Club Notes... - 2023-07-11 06:18:00
Tony Walsh Cup Final Friday night.
In years gone by Tournament and carnival games were ‘the bread and butter’ of many Clubs. Back in the 1880’s when the GAA was getting off the ground Tournaments were huge -the Kilshannig Lawn Hurling and Football Tournaments were often run off over a month. These attracted teams from Cork city and Limerick and Waterford. Then in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s carnival and Festival Contests were huge. Some of the games in Watergrashill, Rathcormac, Conna and Castlelyons often drew crowds bigger than championship games. From the early 1980’s when we won two successive Junior Hurling Leagues we had little Championship success and we were often grateful to be asked to play in Tournaments in Kilworth and Ballynoe which kept hurling going in the Club until August at least. It’s fitting therefore that one of the greatest ever Bride Rovers Clubmen, the late Tony Walsh, should be remembered in our Annual Senior Hurling Tournament on this coming Friday night. It was in the 1960's that Tony Walsh first got involved with the Bride Rovers Club- an involvement that lasted for a lifetime. The Club was inactive in the1962/3 period but in December 1964 the Bride Rovers Club was reorganised once more. At the first meeting in Bartlemy Hall an interim five man Club Committee was formed to assist the new Officers. The Committee members were Dave Ryan, Tony Walsh, Tom Heskin, Willie Cotter and Tony O Brien. Donal Lehane NT was elected Secretary for 1965. During the School holidays in early summer Donal went home to West Cork and Tony took over as Club Secretary. The club started off with a Junior B hurling team and Tony soon slotted in as corner back - a position where he won three East Cork medals, B grade in 1966, A grade in 1968 and 1969. In 1966 when the Rovers made the East Cork breakthrough Tony was secretary and player and Club Chairman Michael Murphy was also on the team. Tony played for the Club until the early 1980's -lining out at corner back but wearing the number 13 jersey for a few seasons in the 1970's. He was the traditional corner back, safe, reliable and ever present. He knew his role and his place on the field of play. He played that game as sportsmen did play it, he was manly straightforward and clean on the field. In a long playing career he was never sent off. He was never a man to retaliate or strike a foul blow - that wasn't his style. His dual role as player and officer rested lightly on his shoulders - out of the first one hundred games the Rovers played in the 1965 -1967 period Tony lined out in 98 of them ! As a club officer he served as Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Registrar and Juvenile Secretary - for a total of twenty seven years. When his own playing career finished he became a selector and was involved with the JHL winning teams of 1981 /82, the Minor Co League winning team of 1992 and the East cork JBHC winning team of 1993. When the Club pitch was purchased Tony was very involved in fund raising and in 1983 was on the sub-committee in charge of enclosing the pitch and erecting the wire, stakes and gates. In Centenary year of 1984 the Club decided to borrow £21,000 to build dressingrooms, Tony was one of the first to go Guarantor for the Club. When club funds were very low in 1974 Tony was one of the Club Members who went and cut ash roots and got hurleys made by McCarthys of Killeagh.
Tony was immensely proud to see his sons Matt and Michael wear the green, white and gold of his beloved Bride Rovers. He took a deep interest and pride in all club teams from under age upwards and was always a source of great encouragement even in times of defeat. There was no prouder man than Tony when various Bride Rovers players donned the Red and White of Cork over the last decade. It was beyond Tony's wildest dreams to see Bride Rovers Contest County Junior, Intermediate and Senior Finals. He was one of our most passionate and dedicated supporters. He never forgot the time when we started off, before Christmas in 1964 and he was so proud and happy to see the growth of the Club. Any Development undertaken in recent years was seen by Tony as further progress and he was always the first to help when financial help was needed. He always encouraged Club Officers to keep improving our playing facilities for the playing of hurling and football. His death in 2012 came as a tragedy for our club but more particularly for Tony's devoted family. Since 2015 we have staged the Tony Walsh Cup Final -with the exception of 2017 and 2020. The winners to date have been; 2015 Tallow (Waterford) 2016 St Mullins (Carlow) 2018 Tallow, 2019 Bride Rovers, 2021 Bride Rovers, 2022 Mallow. On Friday night at 7.45 we meet another Brideside team Tallow in this year’s Final. All are welcome to attend
JUNIOR A GRADE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
In our second Group game we played Midleton in Carrigtwohill on Saturday evening. We were playing against a very strong wind in the first half and even though we did get a few opportunities to score in the first half it was 0:3 to Midleton with us yet to score after 15 minutes. The wind was that strong we knew if we could limit Midleton to a couple more points it would put us in a great position. However Midleton struck with three goals in the matter of seven minutes and converted a couple of points which put us in a very difficult position for the second half. Half time 3:10 to 0:1.We had a long difficult come back on our hands but the lads made every effort to claw the score back, but Midleton on the night were just the better side and we lost 3:14 to 0:3. On the night things just didn’t go right Our last match is against Youghal on July 16th. This is a must win game for us if we want to progress. This game is fixed for Ballynoe. Team: Sean O Brien, David Barry, Liam Forde, Kieran Cotter, Kieran Kearney, Adam Hynes, Tadgh Lawton, Conleith Ryan, Josh Ahern, Denis Cashman, DJ Cahill, Damien Buckley Conor Barry, Cian Hogan, Ed Cashman.
OSKARS PARTY.
Friday night last our Oskars wrap up party. It was a great night of recalling a wonderful adventure and venture for the Club earlier this year. What started as a tentative fundraiser turned into a massive parish and community ‘Mardi Gras ’type event. Truly the months of Mach, April and may were an absolute rollercoaster of fun and craic. Our fundraising efforts were huge and involved hundreds of Club members, family and friends. Thanks again to each and everyone who helped make it such a success. Thanks to Liam Mannix and staff for Friday night. As soon as the Digital copies of the Oskars Night available we will send out the message on social media.
WORK IN THE FIELD.
Each Wednesday night at 8pm the Field Committee meet in Pairc na Bride.to progress ongoing maintenance and improvement work. If you have even an hour to spare please come along to help out. For details of work to be done just ring Denis at 086 6074553.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.
The four numbers drawn on Tuesday night of last week (June 27th( were 7, 16, 25 & 26 and there was No Winner of the €9000 Jackpot
Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Orla Walsh, Coolnakilla, Marie O’Neill, Watergrasshill Veronica McCarthy, Glanmire Claire Scanlan, Ballynanelagh Grainne Barry, Mondaniel
This week's Jackpot on American Independence Day was €9,200.
If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https://bit.ly/
REBEL OG UNDER 15 HURLING.
The U15s commenced their championship campaign with a tough test against Ballyhea in Páirc na Bríde on Monday night last. The game was a spirited one with both sides giving their all. The Bride Rovers defence were at the mark from the get-go and gave no space to their Ballyhea counterparts. Calum Somers marshalled his goal line from start to finish with the full back line of Mark Hynes, Jamie Walsh and Eoghan Buckley giving no space to their opponents. The same could be said for the half back line of Éanna Lyons, Cathal Barry and Darragh O'Farrell who harried the Ballyhea half-forward line while delivering quality ball to the forwards. Midfield had captain Denis Fitzgerald and Garry Quirke working like trojans and sparking things to life throughout. The half forward line worked hard and created space with James Larkin, Shane O'Dowd and Matthew Kenny keeping the Ballyhea backs on the backfoot. The same could be said for the full forward line of Finn O'Driscoll, Michéal Walsh and James Finn who kept their effort at 100% throughout. The Rovers lads played with a strong breeze in the first half but only went in with a 5 point lead - this required an even bigger effort in the second half and the boys didn't disappoint. The substitutes had a key role when introduced with Adam Kelleher, Sebastian Byrd and Donagh Hurley all upping the ante when they got their chance. The last ten minutes was all Rovers as the boys took control and got over the finish line with an eight point win over a strong Ballyhea outfit. Final Score: Bride Rovers 2-17 - Ballyhea 2-9. Team: Calum Somers, Mark Hynes, Jamie Walsh, Eoghan Buckley, Éanna Lyons, Cathal Barry, Darragh O'Farrell, Denis Fitzgerald, Garry Quirke, James Larkin, Shane O'Dowd, Matthew Kenny, Finn O'Driscoll, Michéal Walsh, James Finn, Adam Kelleher, Sebastian Byrd and Donagh Hurley
UNDER 7’s ARE BUSY
The under7 training going well. We travelled to our near neighbours Lisgoold last night, Wednesday, for a hurling and football blitz. Training continues on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings in Pynes. New players are always more than welcome to join us and try out Gaelic games.
All IRELAND HURLING SEMIS.
This weekend it the Hurling semi finals. A low key build up – no wonder, all the schools are closed so no hype there. The media are more interested in International events and sport than what are supposed to be the games making up a Super Hurling Weekend in Headquarters. The first week of July and only 4 Counties left in the race for Liam McCarthy! Limerick are still the favourites but we’ll surely have some shock result.
Our own Raymond Hegarty was on umpiring duty last Saturday evening in Croke Park for the Armagh v Monaghan game. In the end the Quarter final tie was decided on penalties with Monaghan progressing. The’ penalty shootout after extra time’ regulation came in with the Split Season. I think it’s an awful way to decide important games. Fair enough in professional sports where players earn €20,000 or maybe twice that per week, that’s fine. But the GA prides itself on the amateur status of it’s players . If Armagh and Monaghan were asked to have a replay on tonight Thursday or Friday night would there be a problem? The Football semi finals are the week after next so the winning side would still have time to prepare. Hopefully this penalty thing will soon be banned.
FIXTURES
Friday 7/ July Tony Walsh Cup Final SH Bride rovers v Tallow at 7.45. Under 13 h v Bishopstown, away at 7pm
Sat 8th of July Junior Hurling Challenge v Shanballymore, home, at 4pm.
Mon July 10th under 15 FC v St Colmcilles, away at 7pm.
July 14th Under 13 f v Aghada, away, at 7pm.
Sunday July 16th JAFC v Youghal in Ballynoe at 6.30pm
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
Fermoy Print & Design
Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia
