Senior Hurlers Prepare...

It's been all systems go for the last few weeks for the Senior Hurling team. Since the win over Courcey Rovers in Round Three training has stepped up in preparation for the Na Piarsaigh game. The difference between training for the championship and training for a Slan Leat Relegation Final is very stark Two years ago we lost three Senior championship games on the trot which meant a do-or-die showdown with Cloyne loomed on the horizon. We won that game in Pairc Ui Rinn to keep our Senior status but the tension and pressure in the lead up to that game was fierce. Training for the next round of the championship is different  as win, draw or lose the game it has no further consequences for the following season. Our game against Na Piarsaigh is fixed for Saturday week in Pairc Ui Rinn at 6.15. In the last two weeks we've had challenge games against sides from Limerick and Tipperary. One can never read too much into these games but they give players an opportunity to try and improve their hurling style. Make no mistake about it we will need a huge improvement from the Courceys game if we are to even trouble Na Piarsaigh. While we exhibited tremendous heart and bravery to earn a draw and then win in extra time that kind of hurling wouldn't do against the city side at all. We simply have to spread our scoring ability. It is not unusual in modern day hurling games to see all the forwards and the midfielders contribute to the scoring tally and this is what we must work towards.  The standard of hurling in the Killeagh v Na Piarsaigh game was far superior to our game so we are under no illusions as we face into  what will be a very difficult game to win. It's just brilliant to be in the Senior hurling championship at this time of the year with time to work on hurling and fitness. The challenge from Na Piarsaigh will be huge but the Rovers always relish a challenge.

 

We travelled to Castlemartyr to take on the home side on Tuesday of last week. Following the throw-in we conceded an early free which was converted but worse was to follow as within two minutes we found ourselves down by 4 points as a sideline cut for Castlemartyr from 45 metres went straight to the back of our net to leave us down by 1-1 to 0-0. We then settled into the game and scored three points on the trot. We were on top for a period but we failed to convert four frees in this half and we eventually ended the half behind by 1-9 to 0-7.

We opened brightly in the second half but a  further goal was conceded when a shot by Castlemartyr rebounded off the crossbar. Following this set back we played some excellent hurling and rattled off 5 points in a row and were very unlucky when Colm Power broke three tackles and was straight through for goal but the referee refused to gave us the advantage and pulled it back for a free. We still battled on and finished up loosing by 2-16 to 0-17. The panel of players who attended are to be thanked for their commitment on the night.

Panel and Scorers:  Darren Moore, Podge Noonan, Brian Collins, Brian Lahive, Jacob Macak, Dave Burke, Barry Collins, Stephen Pratt, Sean Cotter, Gavin Quill, Mike Hogan, Damien Buckley, Colm Power, Garry Clerkin, Cian Howard, Kieran Wolfe, James Barry, Jamie Buckley.

Scorers:  Gavin Quill 0-9, Mike Hogan 0-3, Stephen Pratt 0-3, Colm Power 0-1, Damien Buckley  0-1.

Our next outing is the in the first round of the East Cork Junior C Championship V Killeagh on Monday the 18th August. The time and venue for this game are not finalised at the time of writing. Players will be contacted with full details.

 

ThiLast week’s draw took place in O’Coileán’s Bar on Tuesday August the 5th for a jackpot of €3,000. The four numbers drawn were 1/15/23 & 28 and there was no jackpot winner.

The winners of the five €30 'Lucky Dips’ were;
. Tom Hegarty, Bartlemy
. Pa O’Driscoll, Rathcormac
. Tricia O’Flynn, Rathcormac
. Mary Cahill, Moulane
. James Ahern, Hightown.

This  week’s draw  took place in Barry’s Bar on Tuesday August 12th for a jackpot of €3,200.

Tickets for the weekly Lotto Draw are priced at just  € 2 each and can be purchased from Club members. They are also available in local business outlets  and online at locallotto.ie Support for the weekly Lotto is vital and greatly appreciated as the costs involved in running a GAA Club are increasing all the time. As well as the day to day costs we are planning more major Development work in Pairc na Bride in 2014 so finance is always needed. We are always looking for new Lotto Ticket sellers so if you could sell even a few tickets each week it would be of great benefit to the Club.

 

Twitter and Tweet. And Website.
The Tweets and Twitters have been going well all year. So many people at home and abroad are now very hi-tech when it comes to keeping in touch with the activities of the Bride Rovers Club. The online editions of newspapers are growing in popularity. Meanwhile you can follow the Club on twitter at twitter@ Bride RoversGAA or on our own website at www.briderovers.ie  Any news items or general items of interest are very welcome for inclusion and should be sent to Gerard Lane. Please inform family members, relations and friends of Bride Rovers about the ways and means of keeping in contact with the Club.

 

The gaze of the country from a sporting point of view will be on Croke Park next Sunday. Cork and Tipperary meet in a unique game, unique because for the first time ever the sides meet in an All Ireland Semi Final. Over the years in Cork and Thurles and Limerick -even Killarney the greatest of Munster hurling rivals have met in Provincial championship ties and in Qualifiers. Next Sunday will be the first time since 1897 that the counties will meet in a Championship tie in Dublin. The 1896 Munster Hurling final wasn't played until August 1897- that wasn't unusual in the early days of the GAA as fixtures were hopelessly behind schedule. Anyway that Final in Kilmallock ended in a draw. The replay went ahead at the Jones' Road ground(now Croke Park)  and Tipperary won on a scoreline of 7 9 to 2 3.  In historical terms of course the great Cork/Tipp rivalry started a lot closer to home. In 1741 two teams drawn from players in Cork and Tipperary met at Glenagowl, Kildinan.  This contest is regarded as the first ever 'inter-county' game between Cork and Tipperary. In 1739 and 1740 Ireland endured a 'mini Ice age' with terrible weather and freezing cold. A famine resulted with huge crop failures. Things improved in 1741 and the autumn of that year produced a reasonable potato crop. Local historian Tommy Barry considers that it was possible that the hurling game  came about as a sort of celebration that the worst was over and things were getting back to normal. The result of the game was disputed with both counties claiming victory. Gaelic poets on both sides put quill to vellum in detailing the manner in which their team 'won'. Were it not for these poems which still exist it is possible that details of the historic game could be long forgotten. Who'll win on Sunday? - maybe a high scoring draw! Best wishes to the Cork team and safe travelling on the roads to all who head tyo Dublin. The hay is well and truly saved so…

Congrats to the Cork Intermediate team on their great win in the All Ireland final v Wexford last Saturday. A special word of congrats to the Castlelyons, Fermoy and Kilworth players on the team and panel.

The Club is planning a major fundraiser in October. A Night at the Dogs in Curraheen Park in Cork is being held. Full details will be announced shortly.

 

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS.
Thanks to our Main Club Sponsors Rathcormac Tyres, Veoila Environmental Services and O Coileains Bar for their ongoing support.