Club Notes 17th April - 2020-04-09 16:36:00
Easter -A Time Of Hope.
These last few weeks have been tough for us all. Who would have contemplated a few weeks back terms like 'physical distancing', 'cocooning' and 'stay apart to be together' would be normal, but this Corona /Covid 19 virus is a strange and unknown commodity for the whole world. Someone said to me last week 'Oh what I'd give to see even a bad football game' -wouldn't we all! However it's in unprecedented times like these that us Irish people can be seen at their best. Families, communities and Clubs like GAA Clubs have all backed the national effort in fighting this woeful scourge. This is Holy Week leading up to Easter -imagine this very week last year we were getting ready to play Douglas in the Championship above in Riverstown. There were heaps of Senior and Intermediate games played over the Bank Holiday weekend. It's so different this year. Pitches Closed and Churches closed at Easter tide. Truly these are the strangest of days. Though the 'time changed' recently it's so eerily quiet all over the country. Those over 70 are confined to their homes and all others can only travel 2 Km except in certain limited circumstances. The HSE and other health experts who are trying to guide us through this crisis have stated that this week and next week, Easter Week, are going to be critical in the fight against this virus. For over 90 years the people of Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan have supported and stood by our Club and now when the need is greatest the Club stands four square with our people. If we can help you in any way please contact 087 2070100 or 086 7710766. Easter is always a season of hope and renewal and let's hope and pray that things will soon improve.
Bride Rovers Club Gear.
We might not be playing games at present but it's still important to wear the Green, White and Gold of the Club whenever possible. We have negotiated to have a full range of our Club Gear available to purchase from O Neills Sportswear. At present all sizes of jersies, t-shirts, shorts, jackets, polo shirts and tracksuits are in stock at reasonable prices. Go to Oneills.ie and then search in the list of club names for 'Bride Rovers' and you'll see the full range.
DOWN MEMORY LANE.--1992.
When our Minor Hurling team was defeated in the East Cork Championship by Watergrasshill in early summer of 1992 it was a big disappointment as we had high hopes for the Minor teams that season. Watergrasshill ended our championship hopes on a score of 2 7 to 0 7. What made the defeat even harder to take was the fact that we had already beaten the Hill in the League by 3 4 to 2 5. In the Minor Football championship Cobh beat us 3 10 to 3 4. With the Championship aspirations the team made a big effort in the League. With Denis Ahern as team coach and fellow selectors John Murphy, Mick Barry, Par Broderick, Dinny Fitzgerald and Tony Walsh the team gained momentum. A win over Carrignavar and the win over the Hill saw us face Castlelyons in Round 3. We won that game by 1 5 to 1 2. This meant we were level on points with Watergrasshill on points. On October the 18th we travelled to Castlelyons for the play-off with the Hill. On a scoreline of 1 11 to 1 6 we reversed the championship result. The East Cork League Final against Castlelyons meant a trip to Glenville on November the 7th. We ha a great win on a score of Bride Rovers 2 8 Castlelyons 0 6. In previous years winning a Divisional League was the end of the road for the year but not in 1992. Under the chairmanship of the great Con Murphy the Cork Minor Board had introduced knock-out competitions for all the Divisional League winners. So seven days after capturing the East Cork title our minors travelled to Carrignavar on a bitterly cold day to take on recently crowned County Championship winners Ballinora. A goal in the eight minute from team captain Terry Broderick -after a rasper from James Murphy was saved, put us on the way to a brilliant win by two points 1 10 to 0 11. The team was really playing great hurling and though it was now mid-winter training went well and a great spirit built up in the squad. Two weeks later we were billed to play South East winners Shamrocks but because of the bad weather no pitch could be got for the County semi final. The clubs agreed to toss for home venue and we won. With two goals from Pat Barry and Terry and another from Pat Walsh we won well, 6 11 to 0 3. So for the first time since 1932 we were through to a County Hurling Final. The semi final was on November the 29th and we had to wait until the Sunday before Christmas -December the 20th for the Final. Our opponents in Killavullen were Killavullen who'd beaten Glen Rovers in their semi final. It was like a 'Winter Wonderland' in Ballygiblin on that Sunday as a frozen white pitch looked like a Christmas card Scene. We thought for a while the match would be cancelled but luckily it went ahead. With first half goals from Terry and Pat Walsh we led by 2 7 to 0 2 at the break. Killavullen scored 1 1 after halftime. We then replied with 7 points in a row for a brilliant 2 14 to 1 3 win. Chairman of the Minor Board Tom Dorgan presented the cup to Terry Broderick for our first County title of any description since 1932. What a win and what a team, many of those lads went onto give outstanding playing service-some still played in 2020. The winning panel was Edmond Hoskins, Eoin Murphy, Liam Barry, Alan Broderick, David Barry, Michael Walsh, Barry Murphy, Johnny O Callaghan, Kieran Fitzgerald, Terry Broderick captain, Noel Hegarty, James Murphy, Pat Cotter, Pat Barry, Pat Walsh, Donal Ryan, Batt McHugh, Past McHugh, John Daly, Mark O Connell, Shane Hogan, Padraig Murphy and Brian Barry.
Sean Murphy, Killeagh RIP.
It was with a sense of sadness and regret that we heard yesterday of the death of Sean Murphy of Killeagh. Though the word is often misused we have no hesitation in saying that Sean was truly a legend. Sean devoted his life to working for the good of others. Though nominally a farmer -and Sean loved the land, it can be truthfully said that Sean Murphy was in reality an unpaid community and social worker. He had poor eyesight all his life but in no way did this hinder his zest for helping others. His name is as synonymous with Killeagh as is Glenbower Wood but his but his sphere of influence went far, far beyond his beloved native village. In Macra na Feirme, the GAA, Politics, Point to Point Racing and the Pioneer Association Sean was an influential, respected and valued member. It was however in Muintir na Tire that that Sean Murphy was known literally nationwide. He espoused the vision of Muintir's founder, Canon Hayes, and immersed himself in everything that was positive about Community Development. He promoted the idea of Muintir na Tire Guilds in local parishes and then in later years the concept of Community Councils. In his days in Macra na Feirme Sean honed his debating skills and was a gifted orator. He was a firm believer in correct protocol at meetings and his opinions and views were widely sought. A man of immense intellect his ability to retain and recall incidents of fifty or sixty years ago was uncanny. He loved a god debate, even bordering on an argument!- but whatever the outcome of such verbal sparring Sean remained a friend. It was indeed fitting that in 2018 Sean was the recipient of the Overall Individual Community Award presented by the Mayor of Cork County, it was an award that was richly deserved after over 60 years of Community endeavour. He loved the GAA and proudly represented his Club Killeagh at the East Cork Board. He told me years ago that he first ventured to the Board in the late 1950's and, as he said himself, 'got a permanent job there in the early 1960's. He was so happy when Killeagh won Junior and Intermediate hurling titles, when Mark Landers captained Cork to All Ireland victory in 1999 along with Bernard Rochford and Joe Deane and of course when Tracey Kennedy became Cathaoirleach of the Cork GAA Board three years ago. Despite poor health in the last decade Sean' kept right on 'til the end of the road'. Sean you were a great friend to so many, for years yourself and Junior Scully were to be seen everywhere together -at games, Board Meetings, Conventions, Scor and anywhere Gaels gathered. We will all miss you Sean, thanks for everything you did for so many for so long. You were born in troubled times in 1939 and now in this troubled year of 2020 you have bade farewell. God bless you and keep you. Gan dabht ní bheidh do leithéad arís ann, slán a chara dilis
PICTURES FROM THE PAST
1968 was a wonderful year for the club. Having won the East Cork Junior B Grade Hurling Championship in 1966 and in just the second year at Junior A level. It was a great summer of hurling culminating in August.
Yes indeed August of 1968 was an exciting time for the parish of Bartlemy, Kildinan and Rathcormac. For the first time in 30 years Bride Rovers had qualified for the East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship Final. With victories over Castlemartyr and St. Catherines the Rovers met Youghal in the semi final here in Clonmult Memorial Park on the first Sunday of August. A 3 11 to 3 5 win meant that after three decades the team in green, white and gold would appear in the Blue Ribbon event of East Cork Hurling. Back in 1938 Cloyne, featuring a very young Christy Ring, had defeated the Rovers in the Final on a scoreline of 5 5 to 3 2. On Sunday August 25th Bride Rovers lined out against Sarsfields in the East Cork Final in Midleton. Though it was Sars' second string they were favourites in many pundits opinions because of their experience and maturity. After 27 minutes of the first half Sars were in complete control leading by 3 7 to 0 4 - three points from Seanie Barry and one from John Meade. Just before half time Seanie Barry added a goal from way out to leave it 37 to 1 4 at the break. Sars added 2 points on the restart to go 3 9 to 1 4 ahead, a lead of 11 points. Then it happened. The next twenty five minutes saw Bride Rovers display courage, skill, determination and a never-say-die attitude -the hallmarks of every Bride Rovers team since. The scores came thick and fast. Goals from Frank Meade and Tom O Riordan and points from Seanie Barry Pat Hoskins reduced the Sars lead to 2 points. Seanie Barry pointed again but Sars hit back with 1 1. Goals from Seanie and Johnny Barry had the sides level with 4 minutes left. Then Seanie Barry got the winning point; Bride Rovers 5 8 Sarsfields 4 10.Bride Rovers forever, Bride Rovers Abu.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
