AGM Report - Officers etc...

A week on from the Virtual Annual Genera Meeting and the feeling is that it was a success and as best as was possible in these covid times. While one misses the actual debate and face to face interaction with other members we have to take every possible precaution with the pandemic still raging. In our community now many families have been affected with the covid virus and we hope and pray they will all make a full recovery. We are also keenly aware that’s o many members of our community are Front Line workers in hospitals, nursing homes and medical practises. A huge 'Thank You' to all these who give selflessly of their skills and time in these unprecedented times. Talking to people this week I get the feeling that this 'wave' is causing more anxiety. Last March we had fantastic weather and believed this 'covid thing' would be gone in a few months.  It hasn't turned out that way but w must have hope now that the vaccine is here. The Bride Rovers Club is a community based organisation so if anyone needs help of any kind don't hesitate to contact Club members or Officers Ní neart go cur le chéile. (There is no strength without unity).

The Election of Club Officers for 2021 was completed at the AGM last week..

Election of Officers for 2021 resulted as follows.  

President: Pat O Connor Vice Presidents: Fr Neilus O Donnell, Mick Barry, Henry Hazelwood, John Arnold, Tom Barry. 

Cathaoirleach Gerard Lane Leas-Cathaoirleach Pa O Driscoll

Runaí Daniel Lane Asst. Runaí Mike Carey

Cisteoir Liam Barry Asst. Cisteoir Aiden Dorgan

PRO John Arnold

Injury Fund Administrator Daniel Lane, Registrars Daniel Lane & Liam Barry

Children’s Officer Rosario Kielty, Oifigigh Gaeilge & Cultúr Mossie O Sullivan

Health & Wellbeing Officer Jerome O Driscoll, Coaching Officer Jerome O Driscoll

Grounds Officer Denis Ahern & John Murphy

Players Representative William Finnegan

Delegates to East Cork

Board Brendan O Driscoll (H) John Arnold (F)

Delegates to Cork County

Board John Arnold (H) Daniel Lane (F)

Executive Members Alan Fitzgerald Paudie Murphy Barry Hazelwood Richie O Regan Batt O Connell Seamus Buckley Billy Finnegan Tom Kearney Damien Healy Tom Mulcahy Dave Burke William O Leary Donal Roche Automatic Members; Eddie O Callaghan, Pat Culloty, James Bermingham ) John Joe Carey , Maurice Dooley. The Automatic Members on the Executive are the Senior Hurling Manager, Junior Hurling Manager, Junior Football Manager, Juvenile Chairperson and  the Ladies Club Chairperson.

Club Website..

The club website, www.briderovers.ie continues to see considerable traffic, with 50,000 page views in the past twelve months. The photo gallery, news, event calendar and history section were the most popular pages this year. We had visits from 64 different countries, including significant numbers from Australia, Canada and as far away as South Africa and China. The website’s usefulness in promoting our fundraising activities is a vital resource along with items such as AstroTurf bookings. Photographs and news items for the website should be forwarded to gerardlanegaa@gmail.com. Our club Twitter account @BrideRoversGAA has continued to grow with 3,234 followers to date which is an increase of over 400 in the last two years.

Interesting Stats from the Runais report..

 In 2018 we played 50 Competitive games- League & Championship, excluding challenge games. In 2019 this figure was 54 and then last year it was just 14.

In 2020 we won 43% of all games we played, lost 28% and drew 29%.

During last year 55 people completed the Child Protection Safeguarding Course and 28 completed the Garda Vetting procedure. For Garda Vetting and Child Safeguarding we had 100%.compliance.

Between June 23rd when GAA activities resumed and November the 1st a total of 596 games and/or training sessions took place within the Bride Rovers Club. These were held under the 'Covid-19 Return To Play' protocols.

During 2020 as a Club we spent €3,656 on Covid related items- signage, sanitising stations and sanitizer products.

In next weeks edition details of Management teams and selectors for 2021 will be outlined..

East Cork Board News..

One of the recommendations from the Board is that no under 21 2021 hurling or football championships will be played this year, instead it is felt that it is better to finish last year’s competitions. Would they have been better to forget last years competitions altogether and start anew for this year whenever restrictions allow? WE are due to play Erins Own in an Under 21 Football semi final which is pencilled in for 'the 2nd weekend' when fixtures resume.

County Board..

The Co. Board hopes to be in a position to commence the 2021 leagues in April. Groups will be split in two so each team will have only 5 or 6 games. It's hoped to make the Championship Draws in February with these competitions to start in mid July -all depending, of course, on being back to Level 2 by then. There is no update on the Cork under 20 Hurlers All Ireland Final. The Leinster Final is yet to be played.

NO INTER VARSITY THIS SEASON

It was announced last week that the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups along with all other 3rd level Competitions will not be played at all in this Academic Year.

LOTTO DRAW FOR JANUARY 12TH.

The Lotto Results for the second Draw of 2021 were as follows.  Numbers drawn 3, 26, 28, 29 no winner Next week's jackpot is €20,000. Prizes of €30 each to Liam Murphy, Tom & Nellie Barry, Doug Lucey, Coachford, Mick Kelleher Grange, ,Maeve, Mollai & Ryan c/o Margo Fitzgerald

You can join the Bride Rovers weekly lotto online at http://briderovers.ie/  or purchase tickets from any of the retail outlets locally that are open. Tickets can also be got locally from Bride Rovers GAA Club Members throughout the parish. Your support of the weekly Lotto Draw is deeply appreciated. If you're not in you can't win and each €2 is a help for our Club. 

The First Lotto Draw was on Tuesday March 5th 1996. The Jackpot was won 8 times in that first year of 1996 as follows; 

1 2/4/1996 £600, winner John Keohane, Fermoy 

2 9/4/1996  £200 Mary McCarthy, Fermoy. 

3 28/5/1996 £800, Jeanette Healy c/o Roger Matthews 

4 25/6/1996  £1200, Paul O Connell, Ballynoe. 

5  23/7/1996   £500, Mary Barry and Jim Murphy. 

6 30/7/1996,  £200, Sylvia Hogan, Mondaniel. 

7 8/10/1996,  £1100, Annette O Flynn and John Murphy. 

8. 23/12/1996, £1100, Shane Heskin, Bluebell. 

Sonny O Sullivan RIP

We extend our deepest sympathy to the relatives of Jim 'Sonny' O Sullivan of Terramount, Rathcormac who died this week. All the O Sullivan family were great supporters of Bride Rovers down the years with many donning the Green, White and Gold jersey. Sonny was a great community and with his late wife Hannah were two of the mainstays of the Car Boot Sales. Sonny always supported each and every fundraising initiative of Bride Rovers- he was a €30 winner in last week's Lotto. May Sonny and Hannah now be reunited for evermore in Eternal Peace. 

2021 CORK GAA MEMBERS DRAW.

 'Rebels Bounty' is the new name for the Cork GAA Annual Members Monthly Draw. It was to have had a gala re-launch in October but unfortunately along with so many other events this function had to go.

Rebels' Bounty will instead be launched in late 2020 / 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 still 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.  The January, February and March draws are down for March 25th. 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. 

THE LATE EAMONN RYAN. 

The GAA world was saddened last week when the news filtered through of the death of legendary Gael Eamonn Ryan. Known as 'the Master' Eamonn was a proud son of Watergrasshill but his sphere of influence in the GAA went far beyond the Hill. A National Teacher by profession Eamonn always loved hurling as his No 1 game but while in Teacher Training College he took up the football. He lined out for both Watergrasshill and Glenville for close on thirty years winning many championship titles in East Cork. His outstanding victory came in 1974 when as both player and trainer he led Watergrasshill to a first ever East Cork Junior A Grade win and then a memorable County Final victory over Charleville in  Castletownroche. In 1966 and 67 Eamonn won two Munster Senior Football championships with Cork -defeating Kerry on both occasions. Eamonn played in the 1967 All Ireland Final against Meath when the Royals won. In the early 1980's Eamonn took over the Cork Senior Footballers and was in Charge when Tadhgie Murphy shocked Kerry with a late goal in the 1983 Munster Final. on a very wet Sunday in Cork.  As a coach Eamonn was a real pioneer, always trying new tactics and training drills. In his early 60's, when many coaches might be thinking of hanging up the boots, Eamonn Ryan was asked to train the Cork Ladies Football team. Cork had never won an All Ireland title at Senior level. Eamonn changed everything and brought a new and exciting era to Cork. Winning ten All Irelands in 11 years with a very special group of girls Eamonn Ryan became the most successful trainer in Gaelic games. He wasn't just a trainer and coach, he was an advisor, confidante and mentor to all his players. Eamonn played in the 1957 East Cork under 16 hurling Final with Sarsfields against Bride Rovers. Eamonn's brother Mick was in goals for the Rovers! Two years later both Eamonn and Mick played with the Bride Rovers Minor team but they were beaten heavily by Carrignavar on a scoreline of  six goals to one. That same year Mick Ryan (later Fr. Michael) and Michael Murphy both lined out with the Cork Minors. Since he retired from teaching Eamonn lived in the home parish of his wife Pat, Ballingeary. On Saturday last at noon in the Church of Sts Finbarr and Ronan in Ballingeary Eamonn's requiem mass was celebrated. Afterwards his funeral cortege wended it's way from West Cork into Cork City where Eamonn was so involved with UCC. On then to his native place, where the Watergrasshill Gaels welcomed 'the Master' back home. He was buried in Ballinaltig with his parents and brother Fr. Mick May they rest in peace. Ni bheidh a leithéid ann arís. 

1958 -when 13 hurlers beat 15. 

In 1958 we were affiliated as St Bartholomew's in junior hurling in East Cork. Early in the season several practise matches were played including a famous game against Tallow.  Tallow led at half time by 2 2 to 2 0 but we got on top in the second half and won by 4 0 to 2  2. The amazing feature of the match was that St Bartholomew's had only thirteen players but still managed to win the game! The lineout was as follows; Joe Browne, Willie Sheehan, Paddy Murphy, Willie Cotter, Mick Gubbins, Paddy O Regan, Paddy O Brien, John O Brien, Mossy O Regan,  Jimmy O Brien,  Tony O Brien, Sean Leahy and Tom Barry. 

Another game that year was a 10. 3 to  4 .6 victory over Fermoy. The lineout that night was; Jimmy O Brien, Tom Barry, Paddy Murphy, Paddy O Sullivan, Willie Sheehan, Michael Murphy, Mick Gubbins, Paddy O Regan, Joe Browne, Mossy O Regan, Tony O Brien ((2  2), Sean Leahy (0 1), Gerald O Sullivan (2  0), Paddy O Brien (3  0), Din Joe Buckley (2  0).. Subs;  John O Brien (1 0.)  

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