Club Notes... - 2022-10-24 06:47:00
Champions after 15 years..
Fifteen years is a long time for a Club to wait for a an adult hurling Championship title and last Saturday in Dungourney that barren period ended. Back in 2007 Jim O Connor led our B Grade Junior Hurling team to an East Cork title with a great win over Sars in Watergrasshill. A lot of water has flown down the Bride Valley since. We have won under-age Counties and East Cork Football championships but the ‘hurling sideboard’ was bare for a decade and a half. DJ Cahill and his team brought the Eamonn Fleming Cup back to the parish on Saturday evening after a mighty win over Killeagh, thus ending a long ‘hurling famine’. Having beten Cloyne, Midleton and Sarsfileds in our Group games and then getting ther better of Castlelyons in the semi final our ldas were in fairly confident mood going into the Final. Killeagh defeated Cloyne in the quarter final and came from behind to defeat Erin’s Own in their penultimate game. Despite hailstones, wintery showers and a savage wind a fine crowd gathered in Dungourney for this B grade Final. David Butler of Carrigtwohill set the game in motion at 2 with Killeagh having the advantage of the wind blowing up to the road end. Damien Buckley opened the scoring from a free -all through the match Damien was outstanding from placed balls. Killeagh equalised before Jesse restored our lead. With the gale Killeagh had huge possession but Ben in goals Liam, the man from Clare,- Mike Liddane and Jack Connor were kept busy but stood up well to the constant pressure. In the corner Liam Collins hurled very well- his grandfather Paudie Murphy helped us win the first Title 56 years ago. Killeagh were 3 2 ahead when Damien made it all square. This was in the thirteenth minute. There followed a scoreless seven minutes during which Liam Forde used all his experience to save a certain score. With such long puckouts Fergus and Oisin at midfield helped out defending. Conor Hazlewood defended stoutly -like his grandfather Henry did back in the 1966 Final. Adrian Buckley started and was very solid at wing back. Level at three points each after twenty points, against the wind, things were looking good. We had a half chance of a score in the corner but the sliotar was cleared and in a second Killeagh had it at the other end and scored a goal. Showing great character our lads didn’t wilt and a super point from Eddie Cashman narrowed the gap to two. Between that and the break Killeagh had two white flags while Damien pointed a free to leave us just three in arrears at the break, 1 5 to 0 5. Indicative of the strength of the gale was the fact that, Colm Crowley the Killeagh keeper, pucked out the sliotar and it went wide- 160 yards away. Both teams had a few wides in the first half but considering the conditions the overall play was excellent. If anything the wind got stronger for the second half but, as we all know, the wind never won a gme for anyone. We restarted brightly and with supreme accuracy Damien hit over five frees with Captain DJ scoring one from play. By the twelfth minute we were level and Damen’s eight free put us ahead 0 11 to 1 7. With Ben sending huge puckouts up to the forwards we had oceans of possession. In the last quarter we took over and outscored Killeagh by8 points to one.Davey Barry struck his first in the 49th minute. Then white flags were raised by Seamus, Eddie, Seamus again followed by Davey and Seamus again. Conor Hazlewood tore up the field and struck a sweet point.. Fittingly it was DJ Cahill who scored our nineteenth point to see us win by 0 19 to 1 8. It was just great to win this title after trying for so many years. Last year in Dungourney Aghada came from behind to beat us in the semi final so going a step further this year was great. It was Killeagh’s third xv and our second and it’s never easy with other Club teams in higher grades – we lost Conleith Ryan and Jason Pratt to the Senior team in the last few months. Well done to all our players. For Mike Liddane from Sixmilebridge it was a fitting reward for the great effort he’s put in since joining us. Liam Forde, DJ, Fergus and Eddie Cashman have all played Senior yet for all the players it was their first ever Adult Hurling Medal. ‘Twas no wonder the strains of ‘ Bride Rovers Abu’ wafted out on the autumn air of East Cork!
A proud East Cork Board Secretary Daniel Lane in presenting the Eamonn Fleming to DJ thanked Dungourney Club, the referee David Butler and the Killeagh team for a sporting game. A delighted DJ Cahill thanked all the lads and the management Barry Hazelwood, Aiden Dorgan and Paddy Croke for the work they put in all year. The team which brought the sixth East Cork Junior B grade Hurling title to the Club was Ben Hogan, Liam Collins, Mike Liddane, Jack Connor, Conor Hazlewood (0 1), Liam Forde, Adran Buckley, Fergus Collins, Oisin Roche, DJ Cahill Captain (0 2), David Barry (0 2), Damien Buckley ( 0 8 -frees), Jesse O Keefe (0 1), Eddie Cashman(0 2), Seamus Ahern(0 3), Shaun Knox, John O Sullivan, Jack Kearney, Nicky Kelleher, Aidan Hayes, Brian Collins, Thomas Macak, Jacob Powell. Thanks a million to Barry, Aiden and Paddy and the lads who helped them on the line. This was our sixth B grade title. On Monday night the six winning Captains got together in the Clubrooms just o mark the occasion. Willie Sheehan was captain in 1966, our ‘breakthrough’ year when Youghal were defeated in the Final. Nine years later in 1975 Pat O Connor led his team to victory over St. Itas. A further eighteen years had elapsed before Tom Mulcahy led the team when the double was completed in1993 with a win over Midleton. Two years later Denis Mulcahy was captain of the side that defeated Carrigtwohill above in the Hill. In 2007 Jim O Connor led the team that beat Sars in the Final. Things have changed over the years and now there’s a county Championship in the B grade hurling. We are on the County trail next Saturday in Caherlag where we meet St Finbarr’s at 3.30, go for it lads. Thanks to the huge number of Bride Rovers supporters who travelled despite the adverse weather, hope to see and hear ye all in Caherlag.
UNDER 19 HURLING.
We will have a long wait for the County semi final Owen Gaels and Newcestown are fixed to play on Saturday November 5th but this is just a Provisional fixture depending on under 19 Football and Newcestown’s possible progress in the County Junior A HC.
JERARD KENNY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT.
On Saturday morning last the annual Jerard Kenny memorial Hurling Tournament was held. This competition commemorates the memory of Bride Rovers juvenile player Jerard Kenny who died tragically in 2001 On a bitterly cold morning our under 11’s met Castletownroche to decide the destination of the Shield. Our lads played very well and got the better of a gallant Castletown side. 
After the game Jerard’s parent Mike and Margaret presented the Shield to Jack Mohally. Jack was unable to play due to an injury he picked up in a schools game. Medals were presented to both teams. A bouquet of flowers was presented to Margaret Kenny. Thanks to Castletownroche for taking part.
UNDER 9‘s ON THE ROAD.
Our under 9 boys hurling squad travelled to Rockwell College to take part in a Munster Council organised blitz where we played Mayfield, Gortnahoe from Tipp and Glenroe from Limerick. Our players played fantastic hurling all through in a very well organised event.
Star players on duty for Bride Rovers were: Kayden Freeman, Daniel Fitzgerald, Elliot Fitzgerald, Killian Donegan, Joey Allen, Jack Roddis, Fionn Purcell, Hugh Clerkin, Eoin Burke, Tiarnan Lyons, Luke Buckley, Dara Murphy, Oisin Barry Sheehan, Harry Fitzpatrick, John Keating and Emma Burke. Thanks to all who travelled with the players. It is brilliant for young players of this age to get to play teams from other Counties in new venues, well done to the Munster Council.
CLUB LOTTO.
The Lotto Results for Tuesday 11th Oct - Numbers this week were 7, 15, 16 & 26 – No Winner Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners:Jim Murphy, Hightown, Ollie, Tommy, Gerry & Rosie, c/o Rathcormac Inn, David O’Keeffe, Fermoy, Pat Mannix, Bartlemy, Kieran McGann, Castlelyons. This week's jackpot on Tuesday October 18th was an incredible €11,400. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https://bit.ly/
HARTY HURLING.
It took a late, late long distance point from Cillian Tobin to secure a deserved draw for St Colman’s last Wednesday in their opening Harty Cup game v Midleton. Played in the Hill before a huge crowd it looked that jack leahy had got an injury time winner for Midleton until Cilian raised the whgite flag with the second last puck of the match. Well done to Cillian, Conor, Ronan, Davy, Louie and Josh -all played their part. Next Wednesday St Colman’s meet Tulla CBS – who beat them in Fermoy last year. This game is likely to be played in Kilmallock, good luck to all concerned.
BARTLEMY IN FOOTBALL FINAL.
Bishop O Brien NS, Bartlemy will be playing in Pairc Ui Chaoimh next week in the Sciath na Scoil Finals. On Tuesday morning at 10 am -yes, the first game that day, Bartlemy will meet Ballynoe in their Final so best wishes to the players and teachers.
CAPTAINS MEET.
On Monday night last in the Clubroom our six East Cork B grade winning captains met for a historic photograph. The Bride Rovers Club was reformed in 1964 and got to the B Grade semi final in 1965, losing out to Castlelyons in Riverstown. In 1966 history was made when Willie Sheehan led us to our first ever Junior B grade title with wins over Dungourney, St Catherines and Youghal. This was the Club’s first Junior title since the 1932 A Grade win. In 1975 Pat O Connor, then Club Chairman - now Club President led his team to great wins over Carrigtwohill, St Catherine's, Dungourney, Cobh and St. Itas. After a barren period up in A grade Hurling we regraded to B in 1991 and after losing to Castlelyons that year and Fr O Neills second team in 1992 , 1993 was ‘The Year of The Double’. First John Joe Barry led the B footballers to victory. Then in a thriller in Lisgoold Tom Mulcahy led by example as Captain when we defeated Midleton by 1 10 to 1 9 and we were back up in A Grade hurling. Just tow years later we met Ballinacurra in the first round of the BHC championship, the game ended level, in the replay a Joe Barry goal helped us to a 1 6 to 0 7 win. Captained by Denis Mulcahy the team gathered momentum. In the Final in Watergrasshill Denis led his side to a 1 7 to 0 7 win over Carrigtwohill. Fourteen years were to elapse before we won the Eamonn Fleming Cup again. We lost the 2000 to Killeagh by 3 8 to 1 6. Seven years later in Watergrasshill we won our fifth title when a team captained by Jim O Connor had a gret win over Sars on a 3 10 to 1 5 score line. Last Saturday DJ Cahill followed in the footsteps of Willie, Pat, Tom, Denis and Jim
1966 Bride Rovers 6.12 Youghal 6.3 1975 Bride Rovers 1 8 St Itas 1 5 1993 Bride Rovers 1 .10 Midleton 1.9
1995 Bride Rovers 1.6 Carrigtwohill 0 .7 2007 Bride Rovers 3.10 Sars 1 5 2022 Bride Rovers 0 19 Killeagh 1 8.
DANIEL LANE GOING PLACES.
It was with a mixture of joy and sadness on Saturday that we heard the great news of Daniel Lanes ‘promotion’. Having served Bride Rovers as a brilliant secretary, player and Executive member and then as Runai of the East Cork Board with two years Daniel has now moved up the line in Cork GAA. We were thrilled to learn he has been appointed an Administrator for the Cork County Board in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. This is a great appointment for Daniel,though we will miss him as a top class Secretary of the East Cork Divisional Board where he has been ultra efficient since his appointment. All in Bride Rovers extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Daniel in his new career which commences next month.
THE BARRS ARE BACK.
After 29 years the Barrs are back as Cork SHC champions. In deluges of rain and gale force winds last Sunday St Finbarrs were well over Blackrock. Castlemartyr and Inniscarra must meet again in the PIHC decider as their game ended in a draw, the replay is on Saturday next.
NO STOPPING BALLYGIBLIN.
Well done and congrats. to Ballygiblin on their brilliant win over Tracton in the first ever Premier JHC County Final on Saturday evening. Two Counties and now heading for two Munsters and hopefully an All Ireland title, well done Ballygiblin.
FIXTURES.
St October 22nd County Junior B grade Hurling Championship Bride Rovers v St Finbarrs in Rostellan at 3.30. Note change of venue
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
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