Bride Rovers

Junior B Hurlers exit at Semi Final.

At Dungourney last Sunday our Junior B Grade hurling team took on Aghada in the championship semi final. WE led from the start of the game but were aught near the finish by a flurry of points and lost by a margin of three points. After some great displays in this competition over the last five weeks this was a very disappointing end to the campaign. It was at this same venue on the evening of September 12^th we played the first round of the competition against the same opponents. Amazingly back then and again last Sunday Aghada score 17 points but in September we racked up 1 16 whereas last Sunday we scored just 1 11. Playing with a very strong breeze we had just a three point lead at the break and doubled it soonafter . Unfortunately our scoring dried up after that in the remaining 30 minutes we raised just two white flags while our opponents scored 11. Two points from frees by Damien Buckley and two from Seanie Knox and a beauty from Jamie Buckley saw us lead by 5 points 1 after twelve minute and we were 5 to 3 up at the first water break. With the wind we had plenty possession but found it hard to pull away. Our lead of 9 to 6 at half time didn’t reflect our first half possession. Straight away on the resumption we had a great goal from a good move involving Stephen Hackett and Jamie Buckley and a point from Brian Murphy which was waved wide. A six point lead was good but we needed to tack on a few more points However it was Aghada aided by the breeze and several very, very 'equestrian' type soft frees who began to raise the white flags. We were still 2 points ahead, 1 9 to 0 10 at the second water break and though Aghada levelled a Seanie Knox free restored our lead. Then in the last few minutes Aghada added four points to our one. In a very long half we had several late chances but failed to score. A late free from Seanie was saved and we were out of the 2021 B Grade championship. It was game we could easily have won but it’s Aghada who now go on to meet Carrigtwohill in the Final with the winners going onto a County Campaign. A word of thanks to all the players and the management team for putting in such a huge effort in this Competition. Team B Hogan S Ahern A Buckley J Connor J O Sullivan L Forde O Roche D Buckley J Powell S Knox B Murphy Jamie Buckley S O Flynn J O Keeffe J. Buckley, S Hackett S Glasgow C Howard J. Murphy.

JUVENILE CLUB FUNDRAISER

On Saturday morning last we had our first fundraiser since COVID when our local entrepreneur Rian Somers donated 100 jars of his world renowned honey. As Irelands youngest bee- keeper Rian has established a local customer base who came out in their droves on Saturday...we ended up with the ‘Sold Out’ sign up in 25 minutes! Rians big brother Calum is one of our under 12 hurling and football stars with Rian playing a pivotal role with our under 6 team. Many thanks to Rians parents Fergal and Martina for their support and to our dedicated sales team who did a sterling job!! €615 was raised which was remarkable in such a short space of time....the bees will have to be ‘milked’ with even more care next year Rian!!!

UNDER 12 boys

Over the last few weeks we have wound down our games and sessions to 1 session per week on a Friday night in the large Astro. We have guest coaches coming in so that the lads are getting new ideas and aren't getting bored of our voices!! In recent weeks Pat and Brendan Walsh have given us a session each which the boys thoroughly enjoyed.

On Friday last we presented the lads with 1/4 zip tops to mark their fantastic achievements this year. Word has it that some have even slept in them!! Special thanks to the parents and to the Juvenile club for their contributions to the cost of the tops. To the "anonymous benefactors we also thank you!!. All the boys are looking forward to the Friday night coaching sessions.

UNDER 8’s GO TO CORK.!

Under 8’s took on half of Cork in Pairc Ui Choimh last Saturday.

Our Under 8’s gave an exhibition of hurling at the Pairc Ui Chaoimh Astro pitch playing incredible games against Sars, Midleton, Castlelyons, Ballyhooley and Kiltha Og winning most of them. This was a big occasion for the players but they played their hearts out and did Bride Rovers proud. Our hero’s on the day were Killian Donegan, Eoin Burke, Joey Allen, Harry Fitzpatrick, Luke Hogan, Kayden Freeman, Dara Murphy, Theo Skillington, Niamh Finn, Daniel Fitzgerald, Elliot Fitzgerald, Tiarnan Lyons, Hugh Clerkin, John Keating, Luke Buckley, Fionn Purcell & Oisin Barry Sheehan. Mentors on the day were Kevin Allen, Barry Murphy, Gary Clerkin, Jim Purcell, Dave Burke, Brendan Lyons & Liam Buckley. Well done to all the lads and their parents. Occasions like last Saturday are just wonderful and a super opportunity for our young players to demonstrate the hurling progress they are making.

REBEL OG UNDER 15 PLATE FINAL.

Bride Rovers played Under 15 A hurling final last Thursday night under lights in the Carrigoon GAA Complex at Mallow against Ballyhea. It was a dry night and conditions were good for hurling. Both teams started off well registering a point a piece in the first two minutes of the game but shortly after Bride Rovers forwards got into the groove with some great scores. They ploughed on registering a half time a score of 2-8 to 1-1. The second was much of the same with Bride Rovers scoring 1-8 to 0-3 for Ballyhea. Our backs were well in control and up front we combined for some great scores. The final score was Bride Rovers 3-18 Ballyhea 1-4. Scorers on the night were Ben Knox 2-08 (2-06f) Jack Hynes 1-0 Cameron Swalbe O'Sullivan and Jack Mannix 0-3 Jack Keating, Cormac Barry, Gearoid O'Connell and Jack Collins 0-1 each.

Thanks to our sponsor Eamon O'Neill,of East Cork Fireplaces. The team on the night were, Conor O'Riordan, Cormac Barry, David Cash, Darragh Delaney, David O'Connell, Gearoid O'Connell, Jack Collins, Jack Hynes, Ronan Barry, Jack Mannix, Sean Dowling, Shane Prendergast, Thomas O'Riordan, Owen Ryan, Jack Keating, Oran Kielty, Ben Knox, Cameron Swalbe O'Sullivan, Gearoid Gubbins, Luke Harrington, Cillian O'Sullivan, Dennis Fitzgerald.

SENIOR HURLING.

It’s back to the Senior Hurling championship this weekend. Our quarter final game against Blarney had originally been fixed as part of a double-header in Pairc UI Rinn last Saturday evening but was deferred for a week. The game now goes ahead this coming Saturday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. This will be our first time playing on the ‘new’ Pairc Ui Chaoimh pitch and it’s a great opportunity to get to play a big championship game in the HQ of Cork GAA. Originally ours was a 7pm game with Kanturk and Newcestown at 5 but now the order of appearance has been reversed. Our game throws in at 5 as the first part of the double header. Blarney present a huge challenge for us. They won the Premier Intermediate Championship last year and have stepped up to the Senior grade at their ease. They had very comprehensive wins in their Group games. With four Cork hurlers including three on the Senior panel they will go into the game as the hottest of favourites. After our opening wins against Ballyhea and Ballymartle hopes were high heading to Kildorrery fir a victory over Mallow. That didn’t materialise and though we came close to winning at the ed it looked very dodgy during the third quarter. Hopefully the lads will have learned from their mistakes in that contest. We will need to be at our very best to be in with a chance of beating Blarney on Saturday evening. The extra week will have helped with a few niggling injuries to several players. We need a big display on Saturday- go for it lads!

ONLINE TICKETS.

A reminder to our supporters that the game on Saturday requires tickets to be bought online beforehand, the same as for the three previous games

LOTTO.

On Tuesday October the 19th the Bride Rovers Club Lotto Jackpot was worth €20,000. The four numbers drawn on the night were 2,13 24 and25 and there was no Jackpot winner. The €30 winners were Julianne Barry, Gillian French, Caoimhe O Connor Rathcormac, David Buckley c/o Online, Sinead & Liam Coolnakilla. Please support our weekly Lotto by buying a ticket from Club Members, in local business outlets or online at http;//briderovers.ie . The Jackpot for Tuesday October 26^th was €20,00, if you’re not in you can’t win.

GIRLS IN CO SEMI FINAL.

Best of luck to our Senior Ladies Football team who meet Eire Og in the County semi final at 4 o clock next Sunday in Ovens.

LONG JOURNEY.

On Sunday week we face Beara side Urhan in the first round of the County Junior A Football Championship in Ahohill near Ballineen Enniskeane P47 X257

PA GETS FINAL.

Congratulations to Pa O Driscoll who has been appointed to referee the 2021 East Cork Junior Hurling Championship Final next Sunday. The decider is being played in Dungourney between St Itas and Erins Own. This is Pa’s second East Cork Hurling Final having been in charge of the 2009 Final which was won by Castlemartyr. St Itas led by Cork Hurler Seamie Harnedy are bidding to take the Jamesey Kelleher Cup for the first time ever. Best of luck to Pa and his band of officials.

SORRY

My auld head isn’t what it used to be! After last weeks victory in the East Cork JAFC I was recalling our previous wins in the competition in 2004 and 2007. In regards to our initial victory in 2004 I should have mentioned that it was Ciaran Hynes from Kilworth that trained our team that season when we made the breakthrough at A Grade level. He had come on board to take charge of the football team and led us to victory over Fr O Neill’s in the Final, apologies for getting my facts wrong.

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