Junior C and Minor Hurlers Win...

We might be on the cusp of the month of October but fixtures continue apace. Last weekend we had three teams in action and thankfully we suffered no defeat. On Saturday in a deluge we defeated Bandon in the County Minor Hurling championship. At High Noon on Sunday our Junior C Hurlers made a winning championship debut and on Monday night the Under 16 footballers drew with Kllara Og.

Bride Rovers  Bandon   0.6.

At Ballincollig on Saturday evening last our Minor Hurlers were back in Championship action. Just a week had passed since our one point defeat by Cobh in the East Region Final at Rostellan. It was hard for the lads to have to play so quickly but they showed great character in this game -the same as they had in the Minor Football championship five days earlier. In Rostellan it was cold and dry but last Saturday on the Western suburb of Cork City the rain bucketed down making conditions very testing for hurling. In 2015 at under 16 level we had mighty tussles with Bandon and with their Senior hurlers playing Na Piarsaigh later on Saturday evening in Pairc Ui Rinn we expected a massive following from the West Cork town en route to the Senior game. Weather conditions meant that it was only the hardy and brave came to Ballincollig and we had plenty supporters in that category. The extremes of rain and a driving wind meant that scores were hard to come by. We started well and points from Cian Hogan and Brian Roche settled us. Our backs were under a lot of pressure from the bigger Bandon lads but led by Jordan Mannix at full back they coped well. We built up an interval lead of three points 0 8 t o 0 5. We could have been further ahead but then good defensive pressure caused Bandon to hit a few wides. I thought we had the wind in the first half but the way the mist and rain were swirling it was extremely hard to say if either team had an advantage at any stage. Our lads went about their task in determined fashion in the second half. We held Bandon scoreless for the next thirty three minutes. A goal from Brian Roche was a huge boost for us. Conor Barry added a few points from frees and we went on to win by 1  12 to  0  5. It was great win, well done lads. Now it seems we will be meeting Cobh once more, this time in the County Semi Final but at the time of writing no definite date for this tie has been announced. I often got wet at a game but last Saturday bate Banagher!

Team and scorers;  B. Hogan, R O Sullivan, J. Mannix, T. Murray, M. Quinn, P O Flynn, P O Leary, E. Roche, K Kearney , C. Ryan 0 1, C. Hogan 0  1, G O Keeney , B. Roche- 1  5, S O Flynn, C. Barry 0 5 - 0 3  frees. J O Sullivan, Ml. Friel, Chris Coleman, Shaun Knox.

East Cork Junior C Hurling Championship.

What a difference a day makes! From the Biblical Deluges in Ballincollig on Saturday evening it was back to shirt sleeves and lovely autumn sunshine on Sunday. It was just after midday when Niall O Neill threw in the sliotar to start our first round game in the Junior C Hurling Championship. Jamesy Kelleher Memorial Park in Clonmult was the venue as we set out on a championship campaign that has yielded East Cork titles in 2015 and again last year. We had an experienced team with lads that had played at Junior, Intermediate and Senior level over the years. I reckoned the starting team had already given about 160 years of service playing adult hurling between them. With our full forward line netting  4  9 between them we were in total control from early on. Terry Broderick scored a massive  total of 2 9. Just a few weeks ago over 80,000 people paid an average of about €80 to see the All Ireland Hurling Final. Last Sunday it was just €5 and the crowd was much smaller yet  we saw some massive hurling. The overhead pull is rarely enough seen nowadays but on Sunday the skill which was a hall mark of Ring and Mackey was seen in all it's splendour. In the first half a clearance  from Brian Lahive went to Pa O Driscoll and the recently returned from USA referee sent the sliotar soaring towards towards the Lisgoold goalmouth. Donal Ryan with the grace of a swan rising from the water leapt into the air, pirouetted in mid-air like a ballet dancer and met the sliotar with his hurley -bang, into the net-green flag waving, Ryano you never lost it! Joe Delaney displayed all the innate skills picked up in the last century on the banks of the Suir that flows down by Mooncoin. He marshalled his defence well. Alan Broderick -nicknamed 'Butcher' was absent this year but Boycie served up a great display at midfield adding 1 4 to our tally. Richie, Alan, and Colm Power  shared 11 points between them as we won by 5 24 to 0 4. It was great win but tougher challenges will be ahead. Fielding a third XV is never easy but well done to the lads and Management team of Billy, Sham, Dave and Barry and their helpers. Team and scorers; Maurice Dooley, Brian Lahive, Joe Delaney, Mark O Connell, Jim O Connor, Gavin O Flynn, Pa O Driscoll, Stephen Boyce 1 4, Jamie Buckley, Richie Cahill 0 4, Alan O Keeffe  0 3 , Colm Power 0 4, Terry Broderick 2 9, Donal Ryan 1 0, Jesse Barry O Keeffe 1 0, Dylan Browne, James Barry, Shane O Flynn 0 1, Christopher Coleman. We have yet to play Aghada in the Div 3 of the JH League while a Draw will be made for the semi final of the Championship. The semi finalists ar Cobh, Bride Rovers, Russell Rovers and Sars or Midleton.

Rebel Óg, East Under 16 Football Championship

Bride Rovers 4-6  Kilara Óg 3-9
On Monday night last September  25th we played Kilara Óg (Kilworth/ Araglin ) in the semi final of the Rebel Óg East U-16 Football Championship Semi -Final. Playing our first game of football since we defeated Castlelyons we were slow into our stride and were five points down after the first few minutes. Then we strolled down the pitch and after a few good passes we got into the game.  Cian Hogan scored  our opening point from a free and then converted a penalty after John Buckley was fouled. But Killara Óg answered quickly  with a goal. At half time we were six points down. In the second half we scored first but Kilara Óg kept the score board ticking over with white flags. Shaunie Knox scored  two goals after great work by Seamus Ahern and Cian. With two minutes left we were still four points down and it looked like exit. Then Shaun netted a goal -just a point in it now with less than a minute left.  Cian won the kick out and he was fouled. A pressure kick surely but it ended up going over the bar. Whew, we had secured a draw out of nowhere. It hadn't looked likely for much of the game but the lads displayed a mighty never-say-die attitude Panel
Darragh O Sullivan Tomas Macek Ruairi O Sullivan Jacob Powell Oisin Roche Patrick O Flynn Michael Quinlan Matthew Quinn Kieran Kearney Craig O Callaghan Cian Hogan Shaun Knox Edmond Cashman John Buckley Eoin O Sullivan Ronan O Connell . No replay date has yet been fixed and we are still awaiting a date for our game v Ibane Gaels in the County Under 16 Hurling Championship.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot for Tuesday September the 19th was €15,000 and the four numbers drawn were  8, 14, 25 and 32 and there was no winner
The Jackpot for last Tuesday September the 26th was €15,200
€30 each went  to Joe Murphy, Moulane, Bridgid Gowen, c/o Laya, Jan Lesnipik, Rathcormac, Mary Murphy, Castlelyons and Mary Arnold, Bartlemy. The Lotto is the biggest source of income for the Bride Rovers Club and we really appreciate all those who invest €2 or more each week. The tickets can be had from Club Members, in local Business outlets and online at locallotto.ie

Mammies and Others  in Croke Park.

Well done to the Bride Rover Mammies and Other Ladies Football team who played Ballymun Kickhams in Croke Park last Sunday. It was a marvellous occasion for the girls to play in front of 46,000 people. With Brian and Eoin Roche having played there already this year it meant that a total of 14 Bride Rovers players have graced Croke Park in 2017, mighty.

Tom Barry RIP

It was with a deep sense of sadness that we heard last week of the death of Tom Barry of Garrynacole, Rathcormac. Though he had been ill for some time his passing marks a break in a long link going back to the early days of the Bride Rovers Club. Son of David John Barry and may Hoskins -two stalwart Rovers families, Tom and his brother Eddie grew up at a time when the fortunes of the Club were at a low ebb. At the age of just 19 he took on the job of Club Chairman when St Bartholomew's was the name of the Club. The Club reached the East Cork Junior B Final in 1960, losing out to a late, late Sars goal - 4 2 to 3 4. Tom had his first cousins Tony, Jimmy and John O Brien and Eddy Heskin on that team. In 1967 Tom's father David John was elected Club Chairman -a position he held until his sudden death in June1975. At a special Club Meeting on Monday June the 20th 1977 Tom Barry proposed that we purchase a 7 acre field (now Pairc na Bride)- the proposal was seconded by Liam Collins. In the late 70's and 80's Tom became very involved with the Club's Juvenile section, the foundation of future successes. He also served as a Junior Selector and served in that capacity in 1993 with the hurling team when the Junior B Grade Double was won. As a historian Tom had few peers. He loved his native place and researched every facet of local history and wrote extensively on his favourite subject. We are indebted to Tom for the detailed research he did in regards the 1741 Hurling match played at Glenagaul, Kildinan. This game is now deemed to be the first ever 'inter-county' match between teams drawn from Cork and Tipperary.  Tom published several books and contributed many articles to local newspapers. We extend our deepest sympathy to Tom's family at this sad time. May he rest in peace.

GAA DRAW. The Cork GAA Members Draw for 2017/18 was launched in Pairc I Chaoimh last week. Tickets are now on sale from Bride Rovers Member at €10 a month or €100 for the twelve draws. The first two draws are in November so please support this Draw

Mass for Liam Collins

Former Club Player, officer and mentor died some time ago in England. A mass for the repose of his soul will be held at Kilworth Army Camp at 11 o clock on this coming Saturday - Liam was also a long serving member of the FCA

ASTRO TURF BOOKING.

All bookings of the two Astro Turf playing areas are to be made by contacting the Club Runaí Daniel Lane at 087 2070100

Twitter and Website.

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@ BrideRoversGAA or on our own website at www.briderovers.ie

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are;   Rathcormac Tyres

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