Hurling all the way..

Well it's the last weekend of August in this strange year of 2020. It will forever be remembered as the Covid year and in GAA terms, the Round Robin year. When the Round Robin 'Group' format was being mooted many had reservations but in fairness I must admit it has been a success. This week we have heard of groundbreaking suggestions being made for future GAA 'Calendar Planning'. Imagine an Inter County Season commencing in January with All Ireland Finals in July and Club fixtures for the remainder of the year? It's certainly very different but after this year I suppose everything will have to be considered. That's all in the future so for the present in Bride Rovers it's hurling, hurling, hurling with championship games at Under 16, Senior, Minor and Junior all coming up in quick succession. In the past week the juvenile Club were busy with games in various competitions as well as friendly games. On Sunday last we opened our Campaign in the East Cork Junior C Grade Hurling championship with a win. 

 JCHC Bride Rovers 3 18 Lisgoold.2 12. 

 At an eerie Pairc Peadar Ui Laoighaire in Castlelyons on Sunday afternoon our Junior C team, our third string, took on Lisgoold's second XV. The pitch was in pristine but the lack of spectators was what made the atmosphere surreal. In fairness it was a great game of hurling played in perfect conditions between two fine teams. Being our third team player numbers were tight. With three players out because of work and injury we had just sixteen togged out. Terry Broderick who played Junior Championship for the first time with the Club in 1991 was still as eager as ever- eight of his team-mates on Sunday were born several years after Terry made his Junior debut against Castlelyons in Lisgoold on a team trained by Brian Lotty. Lisgoold aided by the breeze had three quick points before Damian Buckley opened our account with a pointed free. There were was some might point scoring early in the game and after nine minutes we were ahead by 4 points to 3. After Sean Ryan hit a great score Terry Broderick was through for a goal which helped us to a 1 4 t 0 5 lead at the first water break. With Pa O Driscoll at centre back in front of James Murphy and Peter O Leary, Mark O Connell, John O Sullivan and John Buckley all defending stoutly in front of Ben Hogan in goals we got on top of the game. After the water-break Sean Ryan raised a green flag to put us six points ahead. Damien made it seven before Lisgoold got two back followed by a goal. Stephen Pratt and Jake Tobin got more involved before Dave Burke added another point.  Now their was just a goal in it,  2 7 to 1 7. Stephen added a point and Lisgoold added two to leave the half time score Bride Rovers  2 8 Lisgoold 1 9. Terry had to go off injured and was replaced by Tom Murray. Dave added two points to take our lead to four. Lisgoold had a point followed by a goal to draw level at 2 19 apiece and the pressure was on. John Buckley hit a super lead point  for us from long range. Damian added a point from a free and Sean raised another white flag, up by three points now with five minutes left. Craig O Callaghan then turned the game in our favour with a goal. Points from Dave, Damian and Craig took our tally to 3 18 to 2 12 for Lisgoold. A good win though Pa had to come off injured late in the game. He's down to ref Ballinhassig and Ballincollig in the PIHC on Friday night so hopefully Pa and Terry will recover quickly. Team Captain Cian Howard hit a nice point a for us in this our first game. We must play Carrignavar in the next game and the winner will go through to the next Round. Team & scorers; Ben Hogan, Peter O Leary, James Murphy, Mark O Connell, John O Sullivan, Pa O Driscoll,  John Buckley 0 1, Stephen Pratt  0 1, Damian Buckley 0  4, Terry Broderick 1 1, Dave Burke 0 4 , Jake Tobin,  Craig O Callaghan 1 1, Sean Ryan 1 3, Cian Howard Captain 0 1. Tom Murray. Well done to Bainisteoir Shane O Connor and selectors Frank Hogan and Brian Collins. 

SENIORS PLAY ON SATURDAY. 

On Saturday at 4 o clock in Glanworth our Senior Hurlers face Kilworth in a must Win game in the Dairygold Superstores  Hurling Championship. We have had mixed fortunes in our two games to date. A great win over Ballymartle was followed by a similar defeat in Pairc UI Rinn against Fr. O Neills. It's fairly straightforward now as face in our third Group Game. If we manage to win we will advance in the Championship -it's as simple as that. Kilworth are always great battlers and will be seeking their first win. Unfortunately the rules as regards attendance at Sporting Fixtures mean this game will be played behind closed doors but hopefully the game will be live-streamed. Go for it lads. In the other Group game on Saturday is between Fr O Neills and Ballymartle. 

.UNDER 16's FACE THE BARRS AGAIN. 

Over the last three seasons at under13, 14 and 15 level we have had some mighty tussles in hurling with St Finbarrs at the closing stages of Championship, League and Feile. We seem to be forever travelling to Togher and it's the same next Saturday. The two sides clash in this years Premier 1 Under 16 hurling semi final at 12 noon. We defeated the Glen and Carrigtwohill and finished runners up to Midleton in our Group. Best of luck lads. 

MINOR HURLING SEMI FINAL. 

As in the under 16 competition we finished in 2nd place in our Group defeating passage and Mayfield and losing to Castlelyons. We are away to St Catherines in the semi final on next Wednesday evening September the 2nd. Go for it boys. Watergrasshill and Castlelyons are in the other semi final. 

WELL DONE BALLYDUFF. 

What a weekend it was on the hurling fields of West Waterford for Ballyduff Upper. On last Friday night the won the Divisional Junior Title with their second team. On Sunday then they faced Clashmore in the Intermediate Final. The game ended level. After two periods of extra time  the sides were still level. Next up came a penalty shoot-out and on the sixteenth penalty Ballyduff were the winners of the West Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship. It was dramatic way to win and a heartbreaking way to lose. Ballyduff contest two county finals this weekend. On Friday night they meet Clonea/Power in the Junior decider. Then on Sunday in a Commentators nightmare it's Ballyduff Upper against Ballyduff Lower in the County Final. Come on Upper! 

CAPPATAGGLE WIN. 

In the Galway SHC at the weekend Cappataggle defeated St Thomas' and now go on to the next Round with Thomas' gone. Cappataggle is the home club of the late John Byrnes who hurled with us in the 1970's. Though a veteran when he came to live in Mondaniel John still had plenty hurling and was on the Pat O Connor Captained B Grade hurling team that won the East Cork title in 1975. 

UNDER 12 Hurling. 

Bride Rovers under 12s played a challenge in hurling v Ballyduff in the last few days in Pyne’s pitch. The match started well for Ballyduff who led 1-4 to 1-0 at half time having played with the breeze. The Rovers’ lads started the second half with great passion and commitment and gradually took control with some fine points and three more goals. Ballyduff never gave up and had some sustained pressure in the last few minutes. Ultimately the home team prevailed by a score line of Bride Rovers 4-6 Ballyduff 2-5. The Rovers’ panel was as follows: Adam Murphy Fitzgibbon, Brian Murphy, Con McCormack, Darragh O Farrell, Denis Fitzgerald, Eoghan Buckley, Éanna Lyons, Garry Quirke, Jack Lynch, James Finn, James Larkin, Jamie Walsh, Matthew Kenny, Michael Cosgrove, Michael Gubbins, Owen Ryan and Shane O’Dowd.  Next match is away to Ballycastle in hurling on tonight Thursday 27th August.  

JUNIOR B GRADE HURLING. 

This competition is being played on a Round Robin basis. We are in a group of three teams. We drew with Killeagh in our first game. Last weekend Killeagh played a second drawn game against Russell Rovers. On Saturday week September 5th we are fixed to play Russell Rovers in our second game. If we win we go through. A draw would see calculators out. No venue has been pickled at the time of writing. Go for it lads. 

UNDER 16 FOOTBALL.
We played Killavullen in strong windy and wet conditions in Killavullen. We played the first half against the wind, playing nice football we moved the ball well and took an early lead of 1-1 . Killavullen as expected settled into the game by the first water break, then after that they continued to win possession from the kick outs and took their scores and finishing the first half with a goal for a half time lead of of 6 points.
In the second half we had lots of possession and good attacks but found it hard to play with the strong breeze. We tested their keeper a few times and had a penalty saved also, we just couldn’t get the scores and the near misses counted up against us.Great credit must go to the team and subs that they never stopped trying and played right to the final whistle. Final score Killavullen 2 10 Bride Rovers 1 8.
Team Ronan O Riordan Cormac O Sullivan Liam Collins Eldon O Connor Ciaran Cotter
Conor Hazelwood Denis Cashman David Barry Cillian Tobin Ronan O Connell
Adam Walsh Nicky Kelleher Adam Hayes Josh Ahern Louis Roche
Subs used. Cillian Barry Adam Hynes Ryan O Callaghan Darragh Kielty
Colin Hogan Ciaran O Dowd Kieran Ryan
Our next under16 Football game is fixed for 5th of September Fermoy

UNDER 8 HURLING.

The U8 boys travelled to Ballygiblin last Saturday and played out 2 matches under the new guidelines for Covid-19. 7 a side games with a mentor per team and a referee meant that the 15 person rule was adhered to. 22 players enjoyed their first hurling match involving "air hurling" as the boys like to call it. The squad on the day was: Jack O'Donovan, Cameron Hoare, Noah Collins, Eoghan Croke, Aidee Carr, Patrick O'Regan, James McDonnell, Jack Barry, Shane Brophy, Sean O'Dowd, Matthew Finn, Jack Fitzgerald, Scott Lynch, Jack Fitzgerald, Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Gould, Ryan Hogan, Callum Guinan, Oisín Dorgan, James O'Leary, Adam Hackett, Alex McCarthy and Daniel Maher. Training resumes on Wednesday night with football in Pynes from 630 to 7.30.

 UNDER 14 HURLING.

Our under14 hurlers played their second league game on Monday 24th away to Killavullen. Despite rainy conditions with Storm Frances arriving , Rovers instantly pulled away leaving the score after the first half at  1-5 to 3-9. They used their momentum to keep the white and green flags going up and upped their performance from the first half. After a well fought and well earned display, the final score was Bride Rovers 6-18 to Killavullen 2-7.  Our next under 14 game takes place on Monday 31st August at home to Ballycastle Gaels at 7pm in the main pitch in Rathcormac. Bride Rovers team :- Cameron Swalbe O Sullivan, Luke Harrington, Ben Knox, Gearoid Gubbins, Jack Keating, Oran Kielty, Cillian O Sullivan, Jack Hynes, Jack Collins, Cormac Barry, Gearoid O'Connell, Conor O'Riordan, Ronan Barry, Tomas O'Riordan, Thomas Hackett, Darragh Delaney .and our goalkeeper Sean Madden .  

 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 August 11th were 3, 10, 13 and 25 ad there was no winner. The prizes of €30 each went to  Marguerite O Connor, James Ahern, Michael O Donovan, Michelle Lynch and Anne Cahill.  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. 

FIXTURES.

Sunday Aug 30th in Pairc na Bride Co IHC Dungourney v Kildorrery, 2pm.

Monday Aug 31st Under 14 HL home v Ballycastle Gaels.

Wed Sept 2nd MHC s/f v St Catherines away in Ballynoe.

Sat Sept 5th under 16 F v Fermoy & JBHC v Russell Rovers.

.BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres  Fermoy Print & Design, Veolia