Celebrating Fifty Years...

The Bride Rovers GAA club was founded in 1928 but in the late 1950's and early 1960's struggled in terms of success on the playing fields and even in terms of getting enough players for teams. Then in 1962 and 1963 the Club was not affiliated at all. During those years players from Rathcormac, Bartlemy and Kildinan played with Castlelyons, Lisgoold, Watergrasshill, Glenville, Sarsfields, Castletownroche and Owenacurra Rovers while some players remained inactive, others simply retired.

During the late summer and autumn of 1964 a few ad hoc gatherings took place of Gaels in the parish who wanted to see the Club back in action once more. Contacts were made by various parties and the 'coming back' process culminated in a meeting in Bartlemy Parish Hall on December the 7th 1964 at which the Bride Rovers GAA club was reformed. Next Sunday is fifty years to the day since that meeting and the Club plan to mark the occasion in a special way in Bartlemy on Sunday.

The Early Years.

Within a few years of the founding of the GAA in 1884 Hurling and Football clubs were started in Bartlemy (H.) and Rathcormac (F.). Though separate clubs the playing personnel on both were practically the same. With local PP Fr. Edmond Barry to the fore the Clubs met with brilliant success at Senior Level in both codes.  Unfortunately politics and sport got enmeshed and there was such a split in Cork GAA that three rival County Boards operated for several years -all running separate championships. The local clubs affiliated to the O Brien Board -named after William O Brien MP. Rathcormac won the Senior Football c.ship of 1889 under the O Brien Board while Bartlemy lost the 1890 Senior h final to the Barrs. The two clubs in the parish faded away in the 1890's. Several restarts happened in the new century and again in the 1920's clubs were in existence in both Bartlemy and Rathcormac. Then in the autumn of 1928 wise heads from both Clubs came together in the old Band Room in Bartlemy to form one Parish Club and that's how Bride Rovers came into existence. Blue and White were the 'old' club colours of the 1880's and it was agreed to buy a new set of jerseys in Cork in these colours. Billy Barry of Hightown and later Mondaniel got the task of doing the purchasing. Funds were scarce and he was offered a set of green, white and gold jersies at a 'knock-down' price -much cheaper than the blue and white set!  So the new club set forth in the National colours set forth. Success came very quickly at East Cork Junior and Minor Hurling championship level and the club also won a County Minor Hurling championship. In 1933 it was decided to upgrade to Intermediate level and the team reached the County Final where they lost to Lough Rovers. Back down Junior in 1938 the East Cork Final was reached but defeat to Cloyne was the result. For the next dozen years little championship success came, just league and tournament wins though Con Murphy won an all-Ireland medal with Cork in 1946. In the early 1950's the club base moved to Bartlemy with the club affiliated under the name of Bartlemy, then Bride Rovers again and also as St. Bartholomew's. A good under 16 and minor team came to the fore in the mid 50's but no success was forthcoming at adult level. Sars were the victors over St. Bartholomew's in the 1960 B Grade Hurling Final. The Club had to go up to A Grade in 1961 and were completely out of their depth. No club represented the parish then in 1962 and 1963.

 Fifty Years Ago.

The meeting held in Bartlemy Hall was well attended and there was a great sense of enthusiasm to 'get the show back on the road' again little could those who attended that meeting ever imagined that the seeds they planted that night would grow and flourish. Fr. Michael Ryan CC presided and when it was agreed to go ahead with the relaunch of Bride Rovers Fr Ryan presided over the election of Officers

President Fr Corbett PP

Vice President Fr Michael Ryan

Chairman Edmond Hoskins

Vice Chairman Paddy Mannix

Secretary  Donal O Liathain NT

Treasurer. Paddy O Reagan

The initial committee was Tom Heskin, Tony Walsh, Dave Ryan, Willie Cotter and Tony O Brien. Just Paddy Mannix and Willie Cotter survive from the first group. At the next meeting the following were added to the committee Dick Foley, Jim Murphy, Dave Hogan, Jimmy O Brien and Johnny Barry. Tony, Dick and Ml Murphy were appointed as Asst. Secretaries. As in 1928 success came quickly. In 1966 the Rovers won the East Cork Junior B Grade Hurling championship for the first time ever. That year Seanie Barry won u21 and senior All Irelands with Cork Junior A grade East Cork titles came in1968 and 1969 and the finals of 1972 and 1973 were also contested. Minor teams were fielded firstly with St Catherines and later with Watergrasshill before going 'on our own'. A second B Grade title was won in 1975. Junior Hurling League Titles came in 1981 and 1982. The B Grade Football title was won in 1981 -our first footballs win since 1889. The 1980's were a period of development with the new pitch being opened but we had no major Championship wins. The Minor Hurlers won the East Cork and County Minor :League Titles in 1992 We regraded down to Junior B in hurling in the early 1990's and eventually won our third East Cork at that grade in 1993 in fact completing a great double with the B Footballers also winning out in East Cork.

Golden Era

1990s without doubt the golden era for the club, Winning the B Double in 1993 and following defeats in the 94 and 95 Junior A Hurling to Watergrasshill the breakthrough came in 1997, reaching the East Cork Final where Castlelyons with a very strong team proved too good  and went on to win a county Title. An U21 B Hurling title was won in Dec 1997 when we defeated Carrigtwohill in a delayed replay.

1998 saw us capture the Jamsey Kelleher Cup for the first time since 1969 when Donal Ryan led the team to victory over Dungourney . Playing Ballinascarthy in an epic County Semi Final in Pairc Ui Rinn we won through to the final against surprise finalists Freemount and after another epic game we emerged as County Champions in what was an unforgettable day for the club.

Barry Murphy played at number 5 on the all-conquering Imokilly team that claimed a County Senior Hurling Championship with a win against the famed Rockies, and Gerard lane was elected Chairman of the East Cork Board at Convention held in Bartlemy.

Better was to follow  in the 1990s with some tremendous displays at Intermediate level culminating in our final appearance v Inniscarra on Sunday Oct 26^th 2003 and as described in the Avondhu newspaper in our weekly column “Occasionally something happens that is hard to describe in words, because joy, emotion, pride and happiness are all so hard to write about. Sunday October 26th 2003 was such a happening. A fairy tale come true, a dream, an illusion? No ‘tis all true - Bride Rovers are Cork County Intermediate Hurling Champions for the year of our Lord 2003.”. A Munster Intermediate hurling Championship followed with victory over Kilruane McDonaghs fom Tipperary on a score line of Bride Rovers 0-14   Kilruane Mc Donaghs (Tipp) 0-11

Brian Murphy was drafted into the Cork Panel in 2003 and won a Munster S H Medal along with an All Irl Intermediate also before going on to win two more Celtic Crosses in 04 and 05 as well as young Player of the year award.2004 also saw Brendan Walsh captain Cork Intermediates to an All Irl with Barry Johnson on the panel and Liam Barry as a selector. 2004 also saw the club capture an East Cork JAF Championship and followed up with another in 2007.

2008 saw the club reach the County SH Final where Sarsfields the hot favourites were in the other corner and despite leading most of the way in a never to be forgotten final Sars pipped us by a single point. Disappointment for sure, but everyone was  so proud of the boys. From Junior B in 1993 to Senior Finalists in 2008 it was a magic Journey.

Other notable achievements in recent times have been the opening of our new Astro turf facility , the winning of various underage titles and in particular an u13 A County  title, Winning various Scor titles  and club Referee James Bermingham refereeing a County Senior Final. Grace Kearney, Eleanor Ahern and Jennifer Barry winning with Cork Ladies Footballers. So all in all it has been some journey travelled.

Mass on Sunday

To celebrate the last 50 years a special mass will be celebrated in Bartlemy on this Sunday at 9.30am All past members players supporters are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served in the Hall after mass  and some club memorabilia will be on display as well as a special cake to celebrate the occasion ,hopefully, few speeches and maybe the club song will get an airing !

Photos

Many Pictures and events of the past can be seen and relived on the club website. The archive gallery is full of pictures from the past 50 years, and excerpts from the club History as well as match reports can all be seen at the press of a button on www.briderovers.ie

If you have any pictures or articles send them to Gerard Lane at gerardlanegaa@gmail.com

Bride Rovers abu

Our Club history published in 1999 has the full story of Gaelic games in the parish from the 1700s to 1998 and a few copies are still available from club officers if you wish to avail of same

Club Lotto

Lotto 25/11/2014  €6200

 2 9,15,18           

The winners of this week’s five €30 'Lucky Dips’ were;

. Carol Holland, Rathcormac

. Cathal O’Callaghan c/o Laya

. Dan Quill, Mondaniel

. Caroline Broderick, Monanig

. Alan Fitzgerald, Rathcormac.