Club Notes - 2021-08-28 09:00:00
Well Done Rebel Rovers..
It was Mr. Meatloaf the singer who had a big hit with a song ‘Two outta Three ain’t Bad’ – I suppose that sums up last week for Cork Hurling. Contesting a unique three All Ireland Hurling Championship Finals in five days, Under 20, Minor and Senior. We won the Under 20 and the Minor but Limerick’s ‘Green Machine’ held on to the McCarthy Cup on Sunday in Croke Park. With Brian and Eoin Roche having won under 20 Medals a few weeks back the Bride Rovers tally of medals rose to five last week.
Well done Paddy Cillian Adam & Barry
Back in the 1930’s there was poem/song written about the Bride Rovers Minor Hurling Team . One verse was
‘Tom Heskin the goalie, a great goalie was he
He captained Cork Minors in nineteen thirty three’
Since then I think about ten Bride Rovers players have donned the Red jersey with various Cork Minor teams. Despite some great wins we’ve never been lucky enough to see any of these players win an All Ireland Minor Championship medal. That changed in Thurles last Saturday night when Cillian Tobin and Adam Walsh were on the victorious Cork side that defeated Galway after a grat display of hurling. It was an emotional night for the Tobin and Walsh families and indeed for all of us in the Club. Thy said the crowd was limited to 4000 in Thurles for the Final but luckily Bride Rovers were allocated 10% of the Tickets! Well it certainly seemed like that on the way into Semple Stadium, wherever one looked there were familiar faces from Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan to be seen. The Westerners were going for an unprecedented 5 in a row of Minor Titles but in reality they met a superb Cork team. Barry Johnson who starred for us for so many seasons was in Noel Furlong’s backroom team which added to the excitement for all of us lucky to be there. From Cork’s displays against Clare, Limerick and Waterford we knew that this was a specially skilled side. They proved that on Saturday night with a mighty win over Galway. Cillian was a power house at midfield and his work-rate was brilliant. He linked well with the defence and moved forward when he got the chance and scored a great point. Cillian never stops running, off the ball, creating space and his striking was superb. Well done Cillian. His parents Ger and Rachel and all his family and the lads who have coached him up through the different age groups can be so proud of this outstanding young man. Adam came on a t half time and made an immediate impact. Using his strength and skill he won the very first ball after the resumption. He ‘made’ three scores for his Cor team mates and gave a display of hurling that was breath taking to watch. Well done Aam, we are immensely proud of you. For Brendan and Arlene it was special night and for Arlene’s parent Gerard and Maura and of course for Adam’s other grandfather Olly Walsh it was a very emotional night. I know that every Rovers person present shed a tear especially as we thought of Theresa Walsh and how proud she’d be of Adam winning an All Ireland medal. Both Cillian and Adam are a credit to their families and to the Club, well done lads. Great praise has been rightly given also to Barry Johnson for the coaching role he played with this Cork Minor team as part of Noel Furlong’s backroom team, well done Barry. Congrats also to Paddy O Flynn who was on the extended panel for the Cork under 20 winning team. Pat Ryan led his team to victory over Galway on Wed night in the 2021 final just 39 days after defeating Dublin in the delayed 2020 decider. Well done to Paddy on being involved with this superb team
Under 14’s get walk over from Clon in SF of Hurling League.
On Wednesday night of last week our under 14 hurlers were fixed to play Clonakilty in the semi final of the Rebel Og League. Unfortunately the West Cork side were unable to field a team and conceded a walkover to our lads. While we would have preferred a game the team are now in the League Final.
Under 16s in the Final: Bride Rovers 4-15 Inniscarra 3-10
On Friday we played Inniscarra in the Rebel Og Coiste Under-16 Hurling Semi-Final.
We started well and settled into the task with some nice hurling. It turned out to be a game in which we were well on top. We held a sizeable lead coming into the last quarter but in the final six minutes Inniscarra scored 3 goals when our lads had ‘switched off’ a little.
Great scores throughout the team and lads demonstrated great hooking and blocking. All the lads can be proud of the way we played. One thing is certain though, we will have to up our performance and play for the full hour without easing off in the Final.
Well done lads. Panel.
Frank. Eldon. Adam. Darragh. Denis. Cillian. Kieran. Cormac. Ryan. Ronan. Kamso. Louie. Ciaran. Colin.
The Final of this under 16 league is fixed for Thursday 2nd September v Kiltha Og. The Venue and time to be confirmed.
UNDER 11’s BUSY. The under11 boys were away to Carrigtwohill on Saturday for hurling. We divided our lads into two groups for 2 very entertaining games of hurling. The buzz out of the lads was great with a lot of them heading onto Semple Stadium that evening to watch Cillian and Adam perform excellently for Cork minors. Rumour has it a few of the lads appeared on TG4'stelevision coverage!
We have a football blitz on Saturday at home at 12 noon , with teams from St Catherines, Killeagh, Aghada, St Colmans and Lisgoold travelling up to us.
UNDER 12’s DOING MIGHTY. The under12 Green and Gold teams have been very active over the past two weeks with games in football and hurling as part of the Phase Two Rebel Og leagues. The Gold team travelled to Castlemartyr on Saturday the 14th of August for their opening hurling league game of the Phase 2 series against Kiltha Og. The game was played in wet conditions and the Rovers lads were well in control throughout to open their league campaign with a comprehensive win. The Gold team were in action again on Saturday last with their opening game of the Phase 2 Football League at home to Midleton. This was another strong performance from this team with some fabulous teamwork and resulted in another good win. The Gold team have a hurling league game this Saturday morning at home against Carrigtwohill.
The Green team were also in action over the past two weeks in both hurling and football. They travelled to Cloyne on Monday evening August 16th last for a league game against St. Colmans in what turned out to be a highly entertaining hour of hurling. The lads were victorious on this occasion and had a remarkable 9 different scorers on the night. The Green team played their second football league game against Ballycastle Gaels on Monday evening at home in the Juvenile pitch and had another comprehensive victory with no fewer than 8 players getting on the score sheet on this occasion. The Green team have two upcoming fixtures with the footballers away to Milford on Friday next 27th August at 7pm and the Hurlers at home against Passage on Monday 30th at 7pm. Adam Walsh, one of our Cork Minor Hurling All Ireland winning stars, was there to watch the Green team on Monday night and stood in for a photo with the lads after the game.
UNDER 9’s in GO GAME ACTION. Our under 9 boys welcomed Whitechurch, Ballyhooly and Castlelyons to Páirc Na Bríde on Saturday in another round of Go Games fixtures. It's great to see such large numbers involved with our under 9s and we fielded 25 players over three teams against one team per visiting club. Hard work and determination were to the fore and complemented the growing skill levels that the boys have developed. During the games, some players displayed their admiration of Mark Coleman with their superb sideline cuts, some perfected the "Tim O'Mahony" bounce off the ground on the run and some showed they have been keeping a keen eye on Patrick Horgan with their free taking technique. Great games all round and a real buzz around at the moment with all that is happening in Cork GAA this week. Thank you to all our neighbouring clubs for visiting us. All our young players were really on a high with so many from the Bride Rovers Club involved with Cork teams at present.
Squad: Jack Barry, Conor Healy, Adam Hackett, Patrick O'Regan, Jack O'Donovan, Scott Lynch, Ryan Field, Sean O'Dowd, Eoghan Croke, Noah Collins, Matthew Finn, Theo Byrd, Aidee Carr, Patrick O'Connell, Ryan Hogan, Luke Fitzgerald, James O'Leary, Jack Fitzgerald, Alex McCarthy, Jack Roddis, Cian Barry, Liam Harrington, Harry Fitzgerald, Jack Gubbins
UNDER 10’s RED PRIDE DAY. Bride Rovers under 10s had a Red training day last week to show their support for Cork Senior Hurling teams with so many Rovers players involved. It was a fantastic session for the lads and hopefully in years to come many of them will go on and play with Cork teams. This coming Saturday August 28th, Bride Rovers Under 10s will host Ballyhooley and Castletownroche for a football blitz in the Juvenile pitch at 10am . It’s great to see these young lads getting so much enjoyment and fun from their games and practise sessions.
UNDER U13s TAKE ON FERMOY. Bride Rovers continued a strong run of form in their match against Fermoy in Fermoy GAA grounds last Thursday. The first quarter was competitive with the Rovers’ lads holding a lead at the first water break. The second quarter consisted of an upping of the tempo and the initial lead was extended. The match continued in this vein with Bríde Rovers stretching the lead at the end of each quarter and ultimately winning comfortably in a 7-14 to 1-8 scoreline. Bride Rovers panel: Owen Ryan, Eoghan Buckley, Jamie Walsh, MIchael Gubbins, David Dixon, Jack Lynch, Éanna Lyons, Shane O’Dowd, James Finn, Darragh O’Farrell, Denis Fitzgerald, James Larkin, Adam Murphy Fitzgibbon, Matthew Kenny, Jamie Kennedy, Michael Cosgrove, Adam Kelleher, Matthew O’Sullivan, Con McCormack. Next match is this Thursday 26th August in Football at home to Castlelyons (throw in 7.30pm).
Under 17’s. We had an uber17 hurling challenge match last night Wednesday 25th away to Newtownshandrum. Well done to Cillian and Adam on their displays against Galway on Saturday night last. Note that hurling training continues this Friday in Pyne’s Field at 7 for under17’s and 1’s.
LIMERICK KEEP LIAM.
We always claimed the Liam McCarthy Cup as ‘our own’ on account of Liam McCarthy himself being a Corkman -from Ballygarvan, but last Sunday Limerick retained the trophy for the first time ever. Bok McConkey of Limerick was the first man to get the Cup in 1923 when he captained Limerick to win the delayed 1921 . In actual fact Liam McCarthys mother was a Limrick lady, Brigid Dineen from Bruff. Not even Mick Mackey’s great team ever succeeded in winning back to back All Irelands but this Limerick side have accomplished that feat. Already they’re talking about a 3 or 4 in a row, fair play to Limerick they are a superb hurling team. Last Sunday we had high hopes for a Cork win based on the improvements the Rebels had made from game to game. Maybe we read too much into the semi final win over Kilkenny. I’ve attended most Hurling Finals since 1972 and I must say the first half last Sunday was probably the most impressive display I’ve ever witnessed.. It’s a setback for Cork but the Minor and under 20 wins give hope for the future. Underage success guarantees nothing but without it even hope is gone. I heard grumbles last weekend about ‘all the money going into Limerick hurling’ especially from JP McManus. All I say to that is ‘fair play and well done’ to the man. He is passionate about sport, horse racing and hurling in particular. He is a wealthy man and I think he deserves great praise and credit for what he is doing for the GAA in Limerick. No doubt that this Limerick side are the best prepared and ‘seen after’ team ever and JP is the main man. We’ve plenty Limerick people living in our parish so congratulations and well done to them all.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS. With Brian and Eoin Roche on the extended Cork panel and Niall O Leary and Colm Spillane from Castlelyons involved there was a huge buzz in the locality in regards to this Final. The Boylan brothers from Na Piarsaigh in Limerick have strong Bartlemy connections. Last Sunday Barry Murphy from the Doon Club in Limerick played his part in the Final. Barry’s grandmother was the late Helen O Keeffe from Greenhall in Rathcormac so well done Barry.
LOTTO.
The numbers drawn last Tuesday night August 17th were 13,20,27 and 29 and there was no jackpot winner. The Spot Prizes of €30 were won by Pa O Driscoll, Aine O Grady, James Finn, Wm O Leary and Sean O Brien. Jackpot for Tuesday August 24th was 420,000.
COUNTY BOARD FIXTURES.
The Masters Fixtures Plan for the remainder of the year was sent out last week. Fixture Lista at County and East Cork level are now out. Our three Group games at Senior Hurling level will commence on the weekend of September 11th/12th. That weekend we are billed to play Ballyhea. A week later Ballymartle will be the opposition and the Mallow game will be on the 9th or 10th of October. In between all these will be the East Cork Junior A Football semi final against Lisgool.
FIXTURES;
Thurs August 26th U 13 Football v Castlelyons at home 7pm
Fri August 27th Green Under 12 away v Milford 7pm.
Sat Aug 28th Under 10 f blitz at home 10 am
Sat Aug 28th Under 12 Gold Hurling v Carrigtwohill home
Monday 30th Aug Under 12 Green Hurling v Passage home 7pm
Thurs Sept 2nd Under 16 Hurling Final v Kiltha Og
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
