New time but no games yet..

This weekend marks the beginning of 'New' Time or Summer Time as we like to call it. Traditionally it meant a huge change for GAA clubs. The weekend fixtures on Saturdays and Sundays only suddenly gave way to frenetic activity literally seven nights a week. Remember 2019? Well two years ago during the first two weeks 'after the time changed' we had a total of 12 games Unfortunately we have a while to wait yet before playing activities resume. There is some talk that under age training may resume in two weeks but no date has yet been mentioned for adult training and games. We will await with bated breath for the Government Pronouncement on April 7th. In the meantime please stay safe, keep up the social distancing, hand washing and take all precautions.  

Weekly club Lotto. 

The Lotto Jackpot for Tuesday March the 15th last was €20,000. The four numbers drawn were 4,11,26 and 30.. There was no Jackpot Winner. The winners of €30 each were Siobhan c/o Big Vinnies, Shanahan family Castlelyons,  Sandra Mannix c/o Online, John Pratt c/o Online, Michael Walsh.  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. 

Cormac Collins; Mullentoura & Australia. 

 Age 39  Occupation;  Environmental Scientist 

1 Cormac just this week we heard of savage floods in Australia, how far from you are they, how bad are they?  

 The floods are over on the East coast, about 4,000km away from where I'm living in Perth on the West Coast. Pretty bad floods I gather with some places getting over a foot of rain in a couple of days. Meanwhile we were sweltering through a few 38 degree days here.

2  Can you recall your first under age game with Bride Rovers?  

It was an U10 challenge game in Kilworth on a miserable wet day and I was about 8. I remember Dad telling me after that I shouldn't be chatting to my marker during the game! 

 3 We cant travel beyond 5 km at present, what Restrictions have ye?  

We've been extremely lucky here in Perth and have only had to endure a couple of short lockdowns. Our only real long term restriction was having to stay within Western Australia - thankfully it takes up about a third of the country.  

4 Can you remember your first adult game?  

Not exactly. More than likely a Junior B practice game and coming on for Cormac Howard in the last 5 minutes at corner back.    

5   What's the GAA 'scene' like in the area where you live?  

Not sure at the moment. I know when the GFC hit it was pretty big here with about seven clubs in Perth with some even fielding a second team due to the numbers. 

6 Mullentoura is in Kildinan, would you think there is much of a difference between Kildinan, Rathcormac and Bartlemy hurlers?  

We're bred a bit tougher in Kildinan! 

 7 Who were the greatest influences on your playing career ?  

My parents first of all. Thank God they didn't charge us mileage for all the trainings and matches they brought us to. 

All the trainers down the years as well. For our age group it was the two Paudies, John Joe and Seamus. Then we had the likes of Terry and Pat who looked after us at U21. And I suppose people of my age can't leave out Jack Russell.

8  What's your favourite food? Do they really eat kangaroo and crocodile in Australia?  

I'm a big fan of stir fry's. Kangaroo is getting more popular here and I probably have Skippy once a week. Crocodile isn't so common.

9 In Bride Rovers who were the toughest players to mark?  

I remember one year Jack Russell was 'trialing' me at full back and Niall Fitz at full forward. I had heard about how serious Niall took his hurling and that was confirmed after about 5 minutes of marking him at training! I'm just glad Jack never wanted to trial me as a centre forward...

10Who was the best for a laugh and a joke to raise the spirits when training was tough?  

Pat Barry was always good for a laugh. But if you wanted serious entertainment just put Brenny (O Driscoll) and Tomas (Kearney)on each other for a training game.

11 What Pitch was your favourite to play in?  

Castlelyons when I was playing back and Rathcormac when I was playing forward. 

12  Any plans to come back to Ireland soon?  

Once this whole Covid thing gets sorted I'll be on the first flight back.

13  Have you had any serious injuries? 

Nothing major thankfully. A couple of dislocated fingers and a fractured hand. 

14 What advice would you give to young players?  

Keep practicing your skills and first touch. And don't be afraid of making mistakes out there.

15  What game with the Rovers do you recall with greatest satisfaction?  

Playing: Our U21 East-Cork football final against Lisgoold that went to extra time. One of the most enjoyable years I had playing. We trained pretty hard under Terry and Pat but made sure we gave every win the celebration it deserved. Watching: The 1998 Junior County semi-final against Ballinascarthy. 

16  Who was the best hurler you saw playing?  

Joe Deane back in the day. 

17  If you were stranded on a desert Island for three months what three Bride Rovers playing comrades would you take to do the following tasks  

A) Cleaning the house ? Not Muscles. 

B)  Preparing the BBQ? Twiggy talks a good BBQ game 

C)  Keeping ye calm, 'No Panic lads, we'll be saved, sometime' ? Aidan "Let there be no major panic" Collins  

18  Can you recall any funny or even embarrassing incident while playing with Bride Rovers?  

I always found Brenny O Driscoll's reaction to frees against him pretty funny. My own goal in the County Senior Hurling League Final was a touch embarrassing. But it's nice to be able tell Twig that at least someone in our family scored a goal on County final day!

19  Who are the toughest players you've marked?  

 A guy from the Rockies called Colin O Leary. Always struggled on him.

Underage I had some good battles with Eoin Conway of Fr O Neills. We still debate who came out on top.

20  Something very few people know about Cormac Collins?  

I have recently become a gardening celebrity here in Australia! 

21 Time off work/holidays/week ends off -how do you relax?  

We bought a house a couple of years ago that required quite a bit of renovation work so that has kept us busy. Holidays over the past year have involved hiring a camper van and exploring the more remote parts of Western Australia but looking forward to getting back to Ireland again for a trip. 

2003 IHC v Milford & Youghal.

Having defeated Blarney in April and Mallow on June 21st we had to wait a full three months for the our Quarter Final game v Milford in the 2003 County Intermediate Hurling Championship. While it was long gap of twelve weeks it was a magical time for all of us in Bride Rovers. We played challenge games in Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick -the 'Tour of Munster' someone called it! As well as Club Hurling we had Cork to follow and with Brian Murphy on the under 21 ands Intermediate teams it was super summer. Brian won his Intermediate All Ireland medal on Saturday August the 30th in Thurles when Cork beat Kilkenny after extra time It was Saturday September 27th, the day before the Armagh v Tyrone All Ireland F Final, at Pairc Ui Chaoimh that we lined out against the North Cork side. Having won the County JHC in 1998 we played Milford in the first round of the IHC in Killavullen.  Having come from behind to level near the end we'd have settled for a draw but a late point from John O Dowd gave us a great 1 11 to 2  7 win. Four years later in September 2003 the contest between the Rovers and Milford wasn't as close. Donal Ryan was out injured with a hand problem with a plaster cast in situ. Behind by 3 points to 2 in the 11th minute we dominated the remainder of the half to lead by 1 7 to 0 4 at the break, the goal coming from Jerome O Driscoll.  Pat Walsh, Brian Murphy and team Captain Sean Ryan all had second half goals and we won well, 4 15 to 0 9. Walshie scored 1 3 while Biscuit,  Brian Murphy and Sean Ryan added 1 2 each with 5 points from Barry Hazlewood and one from Pat Cotter. Twelve weeks we had waited for the game and now we had only a week before the semi final against Youghal. Later that night Donal Ryan underwent a kind of surgical renewal when, with a con-saw and a hacksaw he removed the plaster cast from his hand, performed a personal fitness test and declared himself ready to play again! Against Youghal in Ballynoe we were happy enough to be just two points in arrears, 0 6 to  0 4 as Youghal had stiffish wind behind them. From a free early in the second half Barry Hazlewood made it 6/5. They Ryano came on and levelled it. Youghal then had a purple patch hitting three to make it 0 9 to 0  6. Pat Walsh scored our seventh point - seven different players had now got a point each for us. It was still 9/7 in Youghal's favour in the 56th minute when Jerome floated in a lovely ball and Pat Cotter goaled to put us a point ahead. Magic we thought and roared at Cathal McAllister to 'blow it up' but then Walshie put us two ahead. Game over we thought but no he played on and Eoin Coleman from a free and Alan Geary made it a drawn game. We should have won it but could have lost it. We left Ballynoe about 9 o clock and at noon the following day, Sunday, Jack Russell put 26 players through their paces below in Rathcormac. In the replay two early points from Sean Ryan and one from Mike Hogan gave us a perfect start. Youghal then got on top to lead by four 1 4 to 0 3 but from here til half time we dominated. A goal from Donal Ryan helped us to a 1 6 to  1 4 interval lead.

 Though Youghal levelled 1 6 each after 4 minutes of the second half we then hit six points in a row to pull away. Dinny Fitz made a great save from an Andrew Murphy penalty A goal from Pat Cotter was the icing on the cake and we were in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Final for the first time since 1933. Bride Rovers 2 14 Youghal 1 7. The scenes in Ballynoe that evening were just brilliant and it was the most of an hour after the final whistle went before the crowd were all gone. The next day in Pairc Ui Chaoimh Inniscarra beat Aghabullogue by a point, 3 9to 3 8 and so the stag was set for the County Final two weeks later. 

Scorers v Milford Pat Walsh 1 3,  Sean Ryan 1 2, Barry Hazlewood 0 5, Jerome O Driscoll 1 1, Brian Murphy 1 0, Padraig Murphy 0 2, Pat Cotter 0 1  v Youghal (Drawn game) Pat Cotter 1 0, Barry Hazlewood  0  2, Pat Walsh 0 2, Mike Hogan, Donal Ryan, Padraig Murphy and Sean Ryan 0 1 each.  v Youghal, replay Pat Cotter 1 1, Sean Ryan 0 4, Donal Ryan 1 0, Barry Hazlewood 0 3,, Jerome O Driscoll 0 2, Terry Broderick 0 2, Mike Hogan 0 1,PatWalsh 0 1. 

 GAA MONTHLY DRAW TIME HERE. 

Well March 25th is here at last 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 tonight 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. So in total there are 90 cash prizes on offer tonight so fingers crossed and hope for the best. 

NEW CLUB GEAR AVAILABLE. 

As we gear up and hope for a return to the playing fields in the near future we must all look our best! Be smart and proudly wear the Green, White and Gold, the Club colours. Several new Product Lines in our Colours with the Club Crest are now available from O Neills at very reasonable prices. To look at the items go to the O Neills website www.oneills.com. 

2012 - Junior C team. We fielded three adult hurling teams in 2012, Senior, Junior A and Junior C. The Junior C team defeated Castlemartyr but were defeated by Midleton. The team panel v Castlemartyr was  Pat Cotter, Jack Kearney, Enda Collins, Kieran Woulfe, Jamie Buckley, Niall Hogan, Gavin Quill, Brian Collins, Brian Lahive, Maurice Dooley, James Hogan, William O Leary, John O Dowd. Mike Hogan, Barry Collins, Pa O Driscoll, Gavin O Flynn, Liam O Leary, Stephen O Leary, David Quinn, Daniel Lane.  

EXECUTIVE MEETING POSTPONED. 

Due to the lack of playing activity the Club Executive meeting scheduled for Monday will not now go ahead, virtually online, until Monday April 12th when things may be clearer re start up dates etc. 

Sympathy.  

The Bride Rovers Club extends it's sympathy to the relations of Rita Leahy, Castlemartyr and Paddy Coleman, Youghal. Rita Leahy, nee Walsh, died after a very short illness last weekend. A member of a well known East Cork family, Rita was wife of Mick Leahy a Castlemartyr GAA Stalwart, Mick is an uncle of Carmel Finnegan of Quarter Lane. Paddy Coleman was one of seven brothers who were natives of Aghabullogue. The family moved to Youghal and each of the Colemans was involved in community life in the seaside town. Paddy was an outstanding athlete on the track and cross country. He was an outstanding Youghal GAA Clubman. He held various administrative roles in the club and was a very able Delegate County Board. We extend our condolences to the Leahy, Walsh and Coleman families on these sad losses. 

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