Club Notes... - 2024-03-05 05:43:00
Here we go again..
Well another year and another playing season has started as 2024 takes off. Our three hurling teams will be in action shortly. It’s a far cry from the Spring of 1929 when the Bride Rovers Club first came onto the playing fields of East Cork. For the Clubs’ first year the Bandroom in Bartlemy -situated just up the Tallow road from the present disused Post Office, was hired out from Mike Leary as a ‘Club Hall’ Members paid a 1d (a penny) a week to cover costs and the weekly fee for the Hall was 1/-. On February 17th the Club paid the fee of 2/6 9half a crown) to the East Cork Board as the Fee to enter the Junior Hurling Championship for 1929. Midleton Junior Hurlers came to Bartlemy on St Patrick’s Day for the very first game played by Bride Rovers. Midleton won the challenge game by 5 4 to 3 2 and later that year Midleton won out the East Cork Junior Hurling Championship. It was perhaps an inauspicious start but great credit is due to those who took the first steps for the Club nearly a century ago. First into action for this year are our Junior A hurlers, then our Junior C team and then the Senior team.
FIXTURES.
Our junior A hurlers are in challenge game action against Kilworth on this coming Saturday March 2nd at 4.00pm in Pynes Field.
Our second junior hurling team who take part in the East Cork Junior C grade Championship are in East Cork league action against Killeagh on Fri March 8th at 8pm in Killeagh -under lights. Our senior hurlers commence their RED FM SHL campaign against Carrigaline on Saturday 9th March at 2.30pm in Rathcormac. Our junior hurlers are in East Cork JHL Div 2 action against Fr O'Neills on Sun March 10th at 4.30pm in Ahavine. From now on with all the juvenile and ladies teams having fixtures things will be hectic which is just fantastic. Incidentally Mike Leary who owned the Bartlemy Bandroom, together with his brother Tom and sister Kate lied in the house just recently demolished below the Old Post Office. Tom and Mike Leary were renowned house builders.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
The Lotto Results for Tuesday the20th of February 2024 were as follows- Numbers drawn were 11, 21, 27 & 28 and there was No jackpot Winner. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners:Martina Keane, Gearagh, Barry Hazelwood, Tobernague, Rian O’Callaghan, Ballyda, Aideen De Lacy, Watergrasshill and Aine O’Grady, Mondaniel. The Lotto Jackpot for last Tuesday February 27th was €15,800. Tickets are just 2 Euro each and can be got from Club Members, in local businesses and online. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https://bit.ly/
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR REBELS.
Far away in Fermanagh and by the banks of our own lovely Lee the Cork footballers and hurlers both secured wins last Sunday. These were vital victories for John Cleary and pat Ryans teams in their respective national League campaigns. The Hurlers defeated Waterford by a whisker having led by ten points at one stage. The Cork under 20 hurlers had a good challenge game against the Decies as a curtain-raiser. It was great to Brian Roche, Denis Cashman and O Ronan Conell wearing the Cork jersey. Speaking of the jersey what did ye think of the new Cork rig-out? I wasn’t in Pairc Ui Chaoimh but it looked a quare sight! Two friend of mine that were Leeside on Sunday had different opinions on the sartorial elegance or otherwise of the new design and colour scheme. “Twas like a Sligo jersey after coming out of a slaughterhouse” said one and the second, a rugby fan, declared “ It reminded me of nothing only an All Black with a bad rash” I don’t know, maybe I’m conservative but since 1919 the Cork colours have been Red and white -no black. I remember the 1975 All Ireland Hurling semi final when Cork lost to Galway. Colour Television was not yet in so Cork wore black togs that day but the Red and White, the Blood and Bandage, the Rebel colours- please leave well enough alone
CHRISTY RING. -45 YEARS GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
This Saturday March 2nd is the 45th anniversary of the death of Cork’s greatest hurler Christy Ring. Winner of eight All Ireland medals and 18 Railway Cup medals Ring was a legend, a sporting hero, a superstar and one of the strongest ever hurlers. His ‘drawing power’ could be seen in the Inter Provincial Competition. The Final was always played in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day and crowds of 30,000 regularly attended- many went simply to see the Maestro playing. As part of the East Cork GAA Board’s Centenary Celebrations 1924-2024, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at Christy’s grave in Cloyne on March 2nd at half 5 followed by Mass in the Coyne Church at 6pm. Refreshments will be served in Harty’s Bar afterwards.
UACTHARAIN NUA.
Ta uachtarain nua again I gCumann Luth Chleas gael. Fear croga, misniuil, sportiuil, agu fear le fis do CLCG. Last Saturday in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry Jarlath Burns was installed as the 41st president of the GAA. From, literally, ‘up the road’ in Silverbridge, Co Armagh Jarlath was a County footballer with the Orchard County for 13 years leading them to Ulster success in 1999. He always regrets he never played hurling but made sure all of his family got to play the ancient game. He has been steeped in GAA Administration for decades and was Chairman of the GAA 125 Committee back in 2009. He contested the Presidency back in 2020 when many thought he’d win. Beaten on that occasion by Larry McCarthy Jarlath dusted himself down and started campaigning again in 2022. At Congress in Dublin in February he won a resounding victory over Niall Erskine and Pat Teehan. A good friend of the Bride Rovers Club he was one of our Oskars judges last May. He will be the special guest of the Imokilly Board at it’s centenary Dinner in Garryvoe Hotel on Saturday November 16th. Hopefully he’ll visit Cork and Bride Rovers before that. He’ll make a great GAA President, go n-eiri an t-adh leat Jarlath, the Boy from the County Armagh.
LIGHTING UP FOR IRELAND WALKS END.
Last Monday night saw the final walking initiative in the 2024 Lighting Up for Ireland series. Well done to the hundreds who took part weekly since January. The project was an outstanding success. Thanks to Catherine Hegarty, Orla Dorgan, and Brenda Ryan for organising the eight weeks of walks and for all the tea and biscuits afterwards. These refreshments were jointly organised with the Catering Committee of Betty Cahill, Anne Marie Knox, Linda Ahern, Arlene O'Callaghan, Marie Gubbins, Lorraine O’Keeffe and Kathleen Hogan. Thanks to Hannah O'Driscoll for her motivational speaking to conclude the event also. Well done to all who took part over the last eight weeks as we walked our way to brighter evenings. Special thanks to all who helped as Stewards and Safety Officers and ensured a safe and enjoyable experience.
WELL DONE TRACEY KENNEDY
History was made in several ways at GAA Congress in Newry last weekend. From a Cork point of view. It was historic that Killeagh’s Tracey Kennedy becomes the first Cork woman to sit on the GAA’s Coiste Bainisti (Management Committee) Tracey is now one of the two Congress representatives on the management Committee – a position also known as Trustee. It is a great honour for Tracey, her family, her Club Killeagh and Cork. With the integration of the GAA, Camogie Association and LGFA now set to be completed in three years could we make further history then with the first ever woman President of the GAA?
80 YEARS AGO- 1944
Having reached the East Cork Minor Hurling Final in 1943 hopes were high of some success at Junior level the following year. Though well beaten by St Endas in that Minor Final it was felt some great talent was coming through. A first round win in the JAHC over Youghal was recorded in Dungourney. Cloyne proved far too strong in the second round in Midleton on August the 6th winning by 7 6 to 1 4. That Cloyne side went on to win the 1944 East Cork title. One of the Rovers stars despite the scoeline was young Con Murphy from the Main St. Con went on the win an All Ireland Senior medal with Cork in 1946 -his brother Michael, the last of the Murphy clan, died only recently. Curate in the Parish at the time Fr Conor O Sullivan took a great interest in GAA affairs.. He organised a an under 18 hurling parish league. He picked the four competing teams himself -from all parts of the parish. The tams were all given ‘old’ Irish names, the Fir Bolgs, Craobh Rua, Fianna and Gael Fianna. There were some great games in the League with the Gael Fiann winning out.
MEETING.
Our next Club Executive Meeting is on Monday March the 11th at 8 o clock in the Clubroom.
120 YEARS AGO
It was in 1904, a century ago, that the old Cork Athletic Grounds was officially opened as a GAA ‘Stadium’ through the word was not used much then. Formerly known as Cork Park it was Sportsground for decades. As well as Gaelic Games horse-racing was regularly held there. To mark the 1904 opening the much-delayed 1902 All Ireland Finals were played in the Athletic grounds on Sunday 11th of September. London lost both Finals to Cork’s Dungourney in the Hurling Final by 3 13 to 0 0. In the football decider Bray Emmetts (representing Dublin!) beat the Exiles by 2 8 to 0 4
REBELS BOUNTY.
The 2024 Cok GAA Members Draw, Rebels Bounty, will commence once more in a few weeks. If you already are joined we would ask that you consider rejoining. If you are not in you cant win and for €100 there are great prizes on offer. You can get full details from any cub member or Officer.
UNDER-AGE COACHING.
If you are interested in coaching withing the club it is planned to Hold a foundation level Coaching course before the end of the month. With our Underage Hurling and Football academy and teams from under 6 upwards more and more coaches are needed.. The Foundation Level Course is a great starter course covering the basics skills of Gaelic games and showing how to demonstrate and pass on these skills. Contract Donncha 086/3105055 OR Damien 086/031794
EARLY FIXTURES FOR UNDER20 & SENIOR HURLERS IN MUNSTER
Friday April 4th v Waterford Under 20 HC , Away. Friday April the 12th Cork v Clare under 20 hurling at home. Sunday April 21st Munster Senior Hurling Championship v Waterford in Walsh Park. If we can win these three games we’ll be flying!
SYMPATHY.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Margo and Martin Healy, Coolnakilla on the death of Margo’s father Finbarr McCarthy. His burial will take place in Rathcormac on Friday. We also extend sympathy to the Whelan family of Leamlara and the Hallahan family of Rathcormac on the death of Mary Ellen Whelan nee Hallahan.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia
