Ireland Minor Football Final Kerry v Galway and Raymond Hegarty will be Umpire with Conor Lane for the Senior Final Dublin v Tyrone, well done and best of luck James and Raymond.

FIXTURES;

Thursday Aug 23rd, Rathcormac 4 mile Road race

Sat Aug 25th Sonny Walsh/Tony Forristal u14H  in Waterford

Arrabawn u15H in Tipperary

Sun Aug 26th All Ireland u 21 H Final in Limerick at 5.30pm

Sat Sept 1st SHC V Newtownshandrum, Mallow at 6.30pm

Fri Sept 28th Reunion of 1968 and 1969 Junior Teams, East Cork Champions.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are;   Rathcormac Tyres

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