Bride Rovers

Well we are right smack in to the Club Championship season with action on all fronts It’s been a hectic few weeks and the next six weeks will be the same. Hopefully we will get some good results and have a great autumn and winter of hurling and football. I was down at the Under 15 game in the Pitch on Monday night and ‘twas like O Connell St in Dublin. The game was on in the main Pitch whilst two juvenile groups were training in n the Astro Turfs. Below in the Juvenile pitch two other groups were in action. Outside in Pynes two juvenile groups and the Senior Ladies were training, it’s hectic and like that every Saturday and every weeknight. Long may it continue. Over the last week our under 12’s, 14’s, 15 and 16’s all had important games. The coming weekend our Senior Hurling and Junior Hurling teams are in Round Robin Championship action. We are also hosting an important game next Saturday so it’s busy, busy, busy.

HURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMENCE.

Sunday next September 11^th sees two of our adult hurling teams out in Championship action. We travel to Castletownroche to take on Ballyhea in Senior at 2 o clock and four hours later we face Aghada in Junior B grade competition in Dungourney. Just two years ago Ballyhea defeated us in the Senior Hurling Championship in Mallow and that result relegated us to the second tier of the Hurling Championship. We all remember it was a game we should have won but that 2019 result will have little bearing on next Sunday’s clash. Our team will be far different from that game in mallow. Team captain Ryan Prendergast is recovering from injury so we wish him all the very best. Ballyhea are always very tough opposition . They reached their League Cup Final earlier in the year and though defeated put up a good score. A reminder to our supporters that no tickets will be on sale in Castletown on Sunday- the game is at 2 o clock, all Tickets have to be pre-purchased online before the weekend. With other Group games to come against Ballymartle and Mallow to come it would be great to start the campaign with a win. Go for it lads and the very best of luck. Later on Sunday evening our second XV will be in first round action against Aghada so here’s hoping for a good display in the Junior B Hurling Championship.

REBEL OG (NORTH) under 17 FOOTBALL

We played our first football match of the year against Kilara Og(Kilworth/Araglen) in Kilworth on Monday evening last. Our lads hadn’t played much football lately but put on a fine display winning very easily. The game was supposed to start at 6.45 no referee had turned up by 7 so local ‘whistler’ cum photographer John Ahern stepped in and took charge, fair play John

Panel Ronan O Riordan Darragh Kielty, Liam Collins, Eldon O Conor, Ciaran O Dowd, Cillian Barry, Kieran Cotter, Denis Cashman, Adam Hynes, Ronan O Connell, Cillian Tobi,n Adam Walsh (capt) Josh Ahern Louis Roche, Chikamso Odi,, Nicky Kelleher, Adam Hayes

We were billed to play St Domnics in the same competition at home last night, Wednesday.

GAME IN PAIRC NA BRIDE.

On this Saturday September 11^th we host Castlelyons and Watergrasshill in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. The game was fixed for 4 o clock but with the Tyrone v Mayo all Ireland Final starting on TV at 5 o clock the Intermediate game may be brought forward to an earlier start time.

LOTTO.

The numbers drawn last Tuesday night August 31st were 4,7, 8 and 23 and there was no jackpot winner. The Spot Prizes of €30 were won by Eileen Dorgan, Mark O Connell, Sinead O Driscoll, O Flynn family St Bridget’s Tce and K. Reynold c/o Pat Mannix Jackpot for Tuesday September the 7th was €20,000. Thanks to all who support the Weekly Lotto.

Under 8’s On The Road. Our U8 boys hosted Ballyhooley last Wednesday night in the main pitch. We played a total of 4 games, 3 in hurling and 1 football with some very even matches against a strong visiting side. Our hero’s on the night were Eoin Burke, Dara Murphy, Hugh Clerkin, Harry Fitzpatrick, Fionn Purcell, Oisin Barry-Sheehan, John Keating, Luke Buckley, Tiarnan Lyons, Elliot Fitzgerald, Joey Allen, Kayden Freeman, Logan Ryan, Niamh Finn, Luke Hogan, Killian Donegan, Robbie Scanlan, Aaron Murphy and Liam Ryan. We are hosting a hurling blitz in the main pitch on Saturday at 9:30am involving ourselves and visitors Erins Own, Ballygiblin and Lisgoold and the lads are practicing hard for it.

UNDER 11’s IN ACTION. The under11boys were playing hurling away to Glanworth on Thursday of last week. We had a super performance from all the lads with every single player excellent on the night. Our next game is a hurling blitz at home on this Saturday September 11^that 11am. It’s a three team blitz with ourselves, Carrigtwohill and Ballygiblin taking part. .

UNDER 13’s v Killavullen. The under 13s travelled to Kilavullen last Thursday night for our last league group game. The first half was an impressive display by the boys who worked well together as a team and by second half had achieved a good lead despite some good Kilavullen play. The final score on the night was Kilavullen 1-2 Bride Rovers 3-12. The result leaves the boys undefeated and top of their group and looking forward to the next phase. Panel: Owen Ryan, Eoghan Buckley, Jack Lynch,David Dixon, Éanna Lyons, Garry Quirke, James Larkin, Shane O'Dowd, James Finn, Darragh O'Farrell, Denis Fitzgerald, Adam Kelleher,Matthew Kenny, Jamie Walsh, Michael Cosgrove, Matthew O'Sullivan,Jamie Kennedy, Con McCormack. Training continues on Monday nights

Green and Gold Under 12 Teams Qualify.

The under 12 Gold team were in action over the past week with games in football and hurling. These were the concluding stages of the East Cork Leagues for this team and they will now move onto the knockout stages. There will be a blitz for hurling and football on seperate weekends with semi finals and finals being played on the same day. At the time of writing, these dates have not been finalised.

The first game of the week for the Gold team was hurling at home against Carrigtwohill on Thursday night where the lads met their toughest opponents to date in this league. We competed from start to finish and worked tirelessly throughout but were not able to match the scoring ability of Carrigtwohill on this occasion. The team on Thursday was Luke Murphy, Darren Kearney, Shane McCarthy, Dylan Keating, Darragh Costigan, Euain O'Grady, Sebastian Byrd, Conn Nagle, Cian Cashman, Jeff O'Connell, Shane Drinan, Colm O'Dowd, Conor Geaney, Daniel Gubbins, Danny Walsh and Evan Quaine.

The second game of the week for the Gold team had the lads at home on Saturday morning with the visitors on this occasion being Kiltha Og for a football contest. This was a hotly contested game and the first half was a close affair which saw both teams dominate at various stages with the Rovers leading at half time on a scoreline of 2-01 to 1-01. The second half was a more open game with some lovely football being played by both teams. Some neat hand-passing from the Bride Rovers boys saw them register a further 1-02 but Kiltha Og did come back into the game and were awarded a penalty 17 minutes into the second half. However Nathan Cahill stood tall in the Bride Rovers goal to deny Kiltha Og. This seemed to drive Bride Rovers lads on as they eventually ran out 4-07 to 1-02 winners. The team on the day was Cian Cashman, Ciaran Donovan, Conn Nagle, Conor Geaney, Daniel Gubbins, Danny Walsh, Darren Kearney, Euan O'Grady, Evan Quaine, Jeff O'Connell, Luke Murphy, Nathan Cahill, Sebastian Byrd, Shane Drinan, Mark Hynes and Ruairi O'Grady.

The Green team were down to play Duarigle Gaels in football on Monday night last however the Millstreet team were unable to field on this occasion and the lads were awarded a walkover. The Green Hurling team will be playing our near neighbours Castlelyons in the semi-final of the hurling league with the date and time still to be finalised.

UNDER 16’s WIN LEAGUE.

Last Friday we played the Rebel Og Coiste under 16 Hurling League Final. This year Rebel Og decided the under 16 competitions could only be played with players born in 2005 with no under 14’s or under 15’s allowed to take part. We were one of the lucky Clubs that could field 14 players so we played in the 13 a side competition where 10 teams took part.
After meeting Kiltha og in the Round Robin section we knew we were in for a tough battle.
On a splendid Pairc na Bhride surface. Referee Johnny O Connell was in charge of the Final.
We settled ok and could have had 2 early goals but with shots just going wide. It was Kiltha og who raised the green flag twice inside the first ten minutes. We recovered well with points from play from Louie, Cillian and Ryan and a free and a 65 fromRonan. These scores had us back in contention by first water break when the Dungourney/Castlemartyr side led by 2 1 to 0 5. In the second quarter quarter our work-rate improved and points from Ryan. Cillian and Louie had us just a point behind. Denis Cashman won a free in midfield and his probing shot managed to find its way to the net. 2 more points from Louie and Ronan had us in front. Eldon and Adam were getting on top of their men and supplying great ball to the forwards. We outscored Kiltha by 1 3 to 0 2 in the second quarter to lead by 1-8 to 2-3 at half time.
The second half was a fierce physical battle with Kieran and Cormac working hard in the middle of the pitch. Colin and Ciaran were working hard also. Further points form Louie Denis and Ronan had us four up coming down the Home stretch. Team Captain Kieran Cotter was superb and led by example as the game went on. By the second water break we had a three point lead 1 12 to 2 6. Kiltha og were trying hard to get a goal and tacked on two points. Excitement mounted as we had just a two point lead with 10 minutes to go. Darragh pointed along with Louie and Ronan to stretch our lead after Kamso was fouled. Three frees in a row went to Kiltha and they hit them low but all were saved Thanks to some good saves from Frank we saw it out until the final whistle. This was a great win for the lads in a difficult year. Thanks to Killtha og for a great game. We had a very tight panel so it was ‘all hands on deck’ for each and every game. Back in July we asked Chikamso Odi to play hurling with us. He agreed and in the space of just two months Kamso has become an accomplished hurler and he becomes the first native of Nigeria to win a Title with Bride Rovers. On behalf of Rebel Og Eoin O Connor came with the league Trophy- Eoin’s late father in law Pat Foley was a former Bride Rovers player.. Eoin spoke glowingly about the two teams and remarked on the brilliant facilities now in Pairc na Bride. And he thanked the referee also. On getting the Cup proud captain Kieran Cotter paid tribute to his team mates and the team mentors Eddie O Callaghan, Ken O Riordan. Bill o Flynn, Denis Ahern and physio Darren Cody. Kieran then asked for ‘three cheers’ for Kiltha Og

Our Team Panel .was; Frank O Flynn. Eldon O Connor. Adam Hynes. Cillian Barry. Denis Cashman. Darragh Kielty Cormac O Sullivan. Kieran Cotter (Captain). Chikamso Odi. Ronan O Riordan Ryan O Callaghan. Ciaran O Dowd. Colin Hogan . Louie Roche.
The lads enjoyed a bit of food from Fitzys after the game and of course a song from John Arnold. Well done lads. Both team and management are looking forward to next year already. Thanks to all the parents of these player as with numbers so tight we really needed all the lads for all the games and they didn’t fail us. They are a great bunch of lads and a credit to their families. As well as Nigeria we had lads on this panel whose roots are from all over Cork county and City as well as Sligo, Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry and Dublin. And so a new verse or a new version has been added to our Club Anthem ‘Bride Rovers Abu’

Frank O Flynn minds goal and ‘twas safe in his keeping

With Hynes, O Connor and Barry to the fore

Louie Roche and Ronan Riordan were boys ever scoring

With Callaghan and Cashman always adding on more

Cormac O Sullivan and Kamso kept pressure unending

Kieran Cotter our Captain each ball he sent through

While young Hogan and O Dowd played great through and through

So that was our team, gallant bold and unbending

Bride Rovers forever, Bride Rovers Abu.

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