Club Notes... - 2022-10-01 05:59:00
Semi Final exit for the Seniors..
In Pairc ui Chaoimh last Saturday night our championship hopes at Senior level were shattered by Fr O Neill’s. For the second year in a row we lost out to the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge side. In 2020 they beat us in Pairc ui Rinn in a Group Round Robin game so for three years they have really proved to be our ‘bogey’ team, now in fairness they ae a fine hurling side and hopefully they can win the Senior A title this year having lost the last two finals. I suppose we can have no complaint about the final result of last Saturday’s game as Fr O Neill’s tacked on great scores in the last quarter. We dominated the first twenty minutes with some quality scores but still went in two points adrift after conceding some frees from sloppy play when the sliotar should have been at the other end of the pitch. Twenty five years ago we were all excitement in the parish preparing for our first East Cork Junior A final since 1973. In the end we were well beaten in the Final in Midleton. Little did we think that evening what the next quarter century would bring the Club! Similarly now we disappointed at not being in the 2022 Senior A County Hurling Final but can look to the future with confidence. 
With Courcey Rovers having won the first semi final on Friday night there was a mighty neutral crowd in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday. Two East Cork ‘derby’ games drew people from far and wide. In fairness the Premier Intermediate semi final between our neighbours Castlelyons and Castlemartyr was probably a mor exciting game than our tie. The Intermediate game had four goals in the first half -five in all. It swung both ways before the Reds won by 4 points. Having won two Grades of Intermediate in 2020 and 2021 Castlemartyr are now just on hour away from Senior Hurling. They meet Inniscarra in the Final -since we beat them in the 2003 decider ‘Scarra been trying to win this title. There was huge Rovers following when the sliotar was thrown in at half 7 on a superb pitch. O Neills had the first point but Brian Roche soon levelled. A mighty score by Eoin Roche levelled it at 2 apiece in the eight minute. At this early stage our defence were coping well marshalling Dalton and Dunne. In fact we seemed to be getting our points in a better manner as O Neill’s depended mainly on frees. We were down 5/3 before William Finnegan and Kieran Kearney both raised white flags. A mighty effort from team captain Paddy O Flynn sailed over the bar in reply to a O Neill’s point. Then a brilliant individual point from Daniel Dooley gave us the lead on the 20th minute and the crowd were in full voice. Conleith Ryan made it 7 points each and we were hurling very well. We unfortunately conceded three bad score to give away and they were up three. In the first minute of added time Paddy O Flynn left it 10 points to 8 at the break. In reality we’d done most of the hurling and ‘twould have a great morale boost to have reached half time ahead on the score board. Nevertheless we were in a good position, holding a our own and not booming too many wides. The second half started with points being exchanged with Adam Walsh scoring points on either side of a score from William. It was 15/11 before a brace of white flags from William and Shane o Connor reduced the deficit to two. All the while Deccie Dalton was deadly accurate from frees scoring ten in all for Fr O Neill’s. Cian O Connor came on and then Adam Walsh had to go off with a serious hand injury and Michael Collins came onA free from William left us just one in arrears 15/14. Then came the turning point – a goal by Billy Dunne in the 19th minute and now we were quickly 1 16 to 0 14 behind. They added three more to make it 1 19 to 0 14 before Shane O Connor and Ronan r Connell added points to narrow the gap once more. Unfortunately it as Fr O Neill’s who finished the strongest and they added five points to win by 11 points, 1 24 to 0 16. The final score-line does scant justice to the efforts of our seventeen players on the night. If we were told before that our defence could limit Declan Dalton to a single point from play we’d be thrilled. Ten players contributed to their tally and we also had ten players on the scoresheet. We could debate the ifs and buts ‘til the cows come home but it wouldn’t make any difference. When Fr O Neills got on top they pressed home the advantage whereas our period of dominance wasn’t really reflected on the scoreboard. I know from their reaction and upset after the match that the players and management were gutted by this loss -we all are. After opening the championship campaign in whirlwind style against Carrigtwohill we had two different type contests with the two Ballys. A devastating quarter final display against Cloyne had us set up nicely. Fr O Neills are a strong, tough and seasoned outfit and let’s hope they win it out this year. All we can say to our young team is lads, we are very proud of ye, keep it going and the rewards will come. To Team Manager Liam and all his dedicated crew, thanks for a massive input this year. ye are really laying the groundwork for the future of Senior Hurling in our Club. A special word of thanks to all our supporters in Cork last Saturday night. Yes, it’s tough when we lose but it’s great to be following and supporting this team playing in the greatest GAA Stadium in the world. Our team against Fr O Neill’s was Cian Hogan, Tadhg O Sullivan, Shane Walsh, Jason Pratt, Paddy O Flynn 0 2, Eoin Roche 0 1, S O Connor 0 2, Kieran Kearney 0 1, Daniel Dooley 0 1, Brian Roche 0 1, Ronan O Connell 0 1, Adam Walsh 0 2, William Finnegan 0 4, Conleith Ryan 0 1, Cillian Tobin, Cian O Connor, Michael Collins. Fr O Neill’s will play Courcey Rovers in the Final on Sunday week October 9th. At half time last Saturday night in the Senior game our juvenile players got to play on the pitch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. A series of mini game were played against Fr O Neill’s and the atmosphere was just brilliant. It was such a thrill for the youngsters to play these games and I know they are still talking about it. No doubt about it, many of these young players in years to come will wear the Green, White and Gold of Bride Rovers in Senior on Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Thanks to all who helped organise the nights proceeding -see Under 9 Notes.
UNDER 8’s ON THE GO.
Our under 8s are after a busy couple of weeks with hurling and football blitzes taking place all over East and North Cork.
We headed to Killeagh last Saturday morning for the Monster hurling blitz organised by the home Club.
We played Sarsfields, Midleton, St Colmmans, Aghada, Lisgoold and Killeagh. The lads had some great contests where the scores don’t matter -it’s all about the enjoyment and improvement of skills
The team have really progressed since the start of the year and are continuing to showcase a huge range of blocking, hooking and pulling on the ball
There was great team-work and scores displayed on the day last Saturday. Well done to all the boys. Remember we are always welcoming new players -those born in the year 2014, come along and make friends and enjoy our native Gaelic games.
JUNIOR C HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP.
Our third XV took to the field in championship action under lights in Ballynoe on Friday night. It was good game oh hurling between two third teams. We dominated the game in the first half but failed to raise enough flags. A goal late in the half gave the home side a nice lead. St Catherine’s kept adding to their tally in the second half. A goal from Richie Cahill after a free from Jerome O Driscoll gave us some hope but the home team won by 2 12 to 1 8.
Our second game in the Group Round Robin series is at home to Carrignavar on Sunday next October 2nd at 12 noon in Pairc na Bride. Go for it lads.
UNDER 19 FINAL ON SATURDAY.
The season is still very busy. On this coming Saturday evening we meet St Catherine’s in the East under 19 Hurling Final. The under 19 competitions were introduced this year and the reaction has been mixed. There’s been far too much chopping at Minor and under 21 grades in the last three years. Now the GAA has no age grade policy in place for 2023 -crazy. Anyhow we have the little matter of this final on Saturday evening. The semi final game we played against Fr O Neill’s above in Caherlag was a cracker. In essence most of our team are under 18 so we will be up against it on Saturday playing St Catherine’s. The injury sustained by Adam Walsh in the Senior game is a big blow. The game is part of an under 19 Double- Bill in the Hill on Saturday. Lisgoold play Str Colman’s at 3 o clock and our game is at 5pm. Go for it lads.
JUNIOR B GRADE HURLING SEMI FINAL.
Castlelyons defeated Aghada last Sunday in a quarter final game so we will meet them in the semi final on Saturday week October the 8th at 3pm in a venue yet to be confirmed.
LOTTO.
On Tuesday September the 20th our Weekly Lotto Jackpot was worth €10,600. The four numbers drawn on the night were 9,13 24 and 27 and there was no winner. This meant the jackpot for this past Tuesday night was €10,800. The winners of €30 each were Michelle McCarthy c/o Online Lotto, Jade Shanahan, Watergrasshill, Helen O’Sullivan, Kildinan, Paudi Collins, Moullintoura and Kevin Crotty c/o Online Lotto. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https://bit.ly/
WELL DONE GIRLS.
At the start of this year there was uncertainty about camogie in Bride Rovers but thankfully a group of dedicated and committed people came on board to help out with the Junior Camogie team. Well they have really come up trumps. Last Saturday the team won the Cork County Junior C Grade Championship having earlier in the year won the Junior League. It was an unusual venue last Saturday for Bride Rovers and Midleton -out in Ballinora in the Muskerry Division. Regardless of the venue the girls led by Captain Chloe O Flynn won the title with Jennifer Barry getting the Player of the Match award. A great display, well done girls and well done to the brilliant management team. The game finished just before half past four in Ballinora on Saturday and just twenty one hours later those girls were back on the playing pitch again. They had to travel to Ovens to lay Eire Og in the County Ladies Football Senior Championship semi final. Eire Og won well but I think it’s totally wrong to ask any group of players to play two major games in twenty four hours. It’s disgraceful and I know the Cork Camogie Board and the Cork Ladies Football Board are separate entities but nothing can excuse such blatant abuse of players. We hear so much of player welfare and player burnout and then we see fixture clashes like this, crazy. Best wishes to Jennifer Barry who was injured on Sunday.
Under 9’s in HQ
To play in Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a dream for many and on Saturday night our Under 9 team saw this dream become a reality. They took to the field in an exhibition match against their equivalents from Fr. O'Neills at half time of the Senior game. Each player gave an absolute exhibition of their skills and talents which would make any Bride Rovers supporter proud. Congratulations to all the players on their superbly impressive performance and thank you to Emma Roddis our club secretary who organised the game. Our superstar players on the night were: Aaron Murphy, Dara Murphy, Daniel Fitzgerald, David Fitzpatrick, David Quigley, Elliot Fitzgerald, Eoin Burke, Fionn Purcell, Harry Fitzpatrick, Hugh Clerkin, Jack Roddis, Joey Allen, John Keating, Kayden Freeman, Killian Donegan, Liam Ryan, Logan Ryan, Luke Buckley, Max Radley, Niamh Finn, Oisin Barry Sheehan, Robbie Scanlon, Theo Skillington & Tiarnán Lyons. 
THERESA WALSH MEMORIAL ON SATURDAY.
On Saturday the annual Theresa Walsh Memorial under 14 hurling tournament will be held in the main Pitch commencing at 11.30. Bride Rovers play Ardmore in one semi final and it's Bishopstown v Castlelyons in the second semi. The two winners play in the Cup Final and the two beaten semi finalists also play off. All are welcome
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are;
Rathcormac Tyres Fermoy Print & Design
