Club Notes... - 2022-12-10 06:58:00
Extra Special County Champions..
What can we say about last Sunday’s County under 19 Final? It was the first year of this Grade in Cork.. and may well be the last but for all of us in Bride Rovers there has surely never been a more exciting finish in the our 94 year History. A drawn game after a great hour’s hurling between ourselves and Newtownshandrum. Then two periods of extra time with two teams that had played to a standstill with never more than three points between the sides. When Newtown took a four point lead five minutes into the added time it looked ominous for us but as the song says “when hot grew that fight those hearts grew more eager”, our lads never gave up and were just two points adrift at half time -75 minutes gone. That last ten minutes showed what that indefinable spirit of Bride Rovers is all about. It would have been easy to be overpowered by a strong Newtown side -we had players injured and gone off. It could have been said afterwards ‘Ye played well lads but Newtown were just a bit too strong” Since this bunch first hurled together at under 12 league level in 2016 they have given us great enjoyment. County Finals, however, had yielded a slim harvest as St Finbarrs, Midleton and the Glen had all denied these players top honours. Coming up to three o clock in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Sunday another gallant defeat looked likely but these young hurlers have no time for ‘moral victories’ and in the closing minutes they did Bride Rovers proud.
The first Sunday in December and car Boot Sale Day in Rathcormac but despite all the counter attractions there was a huge Rovers support in the Stand overlooking the magnificent 4G pitch at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Sunday for this unique County Final. Training in the last week of November for hurling might seem strange but then many of the lads are involved with Schools and Colleges so it’s natural for them. Unfortunately Jacob Powell picked up a finger injury which ruled him out for the Final. The previous Sunday in the semi win over Owen Gaels Kieran Cotter limped off so it was fingers crossed all week for Kieran, likewise for Davy Barry with a leg injury. Because of the clash of colours both sides wore alternative strips -we had Blue and Green whilst Newtown were in White. Diarmiud Kirwan of Eire Og – with Offaly ‘roots’ was the referee -his uncle Jim played for us one season and starred in a Castletownrochhe Tournament Final in the late 1970’s.
Conditions were perfect for hurling and we got off to a great start with a lovely point from Adam Hayes in the second minute after good play from Adam Hynes and Ronan O Connell. Newtown levelled but Hayesie restored our lead from a free and Adam Walsh made it 3 to 1 with just six minutes gone. It was obvious that Newtown were trying to get the sliotar to big Johnny Murphy but our defence kept good tabs on him. The first half was a real score for score affair with neither team getting really on top -great hurling though. The North Cork side then got three points in a row, 2 from frees and a 65 and Adam Hayes made it 0 4 each after a smashing delivery from Adam Walsh. We were a point behind and Cormac O Sullivan and Adam Hynes saved a dangerous situation before Adam Walsh had our first white flag in eight minutes to make it 0 5 apiece.
The Astro turf surface meant the sliotar was moving from end to end and it was a really great contest. The Newtown/Dromina side had gone one up before Adam Walsh after a great run passed to Ronan O Connell and Roc made no mistake. We were just three minutes from halftime when Aidan Hayes, lurking near the square, finished to the net, a great goal. Newtown got a point back but the narrow 1 6 to 0 8 lead at the break was a fair reflection on the contest. Cillian Tobin and Davy Barry were both severely hampered by serious injuries and it was devastating when both had to eventually go off. Hayesie doubled our lead on the restart but the boys in White levelled and went ahead. Cillian levelled again after great defending from Liam Collins and Conor Hazlewood. . Aidan Hayes levelled after we went down a point. Kieran Cotter, Denis Cashman and Josh Ahern were all working like trojans as Newtown looked to get on top. Louie Roche and Ronan did a fierce amount of hard work. We were down 1 10 to 0 15 when Edmond Cashman hit a rasper to the net, up a point with a few minutes left. Newtown levelled to make it 2 10 to 0 16 with two minutes left. That’s the way it ended and so on to extra time. The lads who had come on Eldon O Connor, Nicky Kelleher and Ben Knox all tore into the game. Within 4 minutes we were down by 4 after conceding 1 1, this was a massive blow but the boys never gave up. Points from Adam Walsh and Edmond saw us just two down at the break in extra time 2 12 to 1 17. Cillian came back on. We really tore into it Adam Walsh hit a point before a mesmeric score from Cillian tied the game up – you’d swear there was 20,000 in the Stand at this stage! In the fifth minute we were down by a point. We hit two wides as time ticked away. Then in the ninth minute Newtown went two ahead. Ronan O Riordan struck the puckout 130 yards. Conor Hazlewood got possession and was fouled -no free, as he went down he managed to pass the sliotar to Cillian and Goaaaal! We were a point ahead – fairytale stuff but Newtown had one last chance. Our defence held firm. Final whistle -County Champions! Lads it was just amazing but nothing less than these lads deserve for their never say die mindset. As a team they may have played better games but when it mattered most they were not found wanting. Eventually Pat Horgan presented the winners trophy to Edmond Cashman who replied suitably. By now the crowd was down from the stand and ‘Bride Rovers Abu’ was sang on the December afternoon. Well done to management Mark O Connell, Barry Hazlewood, Brendan Walsh, Aidan Hayes and Pat Walsh and physio Darren Cody. We defeated Fr O Neills by 0 21 to 2 12, St Catherines by 3 18 to 1 13, Owen Gaels by 2 29 to 1 13 and on Sunday Newtownshandrum by 3 15 to 1 20. Well done to each and every player on the panel and to our supporters. Nobody could recall a game quite like it – a great way to win a County. Speedy recovery to Jacob, Cillian and Davy
Team & Scorers; Ronan o Riordan Cormac O Sullivan Liam Collins Ciaran Cotter Adam Hynes Connor Hazelwood Denis Cashman Josh Ahern Ronan O Connell 0 1 Cillian Tobin 1 3 David Barry Adam Walsh 0 4 Louis Roche Edmund Cashman (Captain) 1 1 Adam Hayes 1 6 Eldon O Connor Nicky Kelleher Ben Knox Jacob Powell Frank O Flynn Darragh O Sullivan Darragh Kielty Oran Kielty Cillian Barry Ciaran O Dowd Gearoid Gubbins Cameron O Sullivan Kamso Obi.
LOTTO WON AGAIN.
You’ve heard the saying ‘Hours waiting for a bus and then two come together’ well it was like that last week with our Lotto. The previous week Donal Cahill had collected the jackpot. On Tuesday last 3,14, 20 and 31 were drawn out and Linda Ahern of Monanig, Bartlemy was the winner- well done Linda.
Congrats also to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Craig O’Callaghan, BartlemySinead Tarrant, c/o online lotto, Noel Crowley, Rathcormac, John Collins, c/o online lotto, Richie O’Regan, Rathcormac This week's jackpot was an incredible €5,000 on Tuesday December the 6th. Remember the Special Club 100 Draw and Christmas Lotto will be held in Barry’s bar on Tuesday December the 13th.
5K ON ST. STEPHEN’S DAY.
Damian Healy and Alan Barry are busy organising the Juvenile Club’s 5K run/walk for December 26th -full details next week.
BEST WISHES TOM.
All in Bride Rovers extend best wishes to Tom Mulcahy for a speedy recovery to full health.
Ballygiblin Win Again.
Congrats to Ballygiblin on their wonderful two in a row of Munster Championship Titles, go for that All Ireland now boys.
TRADITION.
When Liam Collins lined out at Full back last Sunday he was following in proud footsteps. On May 2nd 1888 his great, great grandfather Patrick Lined out with the Bartlemy hurling team in Cork Park – later the Old Athletic Grounds, Pairc Ui Chaoimh 1 and now ‘New’ Pairc Ui Chaoimh 1. Bartlemy lost by two points to nil that day against Ballygarvan in a 21 a side game. After that Match Fr Barry decided to purchase ‘new slippers with grips’ for the rest of the season!
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
