Club Notes... - 2023-09-14 06:30:00
Junior Hurlers in action..
With our Senior Hurlers in the County semi-final at the end of the month the focus this weekend is on our Junior team. Having won the Junior B championship last year we were back in East Cork A grade hurling for the first time in a good few years. We found the going tough in the league but have put together some great Championship displays. We defeated Sarsfields 1 17 to 0 16 in a thriller on the August bank Holiday Monday in Watergrasshill. Mike Liddane and Michael Collins suffered serious injuries that day. Down to Cloyne we went to play St Itas, a game we lost by four points. Our scoring average and arious other hurling and mathematical computations saw us qualify for the quarter fial. Our opponents next Sunday are Killeagh. It was the Glenbower Club’s third team we defeated in last years B Final but now we meet their second team who are very strong. In actual fact going into this weekend Killeagh’s Senior, Junior A, Junior B and Junior C hurling teams are all still in championship contention. Since our opener against Sars we’ve ‘lost’ three players to the Senior team and injuries to several players are still a huge concern. Be that as it may we have to go out t high noon next Sunday an face into this quarter final. We have a nice mix of experience and youth. It will be a tough encounter but best of luck lads, go for it. The players and team management desreve great credit and praise for the huge effort put in so far this year. The game is in Pairc Naaomh caitrionaigh in Ballynoe on Sunday at 12 noon.
BUSY SUNDAY LAST.
Sunday last September the 10th was another hectic day, home and away. The u 11 camogie team defeated Eire Og in the Juvenile Field after an 11 am start. The under 16 girls lost to Beara in the Main Field at 12 noon and at 2 in the main Field Eire Og defeated our under 13 girls. Meanwhile in Fermoy the Senior ladies drew with Fermoy. For good measure we also hosted the County IFC game on Saturday where Mitchelstown defeated Ballinora.
UNDER 11’s IN KILDARE & HQ.
The first weekend of September was always a great hurling weekend and for the Bride Rovers under11s, last weekend proved no different. Last Saturday morning, the under11s had a memory-making day never to be forgotten. They were up early, some before 6 am and left Pairc Na Bride at 7.30am to head up the country for a day of hurling and Gaelic Games fun. At half ten we arrived in Ardclough GAA Club in County Kildare. At the same time only miles up the road, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry & Co were lining out in the Irish Open Golf Championship at the K Club. We played two hurling matches against good Kildare opposition and were treated to some fantastic hospitality afterwards in marvellous sunshine. Hurling in Kildare has made super strides in recent years both at Club and Inter County level.
From there, we headed for Croke Park, the GAA headquarters on famed Jones’ Road for a two and a half hour tour of the third biggest stadium in Europe. The lads got to learn about the history of the GAA, sat in the dressing rooms, went pitch-side and went behind the scenes of match day at Croke Park. The Liam McCarthy Cup was raised in the Hogan Stand and the lads enjoyed some GAA challenges as part of the tour. It was an absolutely amazing experience and one that should be built into the Club Juvenile calendar for at least one age group every year. No doubt some of these players will be back someday to Croke Park to play with Cork in the famed Red and White jersey. After leaving the Field f Dreams is was onto the motorway for the trip southwards. The lads enjoyed some food at J17 Portlaoise Plaza en route back and returned to Rathcormac for 8.45pm. A tired but delighted bunch of super players were met at Pairc na Bride by their parents. A fantastic day all round and a real team bonding day that the lads will never forget. Days like this don’t just happen, there’s a huge amount of organising top be done in the weeks and days before so a huge ‘thank you’ to all the Mentors who made this trip possible.
JOHN KELLY RIP
Hurling followers all over the country were saddened to hear of the death of former great Tipperary Fullback John Kelly of Cappawhite. John wore the No 3 jersey for the premier County from 1967 until 1974 winning an All Ireland medal in 1971 with Tipp. He played for a while with the Kilruane McDonaghs Club and as a student played with UCC,. Whilst in Cork he won a Cork County Senior Hurling medal with the College in 1970. That was a unique Final with Inniscarra men playing on both teams! UCC beat the Muskerry Divisional side by 2 12 to 0 16 in November 1970 at the Old Athletic Grounds. Mick Crotty of Kilkenny and Willie Moore of Limerick also played with UCC as did Pat McDonnell and Henry O Sullivan of the Inniscarra club -they lined out against several of the own Clubmen playing with Muskerry. John Kelly was a teacher in Cappawhite for many years. He had a serious illness in 2015 but made a remarkable recovery then. May he rest in peace.
UNDER 13’s v St. Colmans.
The under 13 footballers were at home to St Colmans (Cloyne/Russell Rovers) in Pynes in Friday evening. This was our last football league match and we knew a win would almost guarantee us getting to the final. With conditions very warm to say the least St Colman’s got off to a fast with 3-1 on the board to our single point before the first water break. There must have been something in the water because the lads took over in the second quarter, scoring 2-4 without reply. A point up at half-time but we knew there was very little between the teams. The second half was again very close, St Colman’s got two goals to push ahead by 4 but our lads didn't panic and reeled them back with some excellent points and 2 late goals of our own to win by 5 on a final score of Bride Rovers 5-8 St Colmans 5-3.Aghada await in the final but the game isn't fixed yet.
Back to hurling this week with a game on Tuesday away to Cobh at 7:30.
LOTTO
Lotto Result: 5th of September 2023 - Numbers this week were 13, 26, 29 & 32 – No Winner. Congrats also to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Sandra Murphy, Blackrock, Kieran Wolfe, Bartlemy, Deirdre Hazelwood, Shanowen, Mary Murphy, Castlelyons and Seanie Pierce, Glnworth.
JUVENILE CLUB MEETING.
There is a Juvenile Club meeting on tonight Thursday. Arrangements for the forthcoming Theresa Walsh and Jerard Kenny memorial Tournaments are amongst the items on a full Agenda. Teresa Walsh and Jer Kenny tour.
RELEGATION BATTLES.
On next Sunday when we’re in Ballynoe Midleton and Sars fight out the East Cork Junior A hurling Relegation Battle in Rathcormac. Their mightn’t be a massive crowd there but in Fermoy the previous evening, Saturday, there will be huge crowd. In Pairc Mac Gearailt Glen Rovers face Kanturk in the Premier SHC relegation Final – as the late Paudie Palmer used to say, ‘the Slan Leat’ Final that’s at Angelus time, 6pm.
Sciath na scoil Starts.
Best wishes to Scoil Brode, Rathcormac and Bishop O Brien NS Bartlemy who both commence their Sciath na Scoil campaigns this week.
SENIORS WAITING.
We’ll have a fair few locals in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on this Friday night for a 7.30 throw-in between Blarney and Cloyne in the Senior County Quarter Final. We’ll be meeting the winners in two weeks time.
UNDER 10’s IN CELBRIDGE.
Our Under10 boys travelled to the Celbridge Festival of Football recently representing Cork. The festival is named after Gary Kenny who passed away in 2018 and had managed their local Under 10 team. In total there was 32 teams, from 22 different clubs representing 14 different counties. There was much excitement in the build-up where the topic of conversation for those in 4th class returning to school was the trip to Kildare and its fair to say, the whole experience didn’t disappoint.
In our group game, we played the host club Celbridge, Clonguish and Glen Emmets. On a very hot day, our lads gave it their all and showed some incredible passages of play with real heart, determination, and no little skill on display. We qualified to play an additional match against Eire Og from Wicklow which again was another excellent performance. While the games were 10 aside and we had 16 stars of the future representing us, each player played a minimum of 1 half of football in every game so they will all have improved massively from the experience.
Huge credit must go to Celbridge GAA Club in what can only be described as a spectacular event. The logistics involved were huge, but their team of volunteers were incredibly organised and helpful. The day definitely paid tribute in a very positive way to the memory of Gary Kenny. Each player devoured their burgers for lunch and then after their matches were complete ice creams which especially went down well in 25 degree heat. Some of our players also turned into celebrities as they were interviewed live on the radio by KLR FM. Not a bother to them – all the media training paid off…. It also turns out we have a lot of comedians on the team if the quality of joke telling on the bus home is anything to go on where the craic was mighty.
Thanks to the juvenile club in particular Jerome, Michelle and Emma for their backing to the day, to the parents who travelled for their assistance, the coaches for giving up their full Saturday but most importantly to the players who gave it their all and represented the club with pride and passion. Stars on the day were Daniel Fitzgerald, Dara Murphy, Dave Fitzpatrick, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Eoin Burke, Harry Fitzpatrick, Theo Skillington, Tiernan Lyons, Hugh Clerkin, Jack Roddis, Joey Allen, John Keating, Kayden Freeman, Logan Ryan, Oisin Barry Sheehan and Fionn Purcell.
JAFC FINAL.
The 2023 East Cork Junior A F Final will be contested by Carrignavar who last won the title in 1975 and Lisgoold who have yet to get their name on the Jim Ryan Cup, they were beaten finalists in 2011 and 2013.
EXECUTIVE MEETING.
There was huge Agenda and great discussion at last Monday night’s Club Executive meeting with an attendance of 30. Reports from all team managements, Finance, Child protection, Juvenile and ladies Club were dealt with. The most exciting news was that our fit of three new pitches at Ballybrowney is ready for seeding. Club Vice president Fr Seanie Barry addressed the meeting. He commended the wonderful spirit in the Club and remarked that with 159 Mentors now active with Bride Rovers it was a very positive sign. He spoke of the success of the Oskars, the new development, the juvenile Club and the Senior team and wished the Club every success.
KILDINAN ATHLETICS.
On Sunday evening many from the Club were in Kildinan for the unveiling of a Monument to remember the Kildinan AC All Ireland cross-country winning team of 1943 and all those who were involved with the Club down the years. Of the 1943 team descendants and/or relations of Dinny O Drisvoll, Jimmy Buckley, and George Gubbins are involved at present with Bride Rovers GAA Club.
OSKARS.
The Oskars USB stick are now available for sale, just contact any of the Oskars Committee. Scrap is the stuff that just keeps on giving. Due to demand a further collection will be held in the next few weeks. Just ring 087 9538077 for details.
GAELIC FOR MOTHERS & OTHERS
On Next Saturday September the 16th our Gaelic for Mothers and others travel to Portmarnock in Dublin for a mighty Tournament.with a 10 am There are 138 teams taking part and currently there are over 500 G4M&O teams across the county. They didn’t say how many applied to take part in it but they were over subscribed with a waiting list. We have 20 players on the panel and have 10 more members going to support. We will play at least 4 games on the day. We are delighted to be representing the club in this non competitive ladies football programme that has gone from strength to strength in the club with 2023 seeing 45 registered players which is a record for the group. We will continue to train for the next few weeks and always welcome new members just contact Irene Hogan, Betty Cahill or any of the current members. Have a great time on Saturday girls.
SYMPATHY
On Monday night votes of sympathy were passed to the Noonan, O Dowd, and O Donoghue families and also the family of Mallow GAA ‘Great’ Liam Sheehan who did some coaching for us.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
Fermoy Print & Design
Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia
