Club Notes for this week.. - 2021-11-20 08:00:00
Triple Hurling Exit..
Sport is mighty, the life blood of so many parishes yet it can be cruel also. We tasted the downside last weekend with three semi final defeats in Championship Hurling. Losing three games by narrow margins, 4 points, 1 point and 2 points in a little over twenty-four hours is tough but that’s sport-like life, the ups and the downs, great days and not so good days and we have to take it on the chin and move on. Our Senior A hurling semi final on Saturday was a strange game. After dominating the first quarter things changed after the infamous water break and after that we were chasing it. To the credit of the team they kept battling away and were still very much in the game in the last few minutes. Having beaten Watergrasshill a few weeks back the under 16’s were at home to Aghada in the Premier 2 Semi Final on Sunday and were so unlucky to lose out by the narrowest of margins. The Junior C team put up a brave performance but Carrignavar’s second team proved too strong, though only two points separated the sides at the end. So great displays, plenty good hurling but no win. We had seventy two players togged out last weekend and each and everyone of them gave their time with the last five months to train and prepare to represent Bride Rovers. Thanks to you all for wearing the Green White and Gold with pride.
SAHC Fr O'Neills 1.19 Bride Rovers 1.14.
In brilliant conditions and on a superb playing surface in Pairc Ui Chaoimh we took on Fr O Neills in the Senior A Championship semi final. Ciaran O Regan from Ballyhea threw in the sliotar just after one o’clock before a fine crowd. Though O Neills had the first point we really controlled the early stages. A lead of 0 6 to 0 3 in the 14th minute could have been greater as we hit three wides in that period. The game was really dominated by the two free takers with William Finnegan faultless for us and Kevin O Sullivan likewise for the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge side. We led by just a single point at the first water break 0 6 to 0 5. As so often in games this year the second quarter was far different. By half time we had added three more points but our opponents had bagged 1 6 to lead by 1 11 to 0 9 at half time. In truth it was that second quarter really beat us. Though O Neils led for the remainder of the game we actually outscored them 1 6 to 8 points in the second half but the gap was too wide. Our goal came after Daniel Dooley passed to Cian O Connor and he billowed the net. When Cian immediately hit over a point the gap was just three but we needed the next score and didn’t get it. A four point margin of defeat was hard to take especially when one realizes our opponents were shorn of three of their top players. We never got the fluency of the Blarney game going, then again the tigerish marking of Fr O Neills meant our lads never had time on the ball. Fair play to our players they never gave up and tried their very best until the final whistle. So another Senior Championship campaign ends with no Final appearance. This year it seemed we had the perfect preparation. After an easy win against Ballyhea we had to dig out a tight victory in Riverstown against Ballymartle after Jason Pratt’s injury. When we went to Kildorrery on that fine Sunday a third win looked possible but we were lucky to stay in the competition. After half time we looked as if we’d get hammered but again the team finished strongly to wind up losing by just two points. In the Blarney game it seemed as if we had learned lessons from the Mallow loss. That evening in Pairc Ui Chaoimh we played superbly but alas we couldn’t repeat that performance last Saturday. Look, if we need inspiration or encouragement for next year we need only look at O Neills. They won the PIHC in 2019 and won the Munster Championship before losing the All Ireland Club Final in Croke Park in January of 2020. They battled all the way to the Senior A Final last year before losing to Charleville. Now they are back in the Final again where they play Kanturk next Sunday. We wish them all the best in this Final. 
Team and scorers. C. Hogan, T O Sullivan, J. Pratt, J .Mannix, P O Flynn, E .Roche, S O Connor 0 1, R. Prendergast (Captain), C O Connor 1 1, D. Dooley 0 1, J. Mannix, W Finnegan 0 9, M. Collins 0 2 , B.Roche, DJ Cahill. Subs K Kearney 0 1, S Walsh, S Knox.
Lads thanks for all your efforts in training and matches. While Saturday was hard to take ye have given us some superb enjoyment this season. A quarter final last year, semi final this year and hopefully we can go all the ways in 2022. To the selectors, trainer and all the backroom team who do so much unseen work on match days and on dark training nights, a big ‘Thank You’ to ye all. What about our supporters?, they were there in their hundreds on Saturday, thanks to all. Since the Club was formed in 1928 we’ve been to just 4 Adult County Hurling Championship Finals- the Intermediate Finals of 1933 and 2003, the Junior Final of 1998 and the Senior Final of 2008. We thought last Saturday we could get to Final No 5 but it was not to be.
UNDER 16 PREMIER 2 HURLING SEMI FINAL
Bride Rovers 0-15 Aghada 1-13.
On Sunday last we played Aghada in the Premier2 under 16 hurling championship semi final. We were minus our Captain Keiran Cotter who broke his hand in our last game. Aidan Hyland was the referee. We were very slow to start again. Aghada got the first few scores of the game before Ben pointed from a free.At the water break we were 6 points to 1 down. A few words to the lads and we started to hurl a bit better and our backs tightened up considerably. Four more white flags from frees from Ben and a point from Louie had us level at half time at 6 apiece. The game was very stop start with a lot of frees on both sides and some very soft ones awarded to both teams which was very frustrating for both teams.
The second half there was nothing between the teams. It was point for point. At thesecond water break it was 11 each.
Then came the turning point, a goal for Aghada from a long range free. With 5 minutes left we were 3 down. But two long range frees from Ronan and a free from Ryan had us level. The lads showed great heart to come back. But Aghada were to strike again to get the winning point. Overall it was a great effort but we fell just short. Best of luck to Aghada in the final.
We will recharge the bodies and go again. Hopefully next year we will get a full league and Championship campaign. We as a management team would like to thank all the players for their efforts this year. Winning the 13 a side competition for boys born in 2005 was a huge bonus for the Club. And thanks to all Under15 and Under-14 lads for joining us to play in the Premier 2 Championship. Thanks also to the parents for supporting the lads at all the matches
Panel. Ronan, Eldon, Adam, Darragh, Cillian, Denis, Cameron, Cormac, Luke, Kamso, Frank, Ryan, Ben, Louie, Colin, Cormac B, Jack C, Jack K, Oran, Gearoid Connor, Jack H, Ciaran, Cillian O.
EAST CORK JUNIOR C SEMI FINAL.
Our Junior C’s bowed out of the East Cork Championship at the semi-final stage even after a magnificent fightback in the last qtr from 7 points down at the 2nd water break to draw level but couldn’t stop the younger Carraig na bhFear 2nd team from winning by 2 points at the end in a ding dong battle. Out of the 18 players that togged out on Sunday, 11 of the team were over 40! Our third team is deemed as the social team in the club but they showed immense pride in the Bride Rovers jersey all year and it was that steely determination that kept the team going for 60 mins. Conditions were perfect with the new Carraig na bhFear field in fantastic condition for this time of the year. We started the game well with Terry Broderick rolling back the years with 3 fine points, 1 from a free and 2 from play well out the field. Carraig na bhFear replied with 4 of their own before Sean Ryan scored a cracking goal to give us a 2 point advantage. Carraig na bhFear then scored a fine goal from some neat teamwork in the build up. Unfortunately for the Rovers, Alan Barry who was having a fine game had to come off injured to be replaced by Dave Burke. Dave scored 2 points from play with his first 2 touches from passes from Brian Collins and Pa O Driscoll who was well on top at centre forward. At the 1st water break the score was Bride Rovers winning 1:5 to 1:3. We scored 2 points in the 2nd quarter, a free from Dave after a foul on Sean Ryan and a great point from Pa from play near the sideline. Carraig na bhFear got their 2nd goal of the game just on the stroke of half time leaving the scores Carraig na bhFear leading 2-6 to 1-7.
It was the 3rd quarter that ultimately lost the match for us with the younger legs of the Carraig na bhFear team stretching our more experienced players! We only had a monster long range free from our captain Craig O’Callaghan to keep us in touch while Carraig na bhFear scored 6 on the bounce to lead by 2-12 to 1-8. Our defence with Mark, Brennie and Tomas to the fore started to dominate and from a long delivery Craig, Sean Ryan caught a great ball and was hauled down inside the large square for a penalty which Dave converted. In a near identical move, Sean again who was causing havoc at full forward was again fouled which led to a 21 yard free which Dave blasted to the net. Another Dave Burke pointed free from distance remarkably got us level with 3 mins left. It has taken a massive effort to get back into the game and Carraig na bhFear were able to get 2 more points from play. The drama wasn’t over yet as Bride Rovers got 2 more 21 yards frees. Frustratingly the referee would not advise how much injury time was going to be played but 2 efforts on goal from Dave were blocked, the last free by a boot on the line and Carraig na bhFear emerged as 2 point winners. Congratulation to Carraig na bhFear and best wishes to them in the final and to our own Joe Delaney who was involved with them.
Team: Jerome O’Driscoll, Mark O’Connell, Brendan O’Driscoll, Andy O’Regan, Jack Kearney, Tomas Kearney, Craig O’Callaghan, Colm Howard, Terry Broderick, Leon O’Flynn, Pa O’Driscoll, Alan Barry, Brian Collins, Sean Ryan, Daniel Lane. Subs Dave Burke for Alan Barry (12 mins) Paddy Croke and James Barry.
The players and management were disappointed with the end result but the club should be very proud of the heart and passion in this and all the displays this year from this group of players. Thanks to the management team of Paddy Croke, Dave Burke, James Murphy and Aidan Dorgan for their efforts during the year.
UNDER 18 HURLING.
Our under 18 hurlers trained last night, Wednesday at 7.30. They have a big game on This coming Friday night. In the Rebel Og Under 18 division 1 hurling championship semi final they meet Carrigtwohill in Carrigtwohill at 7.30, under light. Best of luck lads.
NO LUCK FOR NA FIANNA IN DUBLIN.
It was a blank weekend for Na Fianna in Dublin, losing the Senior and Junior County Finals in Hurling. On Saturday night Na Fianna had one hand on the Cup in the Dublin SHC Final when leading Kilmacud Crokes by six points in the dying moments. The Crokes- seeking a Hurling/Football double in Dublin, fought back and salvaged a draw. In the two periods of extra time the Crokes won well. Then the Na Fianna Junior team with Mike Kearney playing lost the Junior Final 1 11 to 0 10 to Thomas Davis.
BALLYGIBLIN IN COUNTY FINAL.
We extend all our very best wishes to the Ballygiblin Junior A Hurling team who contest the County Final on next Saturday. Just a week after winning North Cork Ballygiblin accounted for a fancied passage West team in the County semi final. In Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday they face Dromtarriffe in a novel final. Over the last twenty five years we’ve had plenty good games against Ballygiblin so we wish them the very best in the County decider and it was in Ballygiblin in December 1992 we won the County Minor Hurling League Final.
WELL DONE SKEHEENARINKY.
Congrats and well done to Skeheenarinky Hurling Club on winning the County Junior Hurling Final in Tipperary at the weekend. They trailed Holycross by 7 points at one stage but staged a mighty comeback to win by 0 19 to 1 12. Managed by Eamonn Maher, brother of Anne Marie Barry, the Tipperary Champions will meet the Kerry Intermediate winners in the Munster Championship. Well done to all concerned and especially to the great Eddie Maher. Eddie has been a lifelong member, player, Officer, mentor and supporter of Skeheenarinky Hurling Club and a great supporter of Bride Rovers also.
BUSY CORK WEEKEND.
Its County Finals all the way in Cork next weekend. We wish neighbours Lisgoold all the best in the Lower Intermediate Final v Kilbrittain on Saturday as they attempt to win two Counties in the one year. AS well as Ballygiblin in the Junior Final Castlemartyr are also in the Intermediate A final looking for a ‘2 in 1’. We also wish Castlelyons the very best as they take on Ballinhassig in the PIHC Semi Final with Courcey Rovers awaiting the winners.
LOTTO.
The Lotto Jackpot for last Tuesday Week November 9th was €15,200 and the three numbers drawn were 15,17 20 and 23 -there was no winner. Winners of €30 each were Fintan Lawlor, Lorraine McMahon, Alan Courtney, Aidan O Mahony and Richie Kelly Midleton. Tickets for the Weekly Lotto are just €2and can be purchased in local business outlets, from Club members and online. The Club thanks all those who regularly support the Lotto, as it provides vital income for the running of the Club.
CLUB AGM.
The AGM of the Bride Rovers Club will be held on Monday week next November the 29th
2020 UNER 21 FOOTBALL. The semi final of the 2020 Under 21 FC in East Cork v Erins Own has been fixed for Sunday November the 28th, no venue has been fixed yet.
GOOD WIN FOR ST. COLMANS.
St Colman's hurlers had a great win in the opening round of the Harty Cup in Lismore last Friday when they defeated Blackwater College by 2 20 to 0 8. The Round Two Fixtures on November the 24th are as follows;
Cashel Community School v St. Flannans---Thurles CBS v Our Ladys Templemore--Nenagh CBS v Gaelcholaiste Mhuire St Colmans Fermoy v St. Josephs Tulla--Blackwater Community School v Midleton CBS
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
