Bride Rovers

Seniors Super Start...

It's been a long time coming but the wait was worthwhile for our Senior Hurlers. In our first game in the new Championship Format we were down to play Ballymartle last April but as we all know a lot has happened since, all's changed, indeed utterly changed. In the splendid Ballincollig grounds on the outskirts of Cork City last Saturday we met the team from the Carrigdhoun Division and had a great win. Five o clock on a Saturday evening with just a tiny crowd present- that was the unusual background for this Bride Rovers v Ballymartle game, the first clash since 2002 in Championship. The circumstances surrounding all major games are strange these days but in fairness our hurlers concentrated on winning their opening game in the Four Team-Three Game Group C of this Competition. We hade played underage games in the fine Ballincollig grounds but not at adult level. Team Captain Daniel Dooley led his team into action as referee Brian Sweeney started the contest on the stroke of five o clock. Leading by example Daniel hit over a point in the second minute after a great catch from Paddy O Flynn. We had the aid of a stiffish breeze in the first half but Ballymartle had few early chances but hit two wides. After five minutes Darren McCarthy levelled but a minute later William Finnegan doubled our tally with his first score from a free. With Brian Murphy at fullback and Eoin Roche at centre back keeping a solid defence together and Kieran Kearney and Daniel Dooley controlling midfield our forwards got plenty possession. Soon the points started to come. After good work from Ryan Prendergast Paddy O Flynn put a lovely pass in the path of our team captain who rose his second white flag. Paddy O Flynn and Shane Walsh from way out put us 0 6 to 0 2 in front. Cian Hogan's lengthy puck outs were a great help as our forwards moved all around. Ballymartle were under pressure and began to foul. Conleith Ryan was the victim of a terrible tackle which left him seriously injured and he had to taken immediately to Hospital. Jason Mannix came on in Conleith's place. William Finnegan hit over six frees in a row to stretch our lead to 0 12 to 0 4.in the 39th minute. The last of these frees came after Cian O Connor turned over a Ballymartle attack and was fouled. Cian Hogan made a great save and his clearance went to Kieran Kearney who gave the sliotar to Brian Roche. Brian made no mistake and sent a rasper into the corner of the net. That score gave us a 1 12 to 0 4 half time lead. It was probably a true reflection of our dominance though Ballymartle hit a lot of wides in the opening period. The wind which eased in the second quarter picked up again after half time but we were still first to score. A super score from Daniel Dooley put us twelve points ahead. Darren McCarthy got one back for Ballymartle before William Finnegan got a lovely point from play. Our scoring rate dried up as Ballymartle scored four points on the trot. It was 1 4 to 0 9 when Cian saved two great shots. Tadhg O Sullivan and Fergus Collins made good blocks as the South East men looked for goals. Shane O Connor was fouled and William pointed. Paddy shot a superb sideline shot over the bar before William finished our scoring with a point from a free 33 minutes into the second half. Both Michael Collins and Jason Pratt came on in the second half of the match. Ballymartle got a point to leave the final score Bride Rovers 1 17 Ballymartle 0 12. It was our first Championship win since 2018 and with just three Group games it's vital to win the first game. After such a strange, silent summer it's hard to judge how ready a team are for Championship action. All the practise games in the world are so different. We had a great game recently against Ballysaggart but at the weekend they were hammered in the Waterford Championship. Well done to Stephen, Pa, Richie and Seamie and Barry and their helpers for preparing the team so well. The team displayed great determination and spirit and though shocked and saddened by Conleith's horrendous injury they stuck to their task in the second half. Well done lads, ye did the Club proud. It was pity that so few were actually at the game but thanks to Donal Arnold many more viewed it on the 'live streaming' connection on You tube. It's a big change since Tim Riordan's time when pigeons carried the results of games home! Team v Ballymartle. Cian Hogan, Fergus Collins, Brian Murphy, Tadhg O Sullivan, Shane O Connor , Eoin Roche, Shane Walsh, Daniel Dooley (Captain), Kieran Kearney, William Finnegan, Ryan Prendergast, Paddy O Flynn, Conleith Ryan, Cian O Connor Brian Roche, Jason Mannix, Michael Collins, Jason Pratt. Scorers William Finnegan 0 11, 7 from frees, Daniel Dooley 0 3, Brian Roche 1 0, Paddy O Flynn 0 2, 1 from a sideline, Shane Walsh 0 1. Conleith has had major surgery and on behalf of everyone in the Club and parish we wish him speedy recovery back to full health.

We are back in action in the Senior Hurling Championship this weekend. It will be a very, very busy one for the Club. As well as the Senior game our Junior B hurlers are in championship action. The under 16's have a home game and we are hosting games for both the County and East Cork Boards.

SENIOR HURLING.

On Friday night we meet Fr O Neills in the next game in Pairc Ui Rinn at half 7. Again the same crowd restrictions as last week still apply but the Irish Examiner are live streaming this game. Several people have applied for the position as match Commentator but no final selection has been decided upon at the time of writing! Fr O Neills winners of the Cork and Munster PIHC last year and All Ireland finalists in January had a big win over Kilworth last Friday night so we know we will have a huge challenge. Ballymartle and Kilworth play in Grenagh on Saturday also. The last Round of Group games Bride Rovers v Kilworth and Fr O Neills v Ballymartle will be played on the weekend of August 31st. With this Round Robin Format the permutations are endless. Two wins guarantees a Club to qualify from the Group but if teams are level on points Scoring Averages come into play. Best of luck on Friday night lads.

IN BALLINCOLLIG.

An interested spectator in Ballincollig last Saturday was Paddy Murphy a native of The Lough in Mondaniel. Paddy was in the Army stationed in Ballincollig for many years and was hugely involved in 'The Belle of Ballincollig' Festival. Talking to him at half time he recalled playing hurling in the 1940's and 50's when the Club was struggling. He has followed with pride the brilliant progress over recent years.

UNDER 7'S.

Our Under 7’s boys hurling and football are back training with weeks now with players giving it their all. We train on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 & Saturday mornings at 10am in the large astro turf. Anyone interesting in sending their child, please contact Dave Burke on 087-7999413. All biys in the Parish born in 2013 are invited to come along to try out Gaelic Games. At under 7 level it's all about learning skills, making new friends and having great fun.

UNDER 16'S PIPPED.

Most time a score of 1 21 would win a game of hurling for you. Not so however last Saturday morning in Pairc na Bride. Out Under 16's were playing Midleton in Round Two of the Rebel Og Premier 1 Championship/League. We'd beaten the Glen the first day and the Magpies had hammered Carrigtwohill. We started very slowly on Saturday morning and in a few minutes Midleton were four points up. Gradually we grew into the game which was a thriller, producing 41 scores in 73 minutes of hurling. The lead swopped hands several times and in the closing few minutes we held a two point lead. Midleton got the last three points to win by 3 16 to 1 21. Team Panel;

Ronan O Riordan, Cormac O Sullivan, Liam Collins, Eldon O Connor, Denis Cashman, Conor Hazelwood, Kieran Cotter, Davy Barry, Cillian Tobin, Nicky Kelleher, Adam Walsh, Ronan o Connell, Louis Roche, Josh Ahern, Adam Hayes, Ryan O Callaghan, Cillian Barry, Kieran Ryan, Ciaran O Dowd ,Darragh Kielty, Adam Hynes. On Saturday the Glen defeated Carrigtwohill so Midleton have two wins and the Glen and ourselves one each. It's a change of code for the under 16's this weekend. With a football game at home to Clyda Rovers 12 pm on this Saturday the 8th of August.

JUNIOR B HURLING.

On this coming Saturday we are playing our first Group game in the Junior B Hurling Championship in East Cork. We travel to Castlemartyr (note change of venue) to take on Killeagh at 7pm. The Junior team have had a few practise games in recent weeks. Though the results didn’t go our way we performed well. Best of luck lads.

Update for our Under 8s.

All our under 8 players will have been thrilled that Wednesday night training resumed this week. We will have Football training on Wednesday night in Pynes at 630pm and hurling on Saturdays. We look forward to Go Games starting in three weeks with a trip to Ballygiblin and a home fixture v Fermoy.

UNDER 14 HURLING.

Bride Rovers U14 hurling team had their first U14 hurling league game of the year on Monday 3rd August hosting Ballygiblin. It was a cracking game of hurling, the scores were hard to come by it was a really tough gritty game of hurling with both sides battling hard for scores. The final score was Bride Rovers 5-4 and Ballygiblin 3-8. We would like to thank Ballygiblin for such a sporting game and thanks also to the referee Michael Sheehan. Our second league game for the under 14 hurlers in on Monday August 17th away to Killavullen 7pm. .

The other fixtures are Monday August 31st home to Ballycastle Gaels 7pm.
Monday September 14th away to Clyda Rovers 7pm.

UNDER 11 Hurling and Football.

Our Under 11 boys season has been up and running with the last 4 weeks. We are training in hurling every Wednesday night and football every Saturday morning. Numbers have been high so enthusiasm is certainly not wanting for this bunch! During the week our league format has been published by Rebel Og so we have some degree of certainty for what lies ahead. In football we are grouped with Glenville, Erins Own and Fermoy while in hurling we have Ballygiblin, Fermoy & Kilworth. These games are scheduled to start from August 22^nd.Depending on the health of the nation there may be further games scheduled from the end of September.

FIXTURES. AS well as our Senior and Junior B Championship games we have two games in Pairc na Bride over the weekend as follows; Sunday August 9th at 4 0 clock IHC St Catherines v Grenagh and at 7.30 pm on Sunday night St Catherines v Castlelyons in Junior B grade hurling.

Fri 7th SHC Bride Rovers v Fr O Neills, Pairc Ui Rinn 7.30

Sat 8th U 16 F Bride Rovers v Clyda Rovers,12 noon

Junior B HC v Killeagh in Castlemartyr (NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE) at 7pm

Sun 9th IHC St Catherines v Grenagh 4 & St Catherines v Castlelyons JBHC at 7pm.

Under 11 Hurling and Football.

UNDER 10'Ss TRAINING.

Players under years of age are back practising the skills of both hurling and football. Football training sessions are on Wednesday at 6:30pm and hurling on Saturday at 10am. This age group are a great bunch who just want to learn. Winning or losing or keeping the score is of no consequence. It's all about having fun and learning to improve the many skills and have an enjoyable time.

NEW CLUB JERSEY.

The new Bride Rovers jersey is now available to purchase on oneills.com. Available in all sizes. Lots of other club gear is also available to purchase including Club shorts and socks which can be bought from our Club Shop. Please contact Betty Cahill 0861540902 or Kathleen Johnson -86 3807784..

CLUB LOTTO.

The numbers drawn on the last Tuesday of July were 4,12, 21 and 27 and there was no winner. The €30 lucky dip winners this week were Daniel Carey, Mike Carey, Sean Healy c/c Club 100, Daniel Lane, Aidan Collins c/o Online Lotto. . Please support our weekly Lotto by buying a ticket from Club Members, in local business outlets or online at http;//briderovers.ie

Bride Rovers Club Gear.

Now that we are back in action on all fronts it's 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.

Bride Valley Hurling Well.

It was great weekend for hurling along the Bride Valley with Watergrasshill, Bride Rovers, Castlelyons and St Catherines all winning big games.

.BALLYHOOLEY WIN.

Ballyhooley starring Barry Johnson had a mighty 1 22 to 1 8 win in the North Cork JAHC over Shanballymore. Well done to all involved.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres

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