Happy Easter to All..

It's Easter time, a time of hope and as we wish all our playeres, members, supporters and friends a very Happy Eastr Season let's hope it wont be long now until we hear the clash of the ash and the thud of the boot on leather as Gaelic games rerurn to our playing fields.  The soundings coming from 'on high' early this week would seem to indicate that by mid April a share of activity will have resumed and then hopefully by May we can look forward to training and games. In the meantime stay safe, staywell and stay apart.

Juvenile Club.

With ongoing uncertainty regarding a potential return to play there has been some ongoing work behind the scenes. Vetting, child protection courses, foundation coaching courses are all continuing in anticipation of the eventual return. Also we're looking forward to getting going on the new juvenile pitch in Scannell's field which will hopefully be ready for our return. For anyone that wants to get involved please contact the club secretary. 

Regarding the under 12 teams for this year we have entered two teams. We've done this so that all of our players get as much game time as possible this year. With no championship structure until next year we'll have hurling and football leagues only.

The league groupings will be based on club sizes and abilities and they will be based geographically to minimise travel between clubs.

The objective of the Club's Under 12  management team this year will be to get the lads back having fun and readjusting to the basic skills of both hurling and football. When we can return we will and until then everyone stay safe. Keep doing a little practise at home with a hurley and sliotar and a football.

Gradings

The Gradings for the Rebel Og Minor Hurling and Football (under 18) were recently announced. In Hurling the teams in our Group are Aghada, Ballinhassig, Ballinora, Ballyhea, Bandon,  Bishopstown, Blackrock(2), Carrigaline, Carrigtwohill, Charleville, Clonakilty, Cobh, Courceys, Donoughmore,  Douglas(2), Erins Own, Inniscarra, Killavullen, Killeagh Itas, Kiltha Og, Liscarroll/Churchtown, Mallow, Shandrum, St. Catherines, St Olans, Watergrasshill and Whitechurch.

In Football  we are in a group with, Ballinhassig, Blarney, Caha Og, Carrigtwohill, Charleville, Courceys, Croke Rovers, Diarmuid O Murchus, Erins Own,  Fermoy, Gabriel Rangers, Illen Rovers , Killara Og, Macroom, Liscarroll/ Churchtown, Tadhg McCarthaigs, St Kevins, St Dominics, St Colms, St Colmans, St Catherines, Mayfield, Mitchelstown, Passage, O Donovan Rossa,. Newmarket and Naomh Aban. It is expected that teams will be put in smaller groups geographically located for ease of travel.

2003 County Intermediate Hurling Final.

We've often head comedian Pat Shortt  in his 'Hurling Coach' sketch say 'Lads 'twill be a proud day for the parish' and for the people of Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan Sunday October the 26th 2003 was one of those, never to be forgotten days. The two weeks after the semi final replay win over Youghal in Ballynoe were pure magic. The weather was great and the atmosphere in the parish was ninety. Huge crowds at training each night and within days of the semi final win the parish was awash with green, white and gold flags, buntings, posters and pictures. The Sunday before the Co Final Mother Theresa of Albania was declared a Saint in Rime and in Ballynoe Cormac Collins led out Junior team to a League Final victory over Fr O Neills. The excitement and joy in the days leading up to the Final were just something else. Then at last the Day of the Final. It was case of last to leave the parish, please close the door! Inniscarra were our opponents

 The opening ten minutes were tense but a super goal from Pat Walsh settled us after white flags from Jerome Terry and Barry Hazlewood. We were up 1 4 to 0 2 after Padraig Murphy hit a great point. Well in control Sean Ryan struck a goal which was disallowed but Walshie's goal really gave us a boost. Heading for half time we we looked well in control when Jerome put us 1 5 to 0 3 ahead. Then disaster struck when Mark O Sullivan goaled for Inniscarra. Heading for the short whistle and only two points up after being in total control. Sean Ryan was pulled down and Barry Hazlewood tapped over the free so we went in a goal up 1 6 to 1 3. There was no panic in the dressingroom at half time but just before the team came back out came a chilling, hair raising moment. The selectors made a change and our full back Niall Fitzgerald was coming off the team. Niall spoke and said he had done his part and 'now it's up to all of ye to win this County' . I wasn't in that room but players told me after the game that Niall's words spoken with passion and pride really inspired them. Sean Ryan led the team back out, thirty minutes from glory and how the lads went for it. Within ten minutes white flags from  Barry Hazlewood, Padraig and Donal Ryan saw us 1 9 to 1 4 ahead. That last twenty minutes was copy book hurling. Dinny Fitz and the defence got well on top and in the remaining time Inniscarra added just a single point while we took our tally to 1 15.  The scores came in succession from Terry, Sean, Pat Walsh, Pat Cotter, Sean again and Jerome. We won by 1 15 to 1 5, a mighty game and a superb result for a brilliant bunch of lads. Unbelievable, unreal, fantastic, brilliant -just some of the words used to describe a great Final. When Sean Ryan took hold of the Cup you'd hear the cheering back in Mondaniel. The history making team in October 2003 was  Dinny Fitzgerald Aidan Collins Niall Fitzgerald Pat Barry Brendan Walsh Barry Murphy James Murphy Padraig Murphy Brian Murphy Donal Ryan, Terry Broderick Pat Walsh Jerome O Driscoll Sean Ryan (Captain) Barry Hazlewood Mike Hogan Pat Cotter Barry Johnson Colm O Keeffe Pa O Driscoll Cormac Collins Brendan O Driscoll Shane Murphy Tomas Kearney  Nevin O Reagan Batt O Connell John O Dowd James Bermingham Mark O Connell Alan Fitzgerald Michael Carey Hugh Kelleher Trevor Moloney Richie Cahill Dermot Quinlan.. The selectors were Anthony Cahill, Liam Barry and Georgie Johnson with team coach the one and only Jack Russell.

1933 Final..

Growing up I was lucky to have met and got to know many of the Rovers team that lined out in the 1933 Final. Having contested three, and won two East Cork Junior A Grade Championship Titles as well as East Cork and County Minor Championships the Bride Rovers Club took the brave decision to apply to go up to Intermediate for the 1933 season. The County Board agreed and when the 1933 IHC Draw was made we were drawn v Buttevant. Played in Fermoy on March 19th (and no Back Door games then!) the Rovers won by  6 5 to 2 0. The second round was nearly three months later,  on the first Sunday in June when Blackrock's second team were defeated, narrowly enough, by  3 2 to 1 5, Ned Heskin scored two goals, Garda John Holmes 1 1 and Billy Barry a point. The semi final was a month later in Riverstown with St Columbas, from Douglas, the opposition. The Rovers had a great win by 4 5 to 1 4 to qualify for the County Final at the first attempt. There was no fairytale ending as Lough Rovers won the County Title on August 13th in the Athletic Grounds. Defeated  by  4 3 to 2 1 it was huge disappointment. I recall Jim Murphy, Billy Barry and Ned Daly telling me years later that the five weeks of training between the semi final and final went well as did the first half of the County Final. In the second half Lough Rovers pulled away and held us scoreless. The Rovers team in that 1933 Final was John Healy, Joe Healy, Mick Mullally (Garda), Dave Hogan, Tommy Collins, Bill Murphy, Jimmy Ryan, Patie Collins, Ned Daly, Dick Ryan, Ned Heskin, Jim Murphy, Tom O Shea, Billy Barry, John Holmes.  It was exactly 70 years later before another chance would come our way to win the County Intermediate Final.

Weekly Club Lotto

The Lotto Jackpot for Tuesday March the 23rd last was €20,000. The four numbers drawn were 3,10, 16 and 31 There was no Jackpot Winner. The winners of €30 each were Rebecca Freeman, Nathan Buckley, Ted O Sullivan, Sorcha Lowry, Tipperary and Ger Kearney c/o Online.  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 

NO REBELS BOUNTY WINNER.

Thanks to all those who joined the Rebels Bounty Monthly Cork GAA Draw with our Club. The January, February and March draws took place last Thursday night. We had no winners but well done to all those who did win prizes. A total of just over 28,000 members have joined the Draw this year.  

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. 

Jerry Murphy RIP. 

It was with great sadness hat we heard last Thursday of the death of Jerry Murphy of Quin Co. Clare. Jerry was one of the Murphy family of Main St Rathcormac that contributed so much to the sporting life of our parish and elsewhere. Along with his brothers Con, Colm, Jim and Mike Jerry played with Bride Rovers. Born in 1937 he was unlucky that when he was in his late teenage years the Club was going through a lean spell but he always cherished his native Club. I was lucky in recent years to have spoken to him regularly and he always asked about the Rovers and was thrilled with the happenings since 1998. Con Murphy won an All Ireland with SH medal with Cork in 1946 and then when in College in Dublin played with Dublin in the 1952 All Ireland Final which Cork won. Jim played Minor Hurling and football with Cork and when working in Limerick he played Junior Football with Limerick. He won a Munster Junior Football championship medal with Limerick before turning to soccer. He played at Junior level for Ireland. Colm played with the Rovers and later played in Co. Down when he worked in Newry as a teacher. Michael who now lives in Dublin played Minor Hurling with Cork. He was Club Chairman and a player when we won the Junior B Grade title in 1966 and was on the 1969 JAHC winning team. We extend our sympathy to Jerry's wife Joan and family and to Mike and his wife Mary.Jerry was a proud Corkman who loved his adopted county of Clare. May he rest in peace. 

Executive Meeting April 12th 

Due to the lack of playing activity the Club Executive meeting scheduled for three weeks ago will now go ahead, virtually online, on Monday week April 12th when things may be clearer re start up dates etc. 

Bride Rovers GAA Club 100 Scheme now Open for 2021.. 

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. 

1950's Parish League Final. 

In the early 1950's so many boys were regularly hurling in Dan Pynes field. Ned Daly Hurley making 'Specialist' and a former Club Player and referee made a shield and presented a set of medals for 'parish league' type competition. The 'Village' team defeated 'Ballybrowney' in the final. The teams were;  Village; Seanie Barry, Michael Sheehan, Tom Barry, Tony O Brien, Michael Murphy, Paddy O Sullivan, Jimmy O Brien, ;Subs John Joe O Sullivan and John Gettings.  Ballybrowney; Michael Pyne, Joe O Keeffe, Tommy Hickey, Paddy O Brien, Paddy Dea, Mick Barry, Larry Kelleher, Subs; Tommy Barry, Doney Pyne and Billy Moroney. 

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. Fingers crossed that the New Season will commence shortly and then it will be a case of all hands on deck.  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 

Sympathy.  

The Club extends it's sympathy to the family of Derry Murphy of Youghal and late of Coolagown. Derry died at the weekend, his wife is Breda Sweeney of Knockaunduff. 

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