Hurling action for three teams..

It's approaching what they call the business end of the season and the knock out stages of all competitions are now here. This coming weekend our Under, Junior and Senior Hurlers all have massive games. We have a Final and two Quarter Finals to look forward to but unfortunately all the action will still be behind closed doors due to the covid pandemic. Last week our Minor Hurlers suffered a heavy championship semi- final defeat and our Junior team qualified for the knock out stages of the East Cork Junior B Grade Championship. 

County Under 16 Final. 

For the last few years our underage teams have given us many, many great displays .At under 13, 4 and 15 level we have participated at Premier 1 Level, the top Rebel Og Grade in Cork. In fairness we have competed well and have had some tremendous battles especially with St Finbarrs. In this shortened season of 2020 the competition at Premier 1 Under 16 hurling has been a combination of League and Championship leading up to the County Final in Lisgoold on next Saturday morning. We defeated Glen Rovers and Carrigtwohill but lost to Midleton on our Group games. In the semi finals we defeated the Barrs while last Saturday Midleton had a runaway win over Ballincollig in the second semi final. All this means that on Saturday at half 11 we face Midleton in the County Final. This will be a huge challenge for our lads as the Magpies have shown tremendous form in all their games, they pipped us by a point in the Group game in Pairc na Bride last month. A huge amount of work has gone into this panel of players over the last few years and both the mentors and the hurlers deserve great credit. Many of the under 16's were involved in the Minor team which was defeated in Ballynoe last week but they will be ready and eager for next Saturday's game. We wish the very, very best to the lads involved. Ye are a great bunch and win, lose or draw this Final everyone in Bride Rovers is very proud of each player. The game is on in Lisgoold at half 11. Go for it lads. 

Junior B Hurling Quarter Final. 

We drew with Killeagh in our first game in this competition in Castlemartyr a few weeks back. Killeagh then drew with Russell Rovers in their second game spot it was a 'winner takes all' encounter in Dungourney last Saturday evening. We won by two points to top our Group. The win earned us a Quarter Final Spot  against Erins Own on next Saturday at 2 o clock -venue not confirmed. Since the Killeagh game we have lost five players through promotion to the Senior team and injury so it's a tough struggle. Erins Own are always  tough championship battlers so it will be a big challenge for our team captained by Jack Connor. Go for it lads. 

Senior Hurling Quarter Final. 

After our victory over Kilworth in Glanworth two weeks ago one reporter wrote that 'Bride Rovers stumbled into the Quarter Final' well whether we raced, walked or fell into the next round we are there and that's all that matters.In the first year of the new Group/Round Robin Championships in Cork we haven't set the world alight but we are in the 'last 6' on Sunday next and that's the important thing. It's been a really mixed bag for us so far. Injuries to Conleith Ryan, Jason Pratt and Michael Collins have certainly disrupted both our preparations and our match-day performances. After a good opening day win over Ballymartle we faltered badly against Fr O Neills in Round two in Pairc Ui Rinn. It all depended then on the Kilworth game -progress in the championship, going nowhere or possibly a relegation battle. No wonder then it was such a tense game but we won and so we face Newcestown next Sunday in Blarney for the right to take on O Neills in the semi-final. Senior in both hurling and football the West Cork outfit are a physically powerful team with plenty of hurling too. They defeated us in a vital County Intermediate game a good few years ago. Our most recent encounter with them was when we drew in the Tony Walsh Cup Final in Rathcormac - we won the Cup after a penalty shoot-out. In téir last game they outscored and out-muscled Cloyne to qualify for the Quarter Final. Our players are capable of producing a top class display of hurling next Sunday and only such a show will  be sufficient if we are to progress in the Championship. The game is on in Blarney at 2 o clock and will be live-streamed. Come on lads, we need a massive display on Sunday, go for it we are all rooting for ye. 

Minor Hurling Semi Final. 

After good wins over Passage West and Mayfield and a 1 point loss to Castlelyons we travelled in confidence to Pairc Naomh Caitrionaigh in Ballynoe last Wednesday night o take on the home team in the Rebel OG MHC Semi final. The first quarter was even enough but St Catherines ability to strike londg distance points was a huge factor in our favour. Their defence tied up our prominent players in a vice-like grip. As a result we found scores very hard to come by. WE also had three goal chances in the opening half but failed to raise a green flag. Adam Hayes hit over some good points from frees but we were chasing the game at all stages. This was a very young team with thirteen of the starting XV underage next year. Overall St Catherines were just too strong for us and deserved their 0 23 to 0 10 win on the night. Panel; Ronan O Riordan, Darragh O Sullivan Liam Collins Jacob Powel Denis Cashman Thomas Macak (captain) Conor Hazelwood David Barry Adam Walsh Cillian Tobin Ronan O Connell John Buckley Nicky Kelleher Adam Hayes Edmond Cashman Josh Ahern Louis Roche Ryan O Callaghan Ciaran Cotter Cormac O Sullivan Cillian Barry Eldon O Connor Ciaran O Dowd.The Saints now go forward to meet Watergrasshill in the Final and we wish them all the best. 

Under 14 hurling. 

On Monday next September 14th our under 14 hurlers are away to away to  Clyda Rovers at 7pm in the Rebel Og league. 

Leaving Cert Results. 

Well done to all those who got their Leaving Cert results on last Monday. Hopefully everyone got the Points they needed for their chosen Courses in Third Level. 

Junior B Hurling  v Russell Rovers. 

On Saturday last at Jamesy Kelleher memorial Park, Clonmult we met Russell Rovers in the second game in our Group in the Junior B Grade championship. Both of us had drawn with Killeagh in our opening games so whoever won the game would go through to the next phase of the competition. With several players promoted to the Senior team since the Killeagh game and others missing it was a changed team that started the game. 

Shaunie Knox pointed two early frees for the perfect start. The Shanagarry side got one back but further points from Knoxie, free, and DJ Cahill gave us a 4 to 2 points lead and DJ made it 5  to 2. We suffered a setback when Donncha Carr had to go off injured and he was replaced by John O Sullivan.  With Liam Forde policing the defence we had a good supply to the forward line. Points from DJ, another Shaunie free and Jesse O Keeffe gave us a first half total of 8 points. We led 8/6 in the 28th minute but the other Rovers added a brace of white flags to make it level 8/8 each at the short whistle.  Two frees from Shaunie sandwiched one for Russell Rovers - 0 10 to 0 - 9. We went a point behind 11/10 before a great strike from Jordan Mannix tied up the scores. Oisin Roche, Jack and Mike Liddane cleared great ball and  Jesse, Damien Buckley and a long range pointed free from Shaunie put us  0 14 to 0 11 ahead. Russell Rovers got two back before another 65 yard free was pointed by Knoxie, 15/12. Jesse and Damien made it 0 17 to 0 13. Then the game took a turn when Russell Rovers got 1 1 to go ahead by a point 1 15 to 0 17. DJ levelled but we went down a point again, 1 16 to 0 18 with a minute of normal time left. Then came the winner when Shaunie Knox took on the defence and   blasted to the net to put us in the lead by   18 to 1 16. What a super score! We held on then to win a great game by two points , 1 18 to 1 16. Well done lads and go for it again next Saturday. Team; Jerome O Driscoll Jack Connor Captain Donncha Carr Seamus Ahern Mike Liddane Liam Forde Oisin Roche Stephen Pratt  Tomas Macak DJ Cahill  Jordan Mannix Damien Buckley Shaun Knox Shane O Flynn Jesse O Keeffe John O Sullivan Brian Collins. 

Referees Busy.  

Our three Club referees Mark Murphy, James Bermingham and Pa O Driscoll were all on Football Championship duty last weekend. Pa was in charge of the Ballincollig v St Finbarrs game. James Ber did the Fermoy v Bandon game while Mark was in charge of the whistle for the Kinsale v Dromtarriffe tie. 

UNDER 8's

This week saw the greatest education our Under 8 boys have had since the year commenced. From early in the week, Primary schools were buzzing with the anticipation. Bragging rights in the playgrounds would be at stake. At 11am on Saturday morning, the battle commenced.  It was the boys versus the girls! 

It was clear from game 1, that the girls were well up for this and the boys were caught napping, as the girls physically dominated their fellow 8 year olds of the opposite gender. 4 girls teams against 4 boys teams and a clean sweep to the girls. The boys came more into it in games 2 and 3 and produced some great hurling. A fantastic day for all U7 and 8 boys along with the u7/8/9 girls.  Credit to Brian Murphy for organising it and we look forward to meeting the girls again. This could be the best thing to ever happen our lads and we look forward to training in the coming weeks with a renewed focus. 

Training on Wednesday night at 6.30pm in Pynes will be football in preparation for matches v Watergrasshill/Glenville on Saturday morning.  

 Well Done Blackrock. 

Blackrock (Kilfinnane) won the Limerick IHC last year and were up Senior for 2020. The home club of our former trainer Pat Heffernan have retained their Senior status for 2021 and last Saturday they defeated Monaleen to win their first ever Senior trophy, the County Cup. 

East Cork JHC Final.

Next Sunday in Midleton Lisgoold and Carrignavar meet in a behind closed doors East Cork Junior Hurling Final. Joe Delaney is training Carrig and we wish them all the best in the Final. 

 In Goals at 72 ! 

Last week the papers were all talk about the Rathdowney Junior Football team in Co Laois. Playing in 13 a side Junior Football game Rathdowney found they had only twelve players. Club Chairman Tim Barry put on the No 1 goalies jersey at the age of 72 and Rathdowney won the game! Tim has Bride Rovers connections. His father, also Tim was born in Rathcormac in 1913 to Timothy Barry and his wife Margaret O Brien.  That Tim played hurling with Bride Rovers and worked on the Kent farm in Bawnard, Castlelyons. Amongst his great friends in Rathcormac were Ned Daly, Michael 'Tiny' Riordan and Ned Barry. Later Tim joined the Irish Army where he served for nine years. He worked at building in the Midlands before being recalled to the Army from 1939 to 1945. His brother Mick lived at Knockadrooleen, Rathcormac where his son Pat still lives. Tim 'the gaolie' is a former publican and is very involved with the Rathdowney/Errill Hurling Club. 

 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 4th were 17,18, 23 and 28 ad there was no winner. The prizes of €30 each went to Ella & Julianne Barry, James Bermingham, Michelle Lynch, Ken O Riordan, Hazlewood & Murphy family.  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 ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres ,Fermoy Print & Design, Veolia