Draws Postponed...

The GAA at national level decided last weekend not to go ahead with the Provincial Hurling and Football Championship Draws for the present. Next Monday February 8th had been penciled in for the Draws which in recent years have been done 'live' on RTE television.  A lot depends on when and if the country moves from Level 5 of the Covid restrictions. We know that there will be no change for a month, until March 5th at least. This means that the National Leagues in both codes will not commence until the end of March-at the earliest. Late starts for the League of course will have a knock-on effect on the Championships and in turn this could mean the Club Championship programme will go back again. We just don’t know at this stage what's going to happen but from a Club point of view all we can do is wait, and stay safe and obey the Health Precautions that are in place.  

First Executive Meeting.

The first Club Executive Meeting for 2021 will take place remotely on next Monday night at 8pm. In a similar format -Microsoft Teams, the meeting will have an agenda including the finalizing of Club Committees and Selection Committees for this coming season. All Executive members will receive a 'Link' for the meeting well in advance of Monday night. 

1971  50 Years Ago.

 Having won the East Cork Junior Hurling Championship in both 1968 and 1969 there was great disappointment in 1970 when Dungourney beat us by 3 8 to 0 13 in the first round. A renewed effort to win back the title was made in 1971 with Seanie Barry as team captain and Paudie Murphy as vice captain. Sergeant john Ryan who had given some sterling displays with the club was transferred to Mitchelstown and Henry Hazlewood and David John Barry, on behalf of the Club, made a presentation to John on his departure . We had three good JHL wins over Whites Cross, the Hill and Owenacurra Rovers but lost to Erins Own by 4 9 to 2  5. In April we defeated Whites Cross in the semi final of their own tournament. That was the night that Dave Ryan 'distracted' the Cross goalie shouting 'Look out for the Bull' or words to that effect and we got the wining goal! The Bull was in the field allright but was more interested in the cows than the hurling. At the end of June we met Fr O Neills in the Championship first round at Midleton. With Johnny Barry hitting  2 1 we won by 5 15 to 2 3. Our other scorers were Seanie Barry 0 7, John Meade 1  2, Frank Meade  1  2, Sean Murphy 1 1 and Pat Sheehan  0  2. Two weeks later we faced Killeagh. It was game we could have won but ended in a Draw , we scored 2 8 to Killeagh's 3  5. Seanie Barry scored 2 4 , Pat Sheehan 0 2 and Frank Meade and Johnny raised a white flag each. A torn goal net had a vital and awful bearing on the repay result. We lost by a solitary point, 1 10 to 1 9 but Tony Walsh at corner back was adamant that the sliotar went wide over the end-line, went in through a hole in the net and ended up in the back of the net! The umpire waved the green flag and we were out of the Championship.  

PROGRESS AT EAST CORK LEVEL.

On 6 o clock this Friday evening  February 5th nominations from Clubs for the position of Board Runai will close. The same applies for the membership of the Board's CCC. Hopefully by the weekend all positions will be filled. 

Congress Motions.

 One suggested change being put forward to the Rulebook by the GAA worries me. They are proposing that the All Ireland Finals shall be played on or before the 29th Sunday of the year. There is a big debate in the GAA about the so called 'Split Season' and whether you agree or disagree with it the idea of writing into the GAA Rule book that the All Irelands cannot be played later than the first Sunday of August is crazy in my opinion. I am a traditionalist and in favour of September dates for the Finals but tying the Finals to a particular date is like ensuring we can never go back to September. 

CLUB LOTTO.

 The Jackpot on last Tuesday night was €20,000, the numbers drawn were 5, 12, 18 and 21 and there was no winner. The winners of €30 each were Arnold grandchildren, Bartlemy, Esther & Katie O Keeffe, Bartlemy& Australia, Helen Arnold Bartlemy, Tom Mulcahy Bartlemy and Greg Ahern Bartlemy. The Jackpot for last Tuesday night February 2nd was €20,000. 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. 

2021 CORK GAA MEMBERS DRAW. 

 'Rebels Bounty' is the new name for the Cork GAA Annual Members Monthly Draw. The Tickets are just €10 a month or a single 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. A Brochure outlining all the details of the Draw can be had from any Club Officer. 

Pairc UI Chaoimh Fundraising.

When the 'original' Pairc UI Chaoimh was being built in the 1970's various fundraising schemes were undertaken. One was the 'GAA Stamps For Cash' promotion. A bit like the old Green Shield Stamps idea one collected Red Cork 'Big 10' stamps and pasted them into a card. These were the instructions; "The GAA big Ten Stamps (worth .33p each)are equal in value to 10 regular trading stamps . They are given in return for cash purchases by specially appointed retailers. When full of GAA Big Ten stamps, this booklet entitles you to the full cash value, or to goods or services such as gifts, groceries, petrol, oil, hardware, drapery, car repairs etc at all retailers displaying this sign. To exchange booklets for cash complete the coupon and send the booklet by registered post to Pairc UI Chaoimh Trading Stamp Scheme, 44 Patrick St. Cork" 

Club 100. 

Our Club 100 Fundraising Scheme is now in it's 3rd year. It provides an income stream to guarantee us finances to carry out further Development work as we head towards our Centenary in 2028. There are three options for joining the Club 100,Gold, Silver and Bronze. Joining Club 100 combines paying Club Membership, supporting the weekly Club Lotto and joining the Cork GAA Monthly Draw. Payment is on a Monthly basis. Full details from any Club Officer. 

BRIDE ROVERS PROFILES. 

Next week we hope to start a series of Profiles of Former and Present Players, Members, Supporters and Officers. This will be a look back at the highs and  lows, good and tough times, great wins, heartbreaking defeats and maybe a good dollop of nostalgia and fun too. It doesn't look like that training or games will be commencing for a while yet but that doesn't stop us thinking and talking about hurling and football  We'll have trial run this week with an almost forgotten player whose career yielded  few medals but great memories. 

NAME; John Arnold. 

When did you first play with Bride Rovers?  

JA Not certain, maybe an under 14 football game v Castlemartyr in 1971. I cant remember much about the game only that I went with about 8 other players in Dave Ryan's car. The brakes went going down the steep hill at this side of Mogeely so Dave stopped by running the car up against the ditch after we crossed the little bridge. He just reversed out and drove on to Castlemartyr, I think we lost by ten goals. 

Were you better at Hurling or Football? 

JA Not really, equally bad at both. I could throw up the sliotar all right but could never manage to hit it before it touched the ground. Football was easier but the two skills of Gaelic football I couldn't master were catching and kicking. 

How long did you play for? 

JA Usually about twenty minutes and  I'd be taken off. In March 1976 I played a full practise game against Russell Rovers in Shanagarry, a practise match. We had only 14 so they gave us one player and he was marking his brother, they bate the living daylights out of each other!. 

What was your best game? 

JA That's a tough one, I think a B Grade football league game in Cloyne. We had only 15, I was corner forward, one of the Lewis' was on me. I was told when the ball was coming in to have I run away like mad out to the corner flag. Cloyne though twas a kind of a one-two-one scissors move so yere man ran out after me. Sure twas just to give the other two forwards a chance to score as I never would. Cloyne realised quickly I was no Mikey Sheehy or Maradonna. 

Did you ever score in a game? 

JA I don’t think so but in an under 21 football game in the Hill I gave a massive kick at the ball and missed but in the follow through my leg shot up in the air tearing my togs in two halves and I wearing no underpants. 

What harm did you ever do? 

JA Not much, but in Killeagh one Sunday in a Junior Football League game I was corner back. A high dropping ball was coming down from the sky. I jumped up and punched it but our goalie Willie Cotter jumped at the same time with the same intention and my fist missed the ball and broke Willie's nose. (More next Week) 

Would You Like To Join the Bride Rovers GAA Club in 2021.? 

Are you a hurler, footballer, camogie or ladies football player, builder, painter, flag-maker, gardener, ticket seller, IT specialist, singer, poet, dancer, Quiz fanatic, carpenter, bookbinder, plasterer, floor sweeper, writer, lawn-cutter or just a willing and enthusiastic community worker? Well if the answer is yes then The Bride Rovers GAA Club Needs You.. We are always anxious to get new members to help out with the running of the Club. Maybe you could give an hour a week to help with some aspect of the Club's varied and enjoyable activities. Many hands make light work so if you want to help out with any aspect of our Club you will be very welcome indeed. If you are interested please contact our Club Runai Daniel Lane at 087 2070100 

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