Senior Semi on Saturday..
All roads lead to Pairc Ui Chaoimh this coming Saturday where we contest the semi-final of the Cork Senior A Hurling Championship. In the last two years we have reached the semi final also, losing out to Fr O Neills on both occasions. Our opponents on Saturday are Blarney who had a very comprehensive win over Cloyne in the quarter final two weeks ago. We won our here Group games against Na Piarsaigh, Killeagh and Inniscarra to top the group. We will be down a few players for Saturday’s game which makes he task an even tougher one. Pat, Liam and Co. have prepared the team well but it’s all on the day. We defeated Blarney by five points, 2 21 to 2 16 two years ago in the Championship when our line-out was as follows; C Hogan; Jordan Mannix, J Pratt, T O’Sullivan; P O’Flynn, E Roche, S O’Connor; R Prendergast, C O’Connor; DJ Cahill, B Roche, D Dooley; Jason Mannix, W Finnegan, M Collins. Subs: K Kearney for Cahill (50), C Barry for Collins (57), S Walsh for Jordan Mannix (60). Scorers; W Finnegan 0-11 (0-7 f, 0-2 65), B Roche 0-5, M Collins, P O’Flynn 1-1 each, C O’Connor, D Dooley, S O’Connor 0-1 each. That result counts for nothing on Saturday so lads, go for it, the whole parish are behind ye. The game is at 6 0 clock preceded at 4 by the other semi-final Carrigtwohill v Newcestown. A reminder it’s an ‘all ticket game’ so tickets must be pre-purchased online.
MINI GAMES ON SATURDAY.
At half time in the Senior game our under 12’s will play Blarney in a series of Mini Games. Our squad is James O Regan Darragh Murphy Luke Kelleher Liam Carr Sean Healy Ciarán Mohally Ruairí O Grady Conor Collins Denis Skillington Senan Delaney Padraig Barry Cathal Quinlan Elliott Martin, Henry Bagnall Harry O Keeffe David Ahern Jakub Dwornicki Ollie Scanlon Jack O Dowd Danny Macak Jack Mohally Thomas Hegarty Cathal O Brien
Killian Murphy Adam Hackett Matthew Finn
Mentors: Joe Delaney Charlie Scanlon Seán Mohally Kevin Quinlan Alan Barry. Enjoy the great occasion lads.
UNDER 13’s WIN FOOTBALL CUP TITLE.
2023 Under 13 Rebel Og East Division 2 Cup Final
Bride Rovers 4-5 Aghada 0-2
What a day, what a performance. Having played Aghada in the first round of the under 13 league in July we knew we had a big battle ahead of us on last Saturday. That July game down in Rostellan saw us come up 9 points short so we knew a 20 man performance would be required to get close on Saturday. Though it was two East Cork sides in the Final the venue was Mayfield as several Rebel Og deciders were to be played there. Saturday morning got off to a bad start with Sean Finn having to pull out through injury. Sean is a big part of our team, but credit to Sean for coming to support us and delivering a great speech at half-time. We started with Cathal M in goals with Jack, Danny and Alex in the full back line. Sam, Cody and Nathan at half back with Ciaran and Evan in midfield. Up front were Sean O'L, Fionn L, Liam, Sean H, Fionn C and Cormac. We had Cathal O'B, Zack, Daniel and David ready to come on if needed.
Aghada got off to a good start but our backs worked hard to limit them to a single point. Our lads settled and began to work the ball up the field to create some chances. The pressure paid off eventually with captain Fionn Collins getting two great goals and Fionn L kicking a point. The rain arrived to make conditions very difficult but great work from Sean H saw him fouled and he put over his free. Liam then stepped up with a good point. Aghada got the last point of the half to leave it Bride Rovers 2-3 Aghada 0-2 at half-time.
A great first half, but with Aghada having the wind in the second half we knew the game was far from over. The second half performance in shocking weather conditions was amazing. Hardly a single dropped ball, the endless running and tackling from one to nineteen meant Aghada hardly had a single chance. While Fionn C and Fionn L added goals and Cormac and Fionn added points to leave us well ahead at the final whistle. It was an amazing final score of Bride Rovers 4-5 Aghada 0-2. We as coaches are hugely proud of these boys, they are a pleasure to train and a credit to their families. Fionn Collins accepted the cup on behalf of the team amid great celebrations. Then we headed back to Rathcormac. It was a very, very happy crew with plenty lights flashing and horns beeping and food in the clubroom. Thanks to the parents for organising a fabulous spread for our young players. Little did anyone think coming home from that July match in Rostellan that we could comprehensively revers that scoreline, well done lads on a superb performance. We have no date yet for our hurling final.
SCOR
The GAA Talent competition Scor has been part of the scene for over 50 years. Brought in by the late Derry Gowen to fill the winter inactivity period for Clubs it has waned somewhat in recent times. The timing is changed this year with the Scor Sinnsir (over 160 now taking place in East Cork next month. The Closing Date for entries is this Friday.. In Bride Rovers we are hoping to have Club representation but it’s such a busy time it’s difficult to get people to commit. Please contact 0879538077 if you would like to participate and represent the Club in October.
UNDER 15’s ARE CHAMPIONS.
Seven matches into the championship Bride Rovers entered the Division 1 North final v Mallow in Kilworth under floodlights on Monday last. With a big Bride Rovers contingent cheering the boys they got off to a flying start getting the first few scores on the board. This was a game where every single boy needed to be on his game and they didn’t disappoint. Calum Somers in goal was courageous producing some fantastic saves. Corner backs Mark Hynes and Darragh O’Farrell were tenacious in tackling their men with Jamie Walsh as calm as ever in full back clearing the ball time after time. Wing backs Éanna Lyons and James Finn were dogged and left no space for the dangerous Mallow wing forwards with Cathal Barry at centre back covering man, space, ball and everything else that came his way. Captain Denis Fitzgerald and Garry Quirke epitomised the spirit in this team as they were tireless in midfield working from defence to attack. Matthew Kenny was in superb form on one wing with Michéal Walsh covering loads of grounds with silky touches on the other. Shane O’Dowd at centre forward was the fulcrum in attack continuously probing the Mallow defence. Finn O’Driscoll was a thorn in one side of the opposition defence with Adam Kelleher working tirelessly in the other. Jack Lynch gave no quarter at full forward and battled hard throughout. The Rovers boys played with the breeze in the first half and displayed some fantastic hurling going in ahead at the break 2-9 to 0-5. They started well in the second half and controlled the game up until the 50th minute. At that stage two goals in quick succession brought Mallow back into the game and it was a nerve tingling last ten minutes. Eoghan Buckley, Con McCormack, James Larkin and Sebastian Byrd added fresh legs and great impetus when introduced to ensure the boys got over the line. The team showed great steel and determination throughout the match but particularly in those last ten minutes. Deservedly then Bride Rovers were crowned Division 1 North champions, reflecting several years of hard work and commitment. A special mention goes out to Rían Somers who was our stats man throughout the championship giving great support to the team and mentors. Final Score: Bride Rovers 2-15 Mallow 3-9.
Panel: Calum Somers, Mark Hynes, Jamie Walsh, Darragh O’Farrell, Éanna Lyons, Cathal Barry, James Finn, Denis Fitzgerald, Garry Quirke, Michéal Walsh, Shane O’Dowd, Matthew Kenny, Finn O’Driscoll, Jack Lynch, Adam Kelleher, Con McCormack, Eoghan Buckley, James Larkin, Sebastian Byrd, Donagh Hurley, Robert Sweeney.
LOTTO.
The Weekly Club Lotto Results for Tuesday 19th of September 2023 - Numbers drawn were 7, 24, 26 & 30 – No Winner. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Alan Murphy, Rathcormac, John Greene, Ballynanealgh, Kathleen Howard, Rathcormac, Daniel Mangan, c/o Online Lotto and Ned O'Brien, Kilworth. This week's jackpot was an incredible €11,600 on Tuesday September the 26th. Tickets which are just €2 each can also be purchased from Club members and in local business outlets. An Annual Lotto Ticket would make an ideal present for a friend or a family member at home or abroad
KILDINAN SCHOOL.
KIldinan National School closed it’s doors as an educational institution in 1975-all of 48 years ago. There some worries at the time about School Bus Transport for pupils from the greater Kildinan area to Rathcormac School. Guarantees were given at the time that the Bus Transport would remain in place going forward. Now, however, this commitment is being reneged upon and pupils have no bus to Rathcormac which is completely unacceptable. The parents and local community are rightly angry. Let’s hope common sense will prevail and an extra bus is made available -as was promised in 1975 at a meeting in the School.
25 YEARS AGO.
Sunday September the 27th 1998 was a red-letter date in our Club History. In Cobh on that day we won the East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling Championship for the first time since 1969. Our 2 13 to 2 6 victory over Dungourney that day unleashed a wave of emotion in the club and Parish that had been built up for nearly thirty years. It is planned to honour the team on East Cork Final Day in a few weeks time.
JIMMY BROHAN RIP.
Another Cork GAA ‘great’ Jimmy Brohan of Blackrock died last week. An All Ireland Senior medal winner with Cork Jimmy won two Senior Counties with Blackrock. Uncle to Tom and Jim Cashman, Jimmy served his club for over 75 years. He was also a well known stile-man in the Athletic Grounds and in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. A lovely man, he will be sorely missed in Cork GAA circles.
WELL DONE LISGOOLD.
Congrats to Lisgoold on capturing their first ever Junior A Grade Football championship title. They defeated Carrignavar by 2 9 to 0 10 in tough conditions in Glenville on Saturday evening. Ther has long been a great football tradition on the banks of the Owenacurra River, going back to the days of ‘Sport’ Cotter’s famous team in the 1880’s.
BRIDE ROVERS v BLARNEY, 1936.
Back in 1936 the Intermediate hurling teams of Bride Rovers and Blarney met in the championship first round. He game was played in Riverstown on May 2nd.Blarney lead by 2 0 to 0 4 at half time but the Md Cork men added 4 2 in the second half while a goal from Joe Healy was the Rovers only score. The Bride Rovers team on that day 87 years ago was; T. Hoskins, Ned Hoskins capt, M. Cranitch, C. Colins, D. hogan, W. Murphy, T. Collins, J.Ryan, M. Collins, P.Collins, M.O Brien, J.Murphy, J.O Brien, J.Healy and Jack Barry. The ’Curtain Raiser’ was a Senior Hurling Championship game where St Annes surprised Midleton by 1 6 to 1 4.
SYMPATHY.
The Club extends sympathy to the family of Batty Dorgan of Ballinterry who died at the weekend. A native of Castlelyons batty and his mayo born wife Mary returned from England and came to live ‘at the bottom of Hollyhill’. They were involved in every aspect of parish, community and sporting life in the area. The Dorgan family were great GAA supporters and players and we are so sad at the death of batty, may he rest in peace. We also extend sympathy to the Cummins family of Blackrock on the death of Joan Cummins nee O Mahony. Joan was mother of Joanne who is married to Pat McHugh our former Club Runai. Joan’s late husband Davy was a dyed-in-the-wool Blackrock GAA man and represented the Rockies on the Cork County Board for years. Sympathy too to the Noonan family of Ballincollig- John Noonan is our local Garda. John’s father Jack has died, his funeral took place on last Tuesday.
FIXTURE IN PAIRC NA BRIDE.
We are hosting the East Cork Junior C Hurling Semi Final Carrignabhfear v Cobh in Pairc na Bride at 11.30am on Sunday
EVER MORE SCRAP.
Responding to public demand once again we another Scrap Collection either this Friday or early next week. We thought ‘twas all done and dusted but several people have requested that we remove scrap for them. If you have anything from a kettle to a combine harvester, from a wheelbarrow to a trailer just ring 087 9538077 to make arrangements.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
Fermoy Print & Design
Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia