Bride save it as Cloyne go crashing out .....

Bride Rovers 2-13

Cloyne            2-12

Evening Echo Mon Sept 17th 

AGONY and ecstasy on a monumental scale as Bride Rovers find salvation with the second last puck of a pulsating Cork County senior hurling, relegation decider at Páirc Uí Rinn last Saturday.
In front of a huge attendance, they somehow managed to manufacture a goal in the dying seconds of a contest that bore all the hallmarks of that dramatic day last May when Manchester City snatched the Premiership title from the grasp of their neighbours Manchester United.
The stakes were huge, the prize was immense even if there wasn't a trophy in sight but the retention of their senior status was of paramount importance to these two East Cork rivals.
Cloyne looked to have secured their place among the 16 senior clubs next season when they led by two points deep into stoppage time.
But the age old theory that a two point lead is the most dangerous lead of all manifested itself again and when Bride Rovers were awarded a free 20 metres or so out from the Cloyne goal, they were getting one last shot at redemption.
Up stepped their keeper Dinny Fitzgerald and, after the free had been moved a few yards for dissent, he let rip with a thunderous drive that was stopped by the Cloyne wall of defenders.
That was it we thought. But there was one last act of drama to come when the Cloyne clearance was blocked down and there and then the Rovers number 11 David Burke became a folk hero in Rathcormac when he smashed the ball into the corner of the Cloyne net.
It was as dramatic a moment as there has been for many a long day in Cork hurling.
Of course what it all meant was that Bride Rovers were safe and Cloyne were no longer a senior club.
It was cruel, cruel on them but the hallmark of all Bride Rovers teams through the ages has been their resilience, their refusal to raise the white flag even in their most trying moment.
Cloyne were not happy about the awarding of the free, less happy that the whistle sounded straight from the puck-out but that's how dreams live and die and it was Bride Rovers time when the last whistle sounded.
A few years ago they themselves were cruelly denied county title glory when they lost the final to Sarsfields by a point, maybe this was payback time to their supporters for that heartbreak.
This was certainly one of the best games of the senior grade this season and it made one wonder how both sides found themselves in the desperate situation that they were in.
Bodies were put on the line in the quest for salvation, there was never more than a puck of a ball between them throughout and if it had ended in a draw there would not have been a dissenting voice.
Bride Rovers defended magnificently at times, so too did Cloyne and in Brendan Walsh, Barry Murphy and Brian Murphy, Bride had men that stood tall.
Barry Johnson was hugely influential in midfield and claimed some massive scores throughout the hour, one a first-half goal from a penalty while Michael Collins nailed two, vital, second-half points and that man Burke got the goal that meant everything.
Eoin O'Sullivan was ultra consistent for Cloyne, young Dillon Cahill rifled over some huge pointed frees and Paudie O'Sullivan, well policed by Brian Murphy, showed his class at times.
Cahill nearly goaled in the opening moments but his shot flew across the Rovers goal and out wide from a delivery by Diarmuid O'Sullivan.
But a short few minutes later Cloyne had the green flag raised when Conor Cusack belted in a fine goal after being set up by James Nyhan and that was a massive injection of confidence for a team that had Killian Cronin playing in his first game of the season at centre-back.
The opening half was very much a tale of Johnson pointing placed balls for Bride and young Cahill doing likewise for Cloyne.
However, that opening Cloyne goal was cancelled out by Johnson in the 10th minute when he drilled home a penalty after Sean Ryan had been fouled by Brian McCarthy.
It was 1-7 to 1-5 at the break for Bride after they had the advantage of a stiffish breeze in the opening 30 minutes.
Things continued in a similar vein when they resumed, both teams splitting the posts on a number of occasions with Domhnall O'Sullivan and Jerome O'Driscoll exchanging scores in the 39th and 40th minutes.
It was 1-11 apiece after a sublime Paudie O'Sullivan point when he sold Brian Murphy a dummy in the 46th minute and shortly afterwards Aidan Collins took the ball off the line for Bride from a Conor Cusack effort.
Then arrived what we believed was the game's defining moment in the 57th minute when Cloyne sub Colm O'Sullivan struck for his team's second goal after Nyhan had again been the provider.
A point from the wonderful Eoin O'Sullivan followed and it looked like it might secure the deal for Cloyne.
But the fat lady hadn't sung yet and in those dramatic, quite sensational final moments it was Bride Rovers who produced the score that brought about scenes of incredible joy from all associated with this great club.
One had to feel desperately sorry for Cloyne but that was sport in all it's glory and cruelty.
It was a game for the ages and, yes, it was a pity somebody had to lose.

 Cloyne relegated as Burke's late blast gives Rovers redemption

 Bride Rovers 2-13 Cloyne 2-12

Irish Examiiner Mon Sept 17th 

What a way to finish and stay in the top flight.
Equally, what a cruel way to drop down. Drama aplenty in this relegation play-off at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday as Bride Rovers and Cloyne battled to a standstill for the right to play in the SHC.

After trailing for most of this compelling decider, Cloyne upped the ante late on and, when James Nyhan set up substitute Colm O'Sullivan for a 57th minute goal to lead for only the second time, the red and black flags were flying high.

And it got even better when Eoin O'Sullivan, who had a super game, added a fine point in the 60th minute. All over. But in one final injury-time assault, Bride were awarded a 21m free well left of the Cloyne goal. For dissent, referee Colm Lyons moved it in front of the goal and although Rovers goalkeeper Denis Fitzgerald's strike was saved, the ball found its way to David Burke who drilled it low past a plethora of defenders for a goal that caused joy and heartache in equal measure.

On the puck-out, the full-time whistle blew Cloyne' chances away, a sad end for a club who probably played their best hurling of the year.

Bride Rovers selector Liam Barry could hardly hide his emotions describing it "an amazing victory and one very important for the club".

"We are so relieved," said Barry. "It would have been a disaster had we gone down because we have some fine young talent coming through. The tension was unbelievable. We really had to grind it out. I really thought it was gone but then David Burke's goal, a Tipperary man, mind you.

"I really feel sorry for Cloyne, a great club, but we fought to the bitter end for this one and thank God we made it."

There were heroes all over the park for Bride, none more so than Barry Johnson who was always in he thick of the action and scored 1-9. Corner-back Aidan Collin too played his part, saving what looked a certain goal chance from Conor Cusack in the 51st minute for a fruitless 65.

Bride were playing with the strong wind at their backs but Cloyne who nearly goaled in the first minute, Dillon Cahill's strike whistling past the upright. But they did get one in the fourth minute when James Nyhan set up Conor Cusack for a beauty.

But Bride were right back in it in the 10th minute when Brian McCarthy brought down Sean Ryan and Johnson powered home the penalty to give his side a 1-4 to 1-2 lead.

Johnson was Bride's main man in the second quarter with Brian Murphy and with Brendan Walsh feeding him, they led 1-7 to 1-5 at half-time.

Some fine hurling after the break, Cahill soon putting Cloyne level with two tasty frees. But they could never shake off a determined Rovers side and although Johnson's accuracy from placed balls began to wane, they still led 1-11 to1-10 entering the final quarter. Paidí O'Sullivan had the pick of the points after a delightful dummy on Murphy.

The late drama culminated in Burke's winner when all seemed lost. The curse of the two-point lead striking again.

Scorers for Bride Rovers: B Johnson 1-9 (5fs), D Burke 1-0, M Collins 0-2, R Murphy, J O'Driscoll 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cloyne: D Cahill 0-6fs, C Cusack and Colm O'Sullivan 1-0 each, P O'Sullivan 0-3, J Nyhan (free), Domhnall O'Sullivan, E O'Sullivan 0-1 each.

BRIDE ROVERS: D Fitzgerald; S Kearney, B Walsh, A Collins; Barry Murphy, Brian Murphy, L Forde; M Kearney, B Johnson; M Collins, D Burke, P Murphy; J O'Driscoll, D Dooley, S Ryan.

Subs: J Pratt for M Kearney (42), J Mannix for O'Driscoll (49).

CLOYNE: A Walsh; B Fleming, D O'Sullivan, B McCarthy; Domhnall O'Sullivan, K Cronin, E O'Sullivan; J Nyhan, C Smith; D Cahill, P O'Sullivan, L Cahill; K Dennehy, C Cusack, M Walsh.

Subs: P O'Sullivan for McCarthy (ht), C O'Sullivan for Dennehy (42), J Cotter for Nyhan (60).

Referee: C Lyons (Nemo Rangers).

Report Via Irish Examiner Mon Sept 17th 

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