'Tipp Bate & the silage nearly made; Rovers in Munster Final Friday night

 There’s an old saying in reference to life in general ‘What a Difference a Day Makes’, well in sporting terms a week can literally change the world! This time two weeks ago our hurling ‘stock’ on Leeside was low after two Munster Championship defeats to Waterford and Clare. Was it legendary Cork Trainer Jim ‘Tough’ Barry that once said ‘Cork are like the mushroom -they can come overnight’ ? Well this 2024 transformation wasn’t exactly over-night but in the space of eight days how things have changed for the Rebels!  Our own Senior Hurlers had a mighty game against Fermoy last week. Just to keep hurling fever flying high in the parish we look forward eagerly to Friday night next when Cork under hurlers again take on Tipp. Our very own Cillian, Denis and Ronan will be proudly wearing the Blood and bandage of Cork. Hard to imagine a full year has passed since the end of last May when our whole community was on an Oskar High!

This scribe first saw a Munster Final in Thurles back in 1972. That day we beat Clare in a one-sided game by 6 18 to 2 8. On Sunday last after 29 minutes only a very brave man would  or could suggest that Cork might win by 18 points! Alan Connolly’s goal before halftime lit the fuse and in the second half Cork were simply supreme to win by 4 30 to 1 21. Lads, Thurles on big match day is just brilliant. The late great GAA writer Raymond Smith wrote that ‘hurling simply oozes up through the footpaths and the road in the Cathedral Town’- well that was written half a century ago but it’s still the same atmosphere there today thankfully. Sunday was a brilliant occasion though I just couldn’t understand where all the Tipperary fans were? The previous Saturday in Cork the Rebel fans raised the roof for Cork- I thought ‘twould be the same on Sunday but no, Cork fans outnumbered the Blue and Gold by at least 5 to 1 I’d say.  Cork aren’t absolutely sure of progress yet as it all depends really on the result next Sunday of the Waterford and Limerick game. Getting to the Munster Final is an outside bet though mathematically possible. Even if we manage to get the third spot in Munster it would guarantee a June 15th or 16th game against the Joe McDonagh Cup winners. Hope spring eternal!

Our under11’s travelled to Killavullen for the 3rd round of Rebel Og Go Games. Played on a beautiful sunny evening on a fabulous surface, the match was very entertaining with Killavullen having a lot of skilful hurlers, but our lads hunted in packs and worked extremely hard leading to some exceptional scores. This group is improving with every match. Players on the night were Eoin Burke, Fionn Purcell, John Keating, Oisin Barry Sheehan, Killian Donegan, Darragh Feeney, Dara Murphy, Theo Skillington, Logan Ryan, Hugh Clerkin, Kayden Freeman, Luke Buckley and Harry Fitzpatrick.

Last Sunday was another bumper day for the Parish Car Boot Sale with a huge crowd. The game in Thurles took some staff so it was pretty hectic on the day. Well done to all who helped out. The proceeds went to the Katie O Keeffe Fund.
 WEEKLY LOTTO.

A few years back as we began planning for our Club’s centenary in 2028 the Club 100 concept was put in place. It’s a method whereby supporters and benefactors of the Club can commit to heling the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major Club developments in recent years. Now with massive 3 pitch Development project in Ballybrowney well under way we will need huge funds over the next decade. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Siver and Bronze. The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this on gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus,2 Rebel Bounty Draw Tickets and family Membership of the Club.

The Silver costs €360 and give 2 Lotto and 1 Rebel Bounty and Membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children)

The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings1 Annual Club Lotto ticket plus, 1 Rebel Bounty and individual Membership. Please consider joining our Club 100. Full details from any Club Officer. It was in the Autumn of 1928 that  a group of Gaels gathered in the old Band Room in Bartlemy to consider forming a ‘united club’ in the parish. Thus was the Bride Rovers GAA Club formed 96 years ago. Work on Pitch No 2 at Ballybrowney will be commencing shortly as our huge Development Project continues.

CORK UNDER 20’s IN FINAL What a proud night this coming Friday night will be for our Club as three of our players are involved with Cork in the Munster under 20 hurling Final in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds.  Looking back the years and the Bride Rovers involvement at Inter County level it’s surely unique that Cillian Tobin, Denis Cashman and Ronan O Connell will wear the famous Red and White Jersey of Cork on the same evening.  Cork recorded three good wins over Waterford, Clare and Limerick before heading to Semple Stadium to take on the Premier County. That night in Thurles the Rebels came a cropper on a scoreline of 3 20 to 0 18. It was a heavy defeat but luckily Cork still qualified for the Provincial Final by going to Ennis last Friday night and coming away with a semi final win by 1 23 to 2 16. No one is under any illusion about the major task that faces these young Rebels in Limerick on Friday night -throw in at 8pm, but let’s hope for a great performance from Cork and to our three lads we say -well done, we’re all so proud of ye. Having watched Cillian, Denis and Ronan from under 10 up along the various under age teams it’s just        brilliant for them and their families and our Club.

On a damp and overcast evening we took on Fermoy last Thursday night in the RED FM Senior Hurling League. Despite the unfavourable conditions there was fine crowd present for a close and exciting contest. In fairness to the visitors from Blackwater-side they dominated the game for long periods yet the sides were level on seven occasions. Adam Walsh notched 13 points, 11 from frees.. Isn’t hurling a mighty game to produce 42 scores in one hour -where would you get it?. Coming close to the end of added injury time we were behind by 0 19 to 1 20. A point left just a goal in it in the very final seconds. We won a free about a hundred yards out. A long delivery sailed into the square and in a flash ended up with the green flag waving, DJ Cahill scored those vital two scores. TEAM; S Knox; T O'Sullivan, P O'Flynn, J Peters; C O'Sullivan, C Hazelwood, S O'Connor; R O'Connell, J Aherne; W Finnegan, C O'Connor, A Walsh; L Roche, D Dooley, J Mannix. Subs : DJ Cahill for W Finnegan, Cillian Barry for C O'Connor, Conor Barry for C O'Sullivan. Scorers  A Walsh 0-13 (0-11 f), DJ Cahill 1-1, R O'Connell 0-4, C O'Connor, J Mannix 0-1 each. So the final result was a draw, Bride Rovers 1 20 Fermoy 1 20. Our next SHL game  is on Friday week, the last day of May, the 31st against Newtownshandrum at home with a throw-in of 7.45.

Join us for an empowering evening dedicated to nurturing your mental well-being! Dive into a transformative experience tailored to young adults aged 16-26, hosted by the Bride Rovers GAA Club on Thursday May 30th. Our event promises an enlightening lineup of speakers who will delve into the pillars of positive mental health. Learn the secrets to cultivating a resilient mindset, discover the profound impact of nutrition on mental strength, and explore the power of reliance in overcoming life's challenges. Open to all, this event is a pillar of support and guidance in navigating the complexities of young adulthood. Come join us for an evening of insight, inspiration, and empowerment as we embark on a journey toward greater mental resilience and well-being. Brought to you by Healthy Ireland & Cork County Council and supported by Bride Rovers GAA.  This will be the second such event being held locally with the first hosted by Kilshannig GAA Club in Glantane on Thursday May 23rd. Further Information; Bride Rovers Healthy Club Committee via Orla Dorgan 087 976 9274

It was in the autumn of 1741 in Glenagowl, Kildinan that the first  documented hurling game between teams from Cork  and Tipperary took place.  Her’s a lot of water after flowing in the Bride since then but some things just keep repeating themselves as we saw last Sunday in Thurles. The result of the match 283 years ago was disputed with both sides claiming victory. There’s no doubt about last Sunday.

 OSKARS  - A YEAR ON.  How time flies! This very week last year we were on a ‘high’ as the ‘Big Night’ approached. Remember in March of last year when the idea was first mooted we really didn’t know what to expect. Back then I wrote “Earlier this year a quintet of Club members put their collective heads together to come up with a really major fundraiser for the Club in an effort to raise serious cash. About a month ago - before any official announcement, a ‘little birdie’ tipped me off to be getting ready to play a role in a film production that was being looked at.  I’d heard of Strictly Dancing nights and Dancing with The Stars events but the concept of ‘A Night At The Oskars’ was new to me. Forewarned is forearmed they say so I decided to steal a march on other wannabe film stars in our Club. The first ever ‘musical film’ I saw was The Sound Of Music and I was smitten -not just by Julie Andrews but by the whole story of the film. I know that the real Von Trappe family story has been changed a good deal to make it ‘fit’ in the film but that never lessened my admiration for it. The song ‘Edelweiss’ --well I never fail to shed a tear when I hear it, especially ever since the death of Christopher Plummer just two years ago. That final line ‘bless my homeland forever’ always gets me. Yes, like many I thought for years that it had been ’adopted’ as the National Anthem of Austria -not so apparently. Though I can’t play the guitar I spent February and March strumming away and -even if I say so myself, I felt I was a very likeable, authentic and plausible Captain Von Trappe! I learned that the Oskars Project involves the actual filming and production of seven Mini- Films (well-known classics of the Silver Screen) on location here around the parish. Roughly one hundred ‘actors’ from the membership of the Bride Rovers Club and friends will be taking part. On the Gala Night in the Rochestown Park Hotel on May 26th Awards for Best Grossing Film, Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting stars, Best Production, Most Entertaining Film and so on will be presented.” They say great oaks come from little acorns and so it proved for Bride Rovers. The event was a gigantic success and we’re still talking about it, well done to one and all -about 190 people in total, who made the Oskars such a wonderful community event.

With the Cork under 20’s winning in Ennis on Friday night, the Cork Senior footballers at the same venue on Saturday and then Thurles on Sunday it was great Rebel weekend. The only ‘downside’ to all this is the cost for families of having so many games in a short few weeks. Hopefully at the end of this year when a  the Split Season Review takes place all these issues will be considered as well the matter of being able to view our native Gaelic games freely on television.

FUNDRAISER. A 'Night at The Dogs' for the Katie O Keeffe Fund will be held at Curraheen Park, Cork on Saturday June 8th. Join us, for a night at the Dogs for some community fun, dog racing, and live music. Doors 7pm. Tickets available from Tom Mannix (087-1219223)

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia