Club Notes for this week.. - 2020-06-06 21:01:00
Things Looking More Positive..
The latest news emanating from HQ in Croke Park at the weekend seems a bit more positive than earlier pronouncements.
The GAA has confirmed that the walkways around many of its club grounds will reopen on next Monday June 8th and it also appears to be preparing for an earlier return to activity than originally envisaged should the Government’s relaxation of coronavirus restrictions proceed according to plan.
“This document will require approval from the Government’s own Expert group on Return to Sport, which we continue to work with. This Expert group currently considers Gaelic games a ‘Phase 4’ (20th July) sport. That would seem to indicate that Hurling and Football games before the end of July simply wont happen but if things keep going well health-wise in the country we could see some Club Activity before the Summer is gone. The earlier GAA statement about no inter County games before October has not been rescinded or changed.
Pairc na Bride Facilities.
As part of the club's ongoing improvement of its facilities at Bride Rovers for our ever increasing numbers of players, members and visitors, a high quality CCTV system has been installed with twenty-four Hour Monitoring for your personal safety and for security. A huge 'Thank You' to members of the Club 100 Scheme as your contribution to this ongoing fundraiser has enabled us to install this system.
Watch this space for further updates on projects planned. Thanks to all our benefactors for your continued support.
If you wish to join the growing number of Club 100 Members please contact Liam Barry 087 6893829.
Football Success in the Parish.
On Sunday August the 11th 1889 Rathcormac Senior Football team played Dromtarriffe in the O Brien Board County Final in Mallow. Due to serious 'split' in the GAA in Cork three rival and distinct County Boards were in operation the Cork Board, the O Connor Board and the O Brien Board. Though the Cork Board was the 'official' Board far more Clubs were affiliated to the other two Boards. The August 11th game was a replay. The teams had played a drawn game two weeks earlier. Rathcormac refused to [play extra time as they felt they had won the match by a point. This score was disputed and not awarded. So the replay was eagerly awaited. The game was 21 a side and no score was recorded by either team in the first half! Rathcormac kicked three points in the second half to win by 0 3 to 0 0. Patrick Murphy of Raheen-great, grandfather of James, Barry, Padraig and Brian and great, great grandfather of Liam Collins was the Captain of the winning team. There was of course the usual Objection. At the Board Meeting Dromtarriffe claimed that John Daly Captain of the Kilworth Football team had played with Rathcormac in the County Final. Mr Daly rejected this claim and was able to prove, to the satisfaction of the Board, that on the Sunday in question, he was in fact at the seaside in Crosshaven!
Amazingly it was 91 years later before the next Football title came to the Parish. Down the years a Junior A Football tam was entered at various times but with no success. When Bartlemy Junior A Football team were beaten by Midleton 6 8 to 0 5 on June 3rd 1951 something had to be done. Only 1 grade of Junior Football was played East Cork then. At the East Cork Convention that year the Bartlemy Club successfully put forward a motion that ' a B Grade or Novice football Championship be established in the Division' A further thirty years were to elapse before we won that particular competition.
1981. When we trailed Ballinacurra by 1 5 to 1 4 in the first round of the JBFC in Lisgoold with two minutes left defeat looked certain. Liam Cahill came up from defence to kick a free from about thirty yards out. To our delight the ball sailed over the defenders and into the net! We won by a 2 4 to 1 5 and we were on the way. Glanworth's Owenie McAuliffe was enlisted to train the team by selectors Tom Barry and Pat O Connor and some serious traing was done. We defeated Glenbower Rovers by 1 9 to 1 6 and then accounted for Lisgoold in the semi final by 2 5 to 0 7. The final in Midleton on October 18th was against Youghal. It was 0 4 to 0 0 after fifteen minutes as we were in control. Then Youghal had two points and a goal disallowed . We took over with points from Cyril Johnson, Connie Barry, Tom Mulcahy and Mossy Dooley in the second half and led by 8 points to 4. A goal from Jimmy Johnson wrapped up the win for Rovers by 1 8 t 0 4. Tom Kearney received the Boig Coleman Cup from ECB John Hennessy amidst great scenes of excitement. The winning team was Paul Murphy, Declan Kearney, Tommy O Flynn, Liam Cahill, Anthony Kearney, Tom Kearney Captain, Tadhg O Donovan, Paudie Collins, Mossy Dooley, Cyril Johnson, James Maye, Tom Mulcahy, Jimmy Johnson, Richie Cotter, Connie Barry.
For the next few years we competed in A grade Football but regraded to Junior B again in 1984 and lost the 1989 final to Aghada by a point. We won the B Grade double in 1995. Success came slowly at A Grade Football level but is did come. We lost the 2002 and 2003 East Cork JAFC Finals to Erins Own before making the breakthrough in 2004.
2004.
We defeated Glanmire, Midleton, and St Catherines before accounting for Erins Own in the semi final by 2 11 to 0 8. The East Cork Final wasn't played until November- we had represented Imokilly Division in the County but were beaten. In the East Cork Final at Dungourney two goals from Brian Murphy helped to take our first ever East Cork Junior A Grade Football Championship on a winning scoreline of 2 7 to 1 2. a proud Board Chairman Gerard Lane presented the Jim Ryan Cup to a thrilled Rovers Captain Terry Broderick Team; Richie Cahill, Brendan O Driscoll, Pat Walsh, Pat Barry, Trevor Moloney, Barry Murphy, Padraig Murphy, Donal Ryan, Batt McHugh, Terry Broderick Captain, Brendan Walsh Brian Murphy, Colm O Keeffe, Terry Broderick, Sean Ryan, Pat O Reilly, Barry Johnson, Aidan Collins, Jerome O Driscoll. Three years later in 2007 we won our second JAFC title.
1936 Hurling Game.
In April 1936 Bride Rovers played Kilworth in a practise game in Kilworth. The Rovers won the match but what was the score! In his meticulous records Ned Daly has the score as Bride Rover 6 4 to Kilworth's two goals. In a report in the 'Fermoy and Round About' Column in 'The Kerryman' newspaper had the Rovers winning by 3 5 to 3 3. It wasn't unusual at the time for reporters to change the scores reported to make game look much closer and tighter!
The line-outs of the teams were given as follows; Bride Rovers; T. Hoskins, E. Hoskins, M. Thompson, J. Murphy, B. Murphy, M. Collins, P.Collins, M. O Brien, C. O Brien, J. Healy, M. Healy, N. Daly, J. Horgan, J. O Brien. (C. O Brien was Connie O Brien from Araglen who worked at Mulvey's in Rathcormac. He died in England a few years ago. I think the J. Horgan is simply a typing mistake -it was Johnny Dorgan one of the 1932 County Minor winning Rovers side).
Kilworth team; D. Fox, M. Bermingham, J. Horgan, E. Forde, W. Forde, T. Doran, W. Brackett, T. Griffin, T. Kenny, M. Dwyer, P. Hanley, P. Allen, W. Hennessy, P. Farren. (D. Fox was Denis or Dinny Fox who worked in later years as a lorry driver for Woods' in Bartlemy)
Sympathy
Bride Rovers Club extends sincere sympathy to the Collins and Hayes families on their recent bereavements. Geraldine McCarthy nee Holmes mother of Jane Collins and Eily Mullins nee Desmond mother of Deirdre Hayes both died recently. Both families are steeped in GAA tradition and we join them in mourning their loss. May Geraldine and Eily rest in peace. We remember also the family of Dick Doocey of Killeagh. A native of Lismore Dick moved to Killeagh in the early 1960's and was very involved in the GAA there. He was great character. He died just a few days before his 90th Birthday.
Club Calendar
In what seemed very forward thinking the Bride Rovers Club produced a Colour Souvenir Calendar back in 1931-32. It would seem that some entrepreneurial printer somewhere decided to print calendars for different GAA Clubs. The on for our Club was headed County Cork, GAA 1931-32 and under that 'East Cork Division'. They tended to use catchy titles and phrases back then -Tim O Regan of Main St, Rathcormac was brilliant at composing eye-catching headlines! The next Sub Title was ' onward and forward still' and under that 'EAST CORK ABU. A picture of the Bride Rovers, East Cork winning team of 1930 is featured and the Officers of the East Cork Board are listed. Also listed are all the Clubs affiliated in East Cork. Different businesses took out adds on the programme to defray the cost.
Parish League in 1940.
Having .competed in the Intermediate Grade from 1933 to 1937 the Club regraded to Junior in 1938. They got to the East Cork Final but were defeated by a Cloyne side with a young Christy Ring at corner forward. In 1939 Aghada defeated the Rovers by two points, 3 1 to 2 2. In 1940 a 5 3 to 1 0 win over Watergrasshill in round one of the East Cork JHC meant the team were confident of more success. The Hill game was on March 17th , Patrick's Day but the next game against Aghada wasn't played 'til August 11th. A summer of training was of little benefit as Aghada won by 11 3 to 4 3. During the summer 'break' a local Parish League was organised for the Junior players. Played on a 'Round Robin' basis three teams competed Bartlemy, the Village(Rathcormac) and Kildinan. In a play-ff game Kildinan beat Bartlemy at Shanbally. Kildinan and the Village drew in the final with the Village winning the replay. Some said the players were worn out from these games by the time they played Aghada!
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS.
These are tough times for all business firms, big and small, and in Bride Rovers we are especially grateful to Rathcormac Tyres and Fermoy Print and Design for their ongoing assistance. If you or family members or friends can support these two firms we would really appreciate it.
Bride Rovers Club Gear.
While we might not be playing games at present 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.
Parish Newsletter.
The Parish Newsletter can be emailed to anyone in the Parish who would like to get a copy. Each Saturday the latest edition will be sent out. If you wish to get a copy just forward your email address to rathcormacpp@gmail.com Until further notice Fr Joe O Keeffe will celebrate mass each Sunday at 10.30. The Mass will be live-streamed on the Parish Facebook page and U Tube channel. The two Churches in the Parish are now opened on alternate days from 12 noon until 3.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
