Tragedy in Monaghan. 

 We write of sport every week, hurling and football. We mention great wins and heavy defeats and sometimes games we should have won and lost by a point or two. Terms like 'heart-breaking loss' and 'awful defeat' are occasionally used and I suppose all these words try and show just how important Gaelic games are to all of us. In Clubs and communities all over the country and further afield GAA people are a tight knit grouping. We play and win and lose and celebrate and commiserate together.  Truly Gaelic games are the pulse and the sporting soul of so many hundreds of thousands of GAA people. It's as if our very being is wound up with the success or otherwise of our Club and our County team also. Then suddenly something happens that puts  everything into context. Last week was a time of great excitement and anticipation for the Clubs and Gaels in County Monaghan. With two football teams seeking places in Ulster Finals at the weekend there would have been a great buzz in the Farney County. On Friday evening in Fermanagh's Brewster Park their under 20's were billed to play Donegal and the next day the Seniors were down to play Armagh in the Senior semi final. The under 20's defeated Donegal,  led by their captain Brendan 'Ogie' O Duffy from the Monaghan Harps Club. Brendan was a rare talent as a footballer. Back in 2018 when the County Minor Football panel of 30 players came together initially the Manager decided to let the players select their own captain for the season Twenty four of the thirty opted for Ogie to lead them. Similarly this year he was the natural leader of their Under 20 Football team and was both proud and happy to lead his team into action last Friday night. Monaghan had a good win in that contest. Tragically just a few hours later, on his way back home Brendan Ogie O Duffy was involved in an awful accident which claimed his life. His death has numbed the GAA community, not only in Monaghan, but nationwide, as we struggle to come to terms with such a horrific happening. We in Bride Rovers extend our sympathy to Ogie's parents Brendan and Esther and his sisters Claire and Aine as well as his under team-mates and all Grieving Gaels. At our Club Executive meeting on Monday night last a Vote of Sympathy was formally passed to the O Duffy family. Sympathy was also extended to the Murphy family Raheen, Kildinan on the death of Mary's brother Eddie Barry of Glenbeg, Dungourney. Similar Expressions of Condolences were passed to Ted Long and family Mondaniel on the death of Maureen, to Carmel Finnegan on the death of her uncle Billy Leahy of Youghal and to the Randles family on the death of Steve. A native of the Kerry hurling stronghold of Kilgarvan Steve Randles came working to Castlelyons creamery in the mid 1960's. He hurled with Castlelyons -he was on the team that beat us in the 1965 B Grade semi final in Riverstown. Steve went on to become Manager of the Co Op and was a great help to many clubs in the locality in getting Sponsorship. May all those we think of who have died recently rest in peace. 

Great Win for Senior Hurlers

In our final game in the RED FM  sponsored Senior Hurling League, Bride Rovers defeated Bishopstown on a scoreline of 0-22 to 1-15..Despite many of the team having played Football championship 24 hours earlier, this was a great win. The game was played last Tuesday week n Rathcormac. Pairc Na Bride was looking splendid for the game.
It was great to have Eoin and Brian Roche available, fresh from their success with Cork Under 20’s in the All-Ireland Final. Bishopstown opened the scoring with a point from Tomas Murray, but the Rovers replied with two pointed frees from Conor Barry. Bishopstown equalised with a free of their own before points from Cian O Connor, Conor Barry (Free) and William Finnegan extended the Rovers lead to three. At the first water break the Rovers led 0-07 to 0-05, Conor Barry adding to his tally with 2 more points before the break.
The Rovers kicked on after the water break and for the next 15 minutes outscored Bishopstown 7 points to 4 to lead at half time by 0-14 to 0-09. The Rovers scores coming from Cian O Connor, Brian Roche, William Finnegan (2) and Conor Barry (3). Our defence got on top too in this quarter with Shane Walsh, Tadhg O Sullivan and Jack Connor playing well in the full back line. Shaun Knox done great in goals. Eoin Roche, Ryan Prendergast and Shane O Connor in the half back line were getting plenty good ball into the forwards where Jason Mannix was excellent at centre forward.
By the second half water break we still were in front, leading on a scoreline of 0-20 to 0-14, points coming from Michael Collins, Brian Roche. Cian O Connor, William Finnegan and 2 pointed frees from Conor Barry. The last quarter saw very little scoring but Bishopstown did get a goal which reduced the our lead to 3 points but another pointed free from Conor Barry completed the scoring and we won by 0-22 to 1-15. Team: S.Knox. T.O’Sullivan, S.Walsh, J Connor, R. Prendergast, E.Roche, S. O’Connor, D. Dooley, C. O Connor (0-2), M.Collins (0-1), J. Mannix, W.Finnegan (0-4), C.Barry (0-12 (9F), B.Roche (0-2), E. Cashman.
Subs used: J. Pratt, DJ Cahill. We are hoping to play the Tony Walsh Memorial Tournament on Sunday week August 1st. This will be confirmed hopefully in the next few days. 

UNDER 16 FOOTBALL  Clyda Rovers 6-09  Bride Rovers 5-07.
On a very warm day in Mourneabbey  our under sixteen team took on the locals in our first football game as a group in two years.  
Both teams lined out 11 a side as both panels were short a few regulars.  It was an energy sapping first quarter as Clyda went into an early lead, 1-3 to no score.  We settled and at half time we reduced the deficit to a single goal.  3-5 to 2-5.
In the second half lads were getting tired, mistakes happened and scores were conceded.  We gathered ourselves and in the final quarter we got back into the game but fell short at the full time whistle by a five point margin
Team on the day.
Ryan. Darragh. Cillian. Kieran. Adam. Denis. Louie.  Ronan. Frank. Colin. Kamso.
Our next game is in the Rebel Og League, Hurling v Cobh. in Rathcormac on this Friday evening July 23rd  at 7pm 

 UNDER18 FOOTBALL LEAGUE  

In Pynes last Wednesday night we played vs Erins Own in our first game in the Under 128 league.  It was a low scoring game and Erins Own came out winners on a scoreline of Erins Own 2-3 Bride Rovers 1-5. Fair play to the lads played as they very well against a strong Erins Own Team Darragh, Cormac, Liam, Ciaran,  Nicky, Conor, Adam Hayes, Davy, Josh, Louis, Eldon, Frank, Ronan O Riordan, Ciaran O Dowd, Jacob, Ronan O Connell, Adam Hynes, Denis, Cillian Barry. While the lads were -playing in Pyne's Field Cillian Tobin and Adam Walsh were starring in the Red and White of Cork in Thurles and both played mighty.

UNDER 9's  The under 9s played their first away fixture of the year last Saturday when they visited the Tank Field in Montenotte to play Brian Dillons. Under the scorching heat, our two teams dominated against the city outfit who had as many as 5 extra players at some stages. The skills levels and physicality were a delight to witness and some great scores were taken. 15 players played in total and the squad was: James O'Leary, Cameron Hoare, Jack Barry,  Eoghan Croke, Jack Gubbins, Jack Roddis,  Luke Fitzgerald,  Jack Fitzgerald,  Noah Collins, Alex McCarthy, Patrick O’Connell, Theo Byrd, James McDonnell, Harry Fitzgerald and Adam Hackett. 

With lots of holidays plans in the pipeline for a lot of families so here is the plan for the next few weeks:        

Wed July 21st - 6.30 - Football Training

Sat July 24th - 10am - Hurling training (Go Game fixture v Bishopstown has been cancelled)    

Mon July 26 - 30 is Cúl Camp week so no training on the Wednesday or Saturday

UNDER 11 

The under11 boys were at home to Ballyhooly on Saturday in Pynes.  With a lot of our boys away on holidays we went with a 12 aside game. With balmy weather it was tough going but we saw great performance by all the lads against a physically stronger Ballyhooly side. Our next game is football at home to Cobh in Pynes on this coming Saturday at 10. o clock.

UNDER 12's BUSY.

The last couple of weeks saw us see out the rermainnng hurling and football games in the first part of the league. 

Hurling:

Green team played Castlelyons at home winning on a scoreline of 2-9 to 3-4. This was a good overall team performance with some unlucky goals conceded. Both teams were missing players due to holidays etc but it was obvious that both sides had some great quality within their teams.

Directly after this game our Gold team played Blackrock. The first period was extremely close with only a point in it at half time. In the second half Blackrock scored some goals to win by 7-5 to 2-3. This was a good performance by our lads as it seems our visitors had some of their regular players away and had brought up some very strong players from their U11 team.

The following week we had to concede a game for our Gold team in the football league v St. Finbarrs as we had too many players on holidays. 

Our Green team played a very physically strong Midleton team in the football league. Midleton have been winning all their league games comprehensively but after a great battle we lost on a scoreline of 2-11 to 2-4. Midleton scored their second goal with the last kick of the game which flattered the scoreline.

We have a break until July 26th of which we are awaiting the next fixture. Holidays have been creating issues for most teams and this year the regular 4 week break has been decreased to 1 week so games have been conceded throughout the underage set ups.

Training continues Wednesday and Saturdays. 

CUL CAMP:

A lot of planning has gone into this years camp which commences on July 26th. We have in excess of 50 adults who are volunteering their holiday time this year to make the camp possible plus to make it even possible. Parents are reminded of the following:

Each child needs a packed lunch, lots of water, sunscreen, gum-shields, helmet and hurley.

Drop off times will be advertised through whatsapp and twitter as we have 200 kids all starting at the same time. Please take note of all Covid precautions throughout the week.

CORK  HURLING. 

The Cork Minor hurlers had a very easy win over Clare in the first round of the Munster championship last week. Cillian Tobin had a great game at midfield and was up in attack and defending when needed. Adam Walsh came on and struck two great goals and set up a third and will be pressing hard for inclusion in the starting XV against Limerick on Monday night next. Well done lads. With Brian and Eoin Roche on the winning under 20 team, Cillian and Adam with the Cork Minors and Paddy O Flynn on the extended Cork under 20 hurling team these are exciting times for the Club and all the lads involved and their families too. Incidentally Ben Nyhan from Clyda Rovers who was on the Cork Minor Hurling team is a great, great grand nephew of the famous William 'Captain' O Connell of Ballinakilla Bartlemy. William O Connell was Captain of the local hurling team here in the parish in the glory years of the 18880's. He died in 1939 and all throughout his long life was simply referred to as Captain Connell. 

Make or break for Cork Seniors

It's a big few days for Cork teams. On Saturday the Senior Hurlers meet Clare, Sunday the footballers go to Killarney and the Minor Hurlers play Limerick on Monday. The Hurlers travel To Limerick to take on the Banner who beat Wexford last weekend. Once more the vast majority of Cork fans who would normally travel in tens of thousands will be deprived of viewing the game. I know the GAA entered into a deal with Sky but surely there was an 'exceptional circumstances' or 'opt out' clause' in the contract to cover situations like the pandemic. It's a scandal and will mean genuine Cork hurling supporters will be unable to watch the game  

WATERFORD v LAOIS. 

The Decies beat Laois narrowly enough last Saturday in the Qualifiers. Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett is a great hurling man, passionate and proud of the Midlanders hurling heritage. We have a great affinity with Laois on account of Pat Lee from Bartlemy being involved in the training of their All Ireland winning side of 1915. He was a Station Master in Ballybrophy Train Station at the time. Coincidentally when transferred to Waterford later he helped with the hurling scene there also.   

BRIDE ROVERS WEEKLY LOTTO

Results from our Draw on Tues July 13th, the Jackpot was €20,000 and the 4 numbers drawn were 4, 5, 9 and 13 there was no winner. The winners of the €30 were John A Murphy, John Murphy Hightown, Pa Kearney Ballyduff, Tom and nellie Barry and Mary Lane... 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 ongoing promotion of Gaelic games. A yearly ticket at €90can also be purchased. 

STAY SAFE. 

A timely  reminder that as per all sporting organisations Covid Guidelines and  Government Regulations, all spectators and officials who are not involved directly with a match in Páirc Na Bride are urged to wear a face mask  while on the grounds. This is for your health and safety and the health and safety of those around you. The better we are wearing masks for the foreseeable future, the more people who will be allowed to attend events including GAA matches over the coming weeks and months. 

JUNIOR A FOOTBALL.

We are billed to play Erins Own in the JAFC in Carrignavar on tonight Thursday at 7.45. having lost to Midleton in Round 1 this is a make or break game. Go for it lads.

 Club Gear.

We still have a certain amount of Bride Rovers shorts and stockings available from our Club Shop. Please contact Betty on 086 1540902 or Kathleen on 086  3807784.

Also 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 

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