Seniors out of County...

Sometimes sport can be cruel. In most sports clubs with a variety of teams there are invariably more defeats than victories. Just a few short weeks ago in Pairc Ui Rinn  Bride Rovers snatched a great victory from the jaws of defeat. Last Friday night we nearly achieved the same result but on this occasion we fell short and lost out to Na Piarsaigh by three points. We came from behind in the second half with a great display but our attempts at point scoring let us down. At the very end it seemed that it could be a repeat of the Courceys game where a late, late free tied up the scores and earned us extra time but on Friday night Barry Johnson's shot was barely outside the post. Such are the ups and downs of hurling. As we face into September it's a pity to be out of the County Senior championship but overall we can take many positives from our campaign.

We lost the toss and played against the breeze and a very difficult strong sunshine. The city side who were playing us for the fourth time in the Senior championship started well with points in the second, third and seventh minute and during this time they also struck three wides. We were very slow to settle. Barry was just off target in the fourth minute. A great run from defence by Shane Kearney deserved a score but the shot just trailed off wide. Na Piarsaigh were 4 points up before Sean Ryan brought a massive cheer from the huge Rovers following in the fourteenth minute with a great point. Two minutes later Barry doubled our tally. Gradually our defence got on top and we came more into the contest. Na Piarsaigh had the ability though to score points from distance and were 7 points to 2 ahead by the 20th minute - and they had also struck 8 wides at that point. Barry and Sean then hit a point each but the city side had two similar scores to lead by nine points to four heading for half time. We got a huge boost when Cian O Connor goaled from a narrow angle after a superb block down. It meant we went in at the break just two points in arrears, 1 4 to 0 9. Considering our sluggish start and Na Piarsaighs eleven first half wides to be just two points adrift was a great position to be in. Then the previous Sunday in Croke Park Cork were in a similar position and remember what happened! With the aid of the breeze in the second half a few early points would have been the tonic on the restart. Unfortunately the opposite happened and Na Piarsaigh had three points in as many minutes. We had plenty possession but were off target with too many shots. Sean Ryan opened our second half account with a point after  seven minutes to make it 1 5 to 0 11. Barry pointed a 65 in the forty second minute but every time we got a score they went back upfield and replied with scores. It was  1 6 to 0  15 with quarter of an hour left. Michael Collins added a point as did Na Piarsaigh- 1 7 to 0 16. Then after stout defending by the Murphy brothers, Donncha Carr and Brendan a great movement ended with a superb goal from Barry Johnson -game on! It was 2 7 to 0 16, just three points in it. The next score was vital but unfortunately we conceded two points to go five behind again with ten minutes left. Sean Ryan narrowed the gap to four. Then in the space of three minutes we struck three wides in a row, just at a time when we were totally dominating the contest. Those wides cost us dearly. Barry did narrow the margin to three again as time was fast running out. Then came the last gasp free- we had flashbacks to the Courceys game but on this occasion there was no game saving green flag. The final whistle went and on a scoreline of 0 18 to 2 9 we were out. Na Piarsaigh scored 14 points from play, we hit just 6. They had seven players on the score-sheet while we had just four. Overall it was a battling display especially in the second half but in reality our concession of four early points and then three at the start of the second half meant we were playing second fiddle for most of the contest.

TEAM & SCORERS; D. Fitzgerald, S. Kearney, B. Walsh, D. Carr, L Forde, Brian Murphy, S. Walsh, M. Liddane, Barry Murphy, J. Pratt, C. O Connor 1 0, B. Johnson 1 4, S. Glasgow, M. Kearney, S. Ryan 0 4. Subs; F. Collins, M. Collins 0 1, W. Finnegan, J. O Driscoll.

It has been a year of change for our Senior team During our four match campaign eight players have played Senior championship for the first time. This can only be positive for the future. Allied to that we saw some man of the match type displays on Friday night from several established players. No one ever said it would be easy playing at this level, it's not but we can be proud of our showing despite the acute pain of defeat. Great credit to all the players on the panel and the backroom team for the mighty effort put in since last autumn. 

Our semi final game against Midleton had been pencilled in for last Monday night but was deferred again. An alternative date of tonight Thursday August the 28th has been mooted but at the time of writing nothing definite has been finalised.

 

The Jackpot for the Draw on Tuesday August 19th was €3400. The four numbers drawn were 1,18,22 & 28 and there was no jackpot winner on the night.

The winners of the weekly prizes of €30 were ;Paudy Collins, Mullentoura, Linda Cahill, Shanowen, Noreen Hogan Kildinan, Anita Hogan Kildinan and Mary Murphy Raheen. The Jackpot for lat Tuesday August 26th was €3600.

Tickets for the Bride Rovers weekly Lotto are just € 2 but every €2 is important for the running of the Club. We are about to commence a huge development in Pairc na Bride -a new large Astro Turf  all-weather training area and the cost of this project is massive. All fund raising efforts are difficult in these time but we are grateful for the ongoing support of all those who help the Club. Tickets for 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. 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.

 

Well done to Castlelyons on their marvellous win over Kilmeen in the Co JBFC Final in Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday. Kilmeen defeated Bride Rovers in the semi final in a contest that we nearly stole at the end. Castlelyons last won this competition in 1989. Well done also to Fermoy on their IHC replay win and best of luck v Eire Og at the weekend.

This Saturday and Sunday coming Sunday the Juvenile and Ladies Clubs in conjunction with Rathcormac Community Council are having a Wild Rovers Family Fun weekend which should be very enjoyable.

 

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