GAA Monthly Draw time near..

Well March 25th is only around the corner and the first three Monthly Draws in the new Rebels Bounty series. For years the Cork GAA members monthly Draw has been running. For this year of 2021 it is being rebranded as Rebels Bounty and all the prizes are cash. On March 25th the Draws for the months of January, February and March will take place. There are 30 cash prizes each month with a 1st prize of €20,000 for the first three draws. The cost of joining is €10 per month or a one off payment of €100 which gives you two months free. There is still time to join.. 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 

 Juvenile AGM

The Annual General meeting of the Bride Rovers Juvenile GAA Club was held recently. Because of the covid restrictions the gathering was held through the medium of Zoom with 29 members logged in on the night.29 in attendance through zoom. Reports were read on all the various team activities for 2020. It was a difficult year but the Club still got a huge amount of coaching done. Games were limited but all teams played well, the highlight was the under 16 team reaching the premier 1county Final only to lose narrowly to Midleton  

For the 2021 Season there is no change in officers with the following being returned;

Chairman Mark O Connell 

V Chairman Jerome O Driscoll

Treasurer Ken O Riordan 

Ass Treasurer Donnacha Carr

Secretary Lisa Collins

Ass Secretary Brendan Lyons

Child Protection Officer Rosario Kielty

Coaching Officer Jerome O Driscoll

PRO John Arnold.

The following Team Secretaries were appointed

U6 Brian Murphy U7 Sean Ryan ,U8 Dave Burke ,U9 Patrick Croke ,U10 Emma Roddis ,U11 John Lynch,U12 Jerome O Driscoll,U13 Brendan Lyons,U14 Sean Cronin,U15 Willie O Leary ,U16 Eddie O Callaghan ,U17 & Minor Aidan Hayes & Brendan Walsh 

Well  on the possible playing front some glimmer of hope was received this week when headings were sent out from Rebel Og.  As we know the Minor grade  is gone from under 18 to under17 this year. So the priority ages are 13 15 17.
This means to play U -16 this year players have to be born in 2005. This is a bit harsh in my opinion. Yet in a County the size of Cork only 9 clubs can affiliate to a 15 a side competition and only 1 City club. So after a few 'conversations' with Rebel Og they have agreed to a 13 a side competition to allow Boys play on their own age.
We have 14 boys born in 2005 playing in the club so we can enter this competition. If we didn’t have this competition it would have been very hard to hold onto players as they had no games either in 2020. So it's good news for these lads and now all we can say is 'Roll on the Summer' These are the U-16 groups we're involved in. Fe 16 hurling Group 2, 13 a side; Bride Rovers, Carrigaline, Cobh, Clyda Rovers, Kiltha Og, Mallow and na Piarsaigh.

Fe 16 Peil, Group 3, 13 a side; Bride Rovers, Aghada, Buttevant,, Cobh, Kilshannig, Kiltha Og,  Na Piarsaigh and S Nicks. 

Club Lotto

The Jackpot on last Tuesday night was €20,000, the numbers drawn were 1,5,27 and 29 and there was no winner was. The winners of €30 each were Daniel Carey, Fionnuala Duggan c/o Online, Orla Barry, Niall Hogan and Ann Barry. The Jackpot for last Tuesday night March 9th 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.  

 Liam Parle, a native of Wexford joined the Club in 1969

1 Liam, Was Taghmon in Wexford your home Club, were they Hurling only or a dual Club?  

Ans: Taghmon Camross was my home club. The focus was almost entirely on football. The club was very strong when I was growing up. Winners of 3 county senior titles in the late 50s. Very little attention was paid to the hurling side of the club.

2 At what age did you start playing?

Ans: I played my first game of football in the Nicky Rackard U14 league at the age of 11. I never played underage hurling in Taghmon.

2 What Inter County hurlers were your childhood heroes?

Ans: It had to be the Rackard brothers- Nicky, Bobby and Willie.

4 Were you at the 1968 All Ireland Final when Wexford beat Tipperary? What are your memories of that game?

Ans: I was at the ’68 All-Ireland. I was working in Bansha at the time. A great second half comeback by Wexford after being 8 points down at half time. I had great banter with the Tipp lads for weeks after.

5 Is hurling a more skilful game today than 50 years ago - or just a faster game?

Ans: Hurling is a way more skilful game today.

6 Outside of your home Club in Wexford did you hurling anywhere else before coming to Cork?

Ans: I played one season with Galtee Rovers in Bansha, County Tipperary.

7 You joined Bride Rovers in 1969, how did that come about?

Ans: I came to Cork in 1969 about April. I was pucking a ball against a wall one evening when the late Jimmy Meade arrived into the yard. We got talking and he asked me would I join the Rovers. I said why not! And the rest is history.

8 Do you recall your first ever game with Bride Rovers?

Ans: My first game was a challenge game. Possibly against Castletownroche. Henry Hazelwood was the ref. Things got a bit heated late in the game and he blew it up with about 5 minutes to go.

9 When you started hurling here what was the biggest difference between hurling in Wexford and in Cork?

Ans: Ground hurling. It was more pick the ball in Wexford.

10 You made great friends in the Bride Rovers Club- were they easy lads to get on with?

Ans: I was welcomed with open arms. It was a great way to get to know people. I made great friends, who are still my friends today.

11 What was the best or most exciting game you played in with the Rovers?

Ans: I can think of two. Against Cloyne in Midleton in ’72 (won 2 25 to 1 3) and Killeagh in Castlelyons ’73 (won by 3 16 to 1 5) Things went right on the day. There were other days things didn’t go so well.  

12 What do you think of the under age teams in the Club at present?

Ans: Very good. The skill levels are second to none.

13 Are Wexford under Davy Fitz god enough to win the All Ireland?

Ans: Wexford missed the boat in 2019, when Tipp beat them in the Semi-Final after a great game.

14 Who was the toughest player you played against in the East Cork Championship?

Ans: Mike Barry- St. Catherines and Billy Finn- Erins own. Tough but fair.

15 Teams are able to score 30, 35 and 38 points in many hurling games nowadays, is the sliotar too light?

Ans: Way too light!

16 Do you remember good carnival and Tournament games with the Rovers?

Ans: We had great games against Catherines and Delaneys in Castlelyons.

17. Is Cork hurling too 'soft', do refs give frees too easily?

Ans: No, it is nearly impossible to get a 20 metre free now. The day of the packed goal and the ball being blasted are gone.

18 What do you think of having the All Ireland final in July from 2022 onwards?

Ans: I would rather have them in September.

19 Is the spirit of Bride Rovers special to this club?

Ans: Very much so. Our teams are never beaten until the final whistle.

20 We now have a sin bin and penalty for 'cynical fouls', are there any other Rule changes you'd suggest?

Ans: 2 points for a sideline cut. It is a great skill and should be rewarded so.

21 Who was the greatest Wexford hurler you saw playing?

Ans: Tony Doran- was the very best by far.

22 Can you recall any funny, or embarrassing or strange things happening in any games you played in?

Ans: We were playing a tournament game and there were cattle at one end of the field. We were a few points down. I think Dave Ryan was umpire and he said to the goal keeper the bull was getting very near. The keeper was more concerned with the approaching cattle than the game itself. So much so, that we got a few very soft goals to win the game. Our 16th man was the bull!!  (April 25th 1971 v Whites Cross in Whites Cross)

23 That 1969 East Cork JAHC win, what were the highlights you remember?

Ans: The wonderful display of Seanie Barry.

24 What makes hurling such a wonderful game?

Ans: The speed and skill of the players. It is part of what we are.

25 Tony Walsh gave mighty service to Bride Rovers, on and off the field, what made him so special?

Ans: What can I say, a gentleman and a great friend for over 50 years. RIP Tony.

26 Do you agree with the 'Split Season' -the summer for Inter County and Autumn/Winter for Club?

Ans: I haven’t made my mind up yet!!

We are the Boys from Wexford
Who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain
and free our native land

BRIDE ROVERS QUIZ.-ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS QUESTIONS 

1  He played a few games of hurling with Bride Rovers and represented  Ireland at the 1972 Munich Olympics? 

ANSWER; Billy McLernon well known jockey who rode over 300 winners at point to pointing. He represented Ireland at Eventing in Munich in 1972. The McLernon family were from Spangle Hill in Cork city but moved to Beech Park in Rathcormac where they operated a salt supply business. ' I played a few games with Bride Rovers, mainly if they were stuck for players' he told me recently. 

2 What Bride Rovers hurler played in Senior All Ireland Finals with Cork and against Cork? 

ANSWER; Con Murphy, Main St, Rathcormac. Con won a Senior All Ireland medal with the Cork Hurlers in 1946 when the Rebels beat Kilkenny by 7 6 to 3 8. Cork lost the 1947 final to the 'Cats' when Con lined out again with Cork. Studying to be a chemist Con played with Dublin 1n 1952 and '53. He was on the Dublin team beaten by Cork 2 14 to 0 7 on the 1952 All Ireland Final. He won a London Co SHC medal with Cu Chulains. Con's brothers Gerry and Michael live in Ennis and Dublin. 

3 What Bride Rovers brothers won Fitzgibbon Cups in 1973 and 1974 and were beaten in the 1975 Final by UCC? 

ANSWER; Gussie and Fachtna O Driscoll lined out with Maynooth College when they won back to back Fitzgibbons in 1973 and 1974.  

4.What Bride Rovers players lined out in the 1998 County JH Final, the 2003 County IH Final and the 2008 County SH Final? 

ANSWER; The players who played in all three County Finals were; Sean Ryan, Donal Ryan, Niall Fitzgerald, Pat Walsh, Barry Murphy, Padraig Murphy, Jerome O Driscoll, James Murphy, 

5 Jim McCarthy, Dublin/UCD and what Bride Rovers player who lined out with UCC,  were the first ever players sent off in either a Sigerson or Fitzgibbon Cup game? 

The year was 1938 and UCD won by 4 4 to 2 1. The Bride Rovers player wasn't around for the Cup presentation -he was in Hospital getting stitches to a head wound! 

ANSWER; The Bride Rovers player was Michael Cranitch of Garrynacole, Rathcormac, uncle of Matty Lehane and grand-uncle of Conor Lehane.   (Fitzgibbon Cup Final UCD 4  4 UCC 2  1) 

SYMPATHY. 

 The Bride Rovers Club wishes to express it's deepest sympathy to the family of the late Sheila Coughlan.of Klicor ,Castlelyons who died recently. Sheila was daughter of Patrick O Callaghan and Elizabeth Thompson and was born at Blackstone Bridge. She married James Coughlan of Main St Rathcormac - he was better known to all as  'Coach' and was a great hurler with both Bride Rovers and Castlelyons. Sheila's cousin Mick Thompson won East Cork and Minor County Minor Hurling Championships with Bride Rovers in 1932. A gentle and kind lady Sheila's husband James died in 1993. They reared a great family all of whom have contributed to community and cultural life in the various parishes they now reside in. We offer our condolences to Mary, Rose, Noel, Gretta, James, Claire and Carmel at this sad time. May Sheila rest in peace. 

Tom Moloughney RIP. 

Former Tipperary hurler Tom Moloughney died at the weekend. A member of the Kilruane McDonaghs Club Tom won All Ireland medals with Tipp in 1961 and 1962. A farmer and life long Pioneer Tom was embroiled in a hurling 'controversy' that got blown out of all proportions. In a fiery Cork v Tipperary Munster Championship game Moloughney received a blow to the head. His injury wasn't too serious but led to a hurling ' whodunit?' Christy Ring was blamed but Moloughney stated categorically that Ring didn't hit him. Tom said he knew the identity of the offender but never, ever revealed the name. In later years Tom and Christy and Willie John Ring became great friends. Tom Moloughney will forever be remembered in the lore and legend of Cork v Tipperary games. May he rest in peace. 

Fergal McCann RIP. 

Sympathy too to the family of 47 year old Fergal McCann of Tyrone who had passed away. A member of the Augher GAA Club Fergal was coach under Mickey Harte to Tyrone's All Ireland winning SF teams of 2005 and 2008. He has died after a long illness. He leaves a wife Roisin and two daughters Aine and Aoife. May he rest in peace. 

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