Moppers Tournament to start.. 

Normally in October GAA activity would be still going on in most GAA Clubs. Underage competitions and Leagues would be in their closing stages over the next month or so. It's so different this year due to the covid pandemic 'shut down' which has descended on GAA fields for the second time in this strange year of 2020. Since last Monday week all playing activity has ceased and as for a restart date no one can be sure. It all depends on factors, many outside the control of the Association. Our Juvenile Club  are running a Bride Rovers Moppers Hurling Tournament for the autumn of 2020. Sports historians are not certain where and when the game of Moppers was first played. In St Colmans College, Fermoy there are two long established handball Allies called the Uppers and the Lowers. For over eighty years the Lowers was a venue for the game of Moppers which is basically a version of handball played using hurleys. In the early years in Colmans the 'Authorities' frowned on moppers as they felt the ferocity of the ball hitting the old walls could cause structural damage. Moppers wasn't exactly banned but certainly wasn't encouraged. Like most 'forbidden fruit' the game survived and thrived and is till played today. Like squash it's a great game for hand to eye coordination and is great for hurlers as the ball returns so quickly one has to be very aware and ever-ready for the return. So in the small Astro Turf Pitch over the next few weekends this exciting competition will be run off with players from our under 15, under16 and under 17 panels taking part.
We will have groups of 4 with 7 groups in total and 2 games being played at same time.
It is likely to take 12 games each to get to play offs. For the Tournament the following Set of Rules has been drawn up;

First to 2 sets wins.

 Have to win by 2 pts – 10 all you must get to 12.

 Serve must bounce past side wall and hit wall above the line on the wall.

 Serve must stay inside the white line.

 Ball can bounce once and must strike or control in air off wall and strike back.

 Winner of point takes next serve

 First to 11.

If under 16 next year and taking on a minor you get a 3 point ' bonus' at the start.

If playing a player who played/trained with Cork in 2019/2020 you get 5 point head start.

Players that played with Cork start on zero no matter what age group they are playing.

Here's hoping for some exciting action over the coming weekends.

The seven teams picked are as follows;

Team 1; Darragh O’ Sullivan Ronan O’ Connell Denis Cashman Darragh Kielty

Team 2; Jacob Powell Adam Hayes Ryan O’ Callaghan Ronan O’ Riordan

 Team 3; Edmond Cashman Josh Ahern Adam Hynes Ciaran O’ Dowd

Team 4;  Adam Walsh Nicky Kelleher Killian Barry Ciaran Ryan

Team 5;  Killian Tobin Ben Knox Eldon O Connor Cameron Swalbe O Sullivan

Team 6; Conor Hazelwood   Liam Collins Louis Roche Colin Hogan

Team 7; Kieran Cotter David Barry Frank O’ Flynn Cormac O’ Sullivan

 WEEKLY LOTTO.

The Jackpot for last Tuesday week, October the 6th, was €20,000 and the four numbers drawn on the night were 3, 14, 16 and 28. There was no Jackpot winner. The prizes of 30 went toAnn Marie Knox, Liam, Emma & Keelan Murphy, Pat Hogan Dripsey, Olly & Triona c/o The Inn, Kelly Kearney.   Please support our weekly Lotto by buying a ticket from Club Members, in local business outlets or online at http;//briderovers.ie . For the foreseeable future the weekly Lotto Draw will be held each Tuesday night at Arus de Barra in Pairc na Bríde

Under 10 HURLING.

A reminder to all players and parents that training continues on Wednesdays at 6:30pm  and Saturdays at 10am.

New Cork GAA MEMBERS DRAW.

In line with the suspension of all GAA games, the launch of the 2020/2021 Cork GAA Rebels' Bounty scheduled for last Sunday  was postponed. 'Rebels Bounty' is the new name for the Cork GAA Annual Members Monthly Draw and was to have had a gala re-launch recently. 

Rebels' Bounty will instead be launched in late 20120 / early 2021 and a meeting of Cork County Board, which will be devoted solely to this item, will be held when circumstances allow. The Draw is till a monthly draw costing €10 a month to enter or a once-off payment of €100. This year there will be 30 prizes each month. The minimum First Prize each month will be €20,000 with prizes of €25,000 in December and April and in August 2021 the first prize is €100,000. Bride Rovers Club is encouraging members, players and supporters to join the Draw. Tickets can be had from Club Officers or contact our Runai Daniel Lane at 087 2070100. 

25 YEARS AGO -1995.  

The Bride Rovers Club officers in 1995 were Chairman Maurice Kearney, vice chairman Pat Hoskins, Secretary Liam Barry, Treasurer Brendan O Driscoll, PRO John Arnold, Grounds Officer Pat O Connell, Registrar/Cultural Officer Tom Mulcahy, Minor Rep. Denis Ahern. We had success early on with the under 21 Football team. Terry Broderick led his team to a championship title with wins over Cloyne by 0 16 to 1 9, against St Catherines by 0 15 to 0 4 and in the East Cork Final a win by  0 9 to 0 8 over Glenbower Rovers.  The Bride Rovers panel was  N. Fitzgerald, A. Fitzgerald, L. Barry, A. Broderick, B. McHugh, J. Murphy, P. Murphy, D.Ryan, P. Walsh, N. Hegarty, J. O Driscoll, T. Broderick, E. Hoskins, K. Fitzgerald, P. Cotter,  P.Barry, B. Murphy, A. Coleman,  M Manley, S. Hogan, E. Murphy, R. Cahill, P.O Dowd and K. Cahill. Killeagh had revenge when they beat us in the under 21 hurling. We met Glenbower again in Junior A Grade Football championship. WE led by 0 4 to 0 3 at half time but failed to score in the second half and lost by 0 8 to  0   4. Killeagh were really our bogey team in 195 and beat us heavily in the Midleton Gold Watch Tournament. Watergrasshill had given us a woeful beating in the Junior A Hurling Championship in 1994 and we met again in '95. We played Ballygiblin, Youghal,  Kildorrery and Carrigtwohill in the run up to the Hill game. They beat us again but by a margin of just 7 points 1 16 to 2 7. The highlight of the year was our 'second' team led by Denis Mulcahy winning the East Cork Title -just two years after our first team had won it. The Club's second XV met Ballinacurra in a first round  replay in Ballynoe and won a thriller by 1 6 to 0 7., having drawn 0 10 apiece in the first game. Castlemartyr led our lads in round 2 by 0 3 to 0 0 at half time. In the second half we took over, holding the Reds scoreless as we added 1 7, the goal coming from Jerome. It took a late goal from a Jerome O Driscoll free in the  59th minute to get the semi final win over Fr O Neills by 2 8 to 2 7. The East Cork Final was v Carrigtwohill in Watergrasshill on October 14th. An early Richie Cahill goal put us up 1 2 to 0 3 at half time. Carrig went ahead early inn the second half but we came back point by point  Jerome levelled and Richie Cahill and Denis Mulcahy put us ahead by.1 5 to 0 6. Carrig pointed a free to make it 1 5 to 0 7. We finished stronger with further white flags from John Joe Barry and Jerome and we won by 1 7 to 0 7. Denis Mulcahy our captain was presented with the East Cork cup, two years after his brother Tom had captained us to a similar victory over Midleton in the 1993 Final. Team; MO Flynn, C. Howard, D. Ahern. M. Kearney, S. Hogan, A O Flynn, M. Walsh, JA Murphy, P. Murphy, JO Driscoll, JJ Barry, P. Cotter, R. Cahill, D. Mulcahy Captain, D. Johnson, N.Hegarty, J. Barry, H. Kelleher, R. Hegarty, N. Fitzgerald, J O Callaghan, P O Dowd, B O Riordan, P.McHugh, J. Murphy.The selectors were Tom Mulcahy, Paddy Murphy and Eamonn Hoskins.Other highlights of 1995 were the hosting in Pairc na Bride of the East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling Final. Killeagh beat Watergrasshill and went on to win the County Title as well.

50 YEARS AGO IN EAST CORK. GAA.

2020; Bride Rovers Senior Hurling 

           Castlelyons & Watergrasshill Premier Intermediate Hurling 

           St. Catherines, Intermediate Hurling -hard to believe that five decades ago all these Bride Valley teams were battling it out in the East Cork Junior Hurling Championship. At the start of 1970 Bride Rovers, having won the JAHC in 1968 and 69, were hoping for a Three In A Row. The draw for the East Cork A Grade Championship in 1970 was as follows; 

(A) Fr O Neills v St Catherines 

Winners of (A) v Shanagarry Rovers 

Watergrasshill v Carrigtwohill 

Bride Rovers v Dungourney 

Midleton v Castlelyons 

Youghal v Castlemartyr 

Carrignavar v Killeagh 

Erins Own v Cobh 

Sarsfields v Aghada. 

We lost our Divisional crown in the first round when Dungourney won by 3 8 to  0 13.Dungourney reached the East Cork Final but were beaten by Killeagh 3 11 to 1 4.Seanie Barry won his second senior All Ireland hurling medal with Cork in 1970. He scored two points in the first round win over Limerick. He came on a s sub against Tipperary in the Munster final and scored 0 2 against Antrim in the All Ireland semi final. He was a sub for the Final when Cork beat Wexford by 6 21 to 5 10 in the first ever 80 minute All Ireland Final. . St. Vincents' Paddy Barry wearing the No 1 jersey captained Cork to their 21st All Ireland on that September Sunday fifty years ago 

CONDOLENCES. 

All in Bride Rovers extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the late Maureen Magnier of Kilworth who died this week. Maureen and her late husband Willie were outstanding Gaels, true supporters and GAA people to the core. The Magniers always sported the Red and White of their beloved Kilworth Club and of the Cork teams as well.  They travelled far and wide to games and whether 'twas at a Junior game in Kilworth or a Munster Final in Thurles the Magniers were always to be seen supporting their team. To Maureen's family we extend our sympathy at this sad time. Her brother's Tim and Michael are very well known in voluntary organisations all over Cork and we sympathise with them also and with Maureen's sister Kathleen Twomey of Terramount, Rathcormac. May Maureen rest in peace. 

CORK BACK. 

It seems a long, long time ago since we saw Cork play an Inter County game. Well on Saturday the Allianz Football league resumes with Cork hosting Louth at 4 pm in Pairc UI Chaoimh. It will be a '40 a side only',  behind closed doors fixture because of the Covid pandemic. Cork need just a draw to get back into Division 2 of the League. Louth always brings memories of their talented Captain Dermot O Brien who led them to All Ireland victory over Cork back in 1957. He went on to be a mighty singer and musician. He died in 2007, just fifty years after lifting the Sam Maguire Cup. I was very disappointed at the All Ireland Football Final that year that the Official Programme never even mentioned the passing of such a great Gael. Hopefully on Saturday next in Pairc Ui Chaoimh whoever is in charge of the Public Address system might play 'The Turfman From Ardee',  'The Galway Shawl' or 'The Merry Ploughboy'. Ah yes, Dermot O Brien, one of the greats. 

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