Club Notes - 08/05/2021
Brian Bows Out..
After twenty two glorious years Brian Murphy has bowed out of the Club hurling scene. Since making his debut in 1999 Brian has been a fantastic player with Bride Rovers. He was truly a Rovers man first and last and while he gave over a decade of sterling service in the Red and White of Cork it's as a brilliant hurler in the Green, White and Gold of his native parish he'll be best remembered. One a the Murphy band of brothers from Raheen Brian was following in the footsteps of his great grandfather Patrick, grandfather Jim and his father Paudie in representing his parish.I heard old-timers from here tell me that back in the 1950's people would meet them and say what club are you from? When the answer 'Bride Rovers' would come immediately they'd say 'Ah Bride Rovers, God, Con Murphy was great player with ye and with Cork'. I know myself in the 1970's and 80's when I'd say I was a Bride Rovers Clubman straight away 'twould be said 'Ah Seanie Barry , he was a brilliant hurler' from yere Club'. Similarly in the last twenty years when the Bride Rovers name is spoken the reply is a constant ' Bride Rovers, oh yes, Brian Murphy one of the best corner backs Cork ever had'. Truly it didn't matter where Brian played - in defence, midfield or attack he was superb. He possessed that quality of never-say-die, which is so important in sportsmen and he led by example. Over the years there were so many games where he hurled us from defeat to victory. Sometimes it happens that when a player gets to wear a County jersey the performances at club level suffer. That was never the case with Brian Murphy.
He was 'our' Cork player and though he marked, and often held scoreless, some of the best attackers in the game he always produced his best hurling with the Rovers. I suppose we hoped, like the Down footballer, Mickey Linden, that he'd stay playing until the age of 55 but Brian all we can say, and I know everyone in the parish and County feels the same is, well done, thanks for great games and great days. We are very proud of you and will be forever.
BINGO THIS SATURDAY.
As Clubs are looking for new and novel methods of fundraising and keeping members and friends involved we in Bride Rovers are starting online Bingo. There is a great buzz about as we get ready for the first numbers to be called on this coming Saturday night May 8th at 8.30pm. Bingo is a fun game and while it is normally played in halls and Community Centres online Bingo has also taken off. To purchase bingo books please see the Bride Rovers website www.briderovers.ie or the Bride rovers Bingo Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages for the link to buy.
There will be 3 games each night with €50 for first line, €100 for 2 lines and €200 for a full house in each game giving a total of €1050.There will also be a jackpot in the last game and some spot prizes too on the night. A bingo books cost €8 and it promises to be a great night of family fun. All proceeds towards the club development. The Bingo book can only be purchased online, there will be no bingo books for sale in shops. Please tell all your family and friends. For more information please email brideroversbingo@gmail.com. There is also a specific Link outlining the actual details of purchasing the Bingo books and how to play on Saturday May 8th. Email all your friends the link too if they want to play. This is the link: https://member.
New methods of fundraising are always being sought and the Bride Rovers online Bingo is the latest- one of the first Fundraisers I found was in the 1920's when a Raffle was held with the first prize being a Goose.
The Bingo is a club development fundraiser involving all clubs, GAA, juvenile, Camogie and Ladies football
CHAMPIONSHIP 2021.
Last Thursday night the Groupings for the various County Board Championships were announced. It's a move on the road towards the commencement of this years playing season. As was introduced last year this years Championship are all being played on a Group Basis with Groups of teams thus giving a minimum of three games to each team. In our Group we play Mallow, Ballyhea and Ballymartle. It's tough foursome but with seeding there is no weak or lopsided group. We defeated Ballymartle last year while Ballyhea beat us in 2019. We have to go back to 2003 when we last played Mallow. That was on June 21st in Ballyhooley when we won a second round game in the Intermediate Championship. It seems likely 'twill be late August or early September before any of theses games will be played.
COUNTY BOOARD MEETING.
There was Co Board meeting on last Tuesday May 3rd and hopefully a Plan for games including smaller group Leagues will emanate from that meeting. The East Cork Board meeting scheduled for last night, Wednesday, was postponed to give Clubs a chance to look at and discuss the Co. Board proposals.
Club Gear.
We still have a certain amount of Bride Rovers shorts and stockings available from our Club Shop. Please contact Betty on 086 1540902 or Kathleen on 086 3807784. Also several new Product Lines in our Colours with the Club Crest are now available from O Neills at very reasonable prices. To look at the items go to the O Neills website www.oneills.com
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.
The Lotto Jackpot for Tuesday April the27th last was €20,000. The four numbers drawn were 6,10,20 and 22.. There was no Jackpot Winner. The winners of €30 each were Mossie O Sullivan, Ben, Cian and Colin Hogan, Mary Mannix, Brid O Connell and Vincent Hollestelle. You can
purchase tickets from any of the retail outlets locally that are open. Tickets can also be got locally from Bride Rovers GAA Club Members throughout the parish. Your support of the weekly Lotto Draw is deeply appreciated. If you're not in you can't win and each €2 is a help for our ongoing promotion of Gaelic games. A yearly ticket at €90can also be purchased. join the Bride Rovers weekly lotto online at http://briderovers.ie/
JUVENILE ACTIVITY UNDERWAY.
The pitches were buzzing last week and it was just so good to see all the youngsters back
Under 8's The U8’s were back training on Wednesday last April the 28th from 6:30 to 7:15 in the main pitch and on Saturdays at 10-11am. Any boys born in 2013 are eligible to play. We will have games starting soon but the first few weeks will be all about the kids having fun and learning to play again as a team. For any new players wishing to join, please contact Dave Burke on 087-7999413.
UNDER 9's Our Club under 9s returned to the pitch on Wednesday April 27th at 6.30pm. The under 9's this year will be based on the main pitch and will train on Wednesdays from 6.30 to 7.30pm and on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11. No games are on the horizon yet so we will spend the first few weeks playing games to reintroduce the boys to each other and have a bit of fun. The boys will be reintroduced to some key movement skills in the games, which can be used both with the small ball and the big ball.
Return to play protocols from the club will follow. As always, we welcome any new members to join our club.
UNDER 16 HURLING & FOOTBALL.. The under16's were back training from Thursday 29 of April in the Main pitch at 7-30. Even if you have not been involved before now with Bride Rovers if you are in the 15 to 16 age group do come along and join us.
UNDER 11's.The under 11 boys returned to training (hurling) on Wednesday 28th April at 6:30 in the lower half of main pitch and we will also have training on Saturday mornings at 10 o clock.
UNDER 12'S The under 12's started back training in our new
UNDER 13's.The U13s started back Thursday, April 28th, at 6.30pm on the main pitch followed by training in Pyne’s Field on last Monday May3rd at 7pm. There are no games expected for the immediate future and with non-contact regulations in place skills work will predominate. Mondays and Thursdays will be the standard training days for 2021. Any boys born in 2008 are welcome to come along, even if they have not been involved previously the more the merrier.
UNDER 14's.It's full steam ahead for the under 14 hurlers and footballers on Monday nights. For the next few weeks the under 14's will train on Mondays and Thursdays . The lads are delighted to be back on the field once more and look forward to a great year.
(NOTE; All the above training times and venues are as fixed, parents will be notified
of any changes due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances)
CUL CAMP.
WE are still very positive in regards to the holding of our annual Cul Camp later this summer. Guidelines in regards to the finer details are still being worked out by Rebel Og in conjunction with Croke Park. If there are still more wishing to do the Foundation Coaching Course please contact Jerome O Driscoll . There are two parts to the Course, an online part and a Practical coaching session which takes place on Friday week may 14th.
DOWN MEMORY LANE -11 YEARS AGO.
UNDER 12 COUNTY HURLING FINAL
BRIDE ROVERS 1 8 DIARMUID O MATHUNAS 0 6.
On a beautiful autumn day Caherlag with the sun beating down referee Ciaran Ryle from the Ballincollig club got the Final underway at two o clock. O Mathunas were first into the attack but our defence cleared. Against Kilmichael the previous Saturday we had got two early goals, which settled the team, but twas obvious that there would be no repeat as O Mathunas were well able to hurl in all areas of the pitch. They got the opening score, a point but after Shane O Flynns puck out was added to by Griffin O Sullivan, Shane O Connor levelled the scores with a lovely point which gave our lads great confidence. With Adam and John well on top in defence we repelled several good attacks. Dylan Browne gave us the lead before Shane had his second point. Brian Roche, D.J. Cahill and Jack Connor in the half back line were coming under a lot of pressure but hurling well. With a perfectly manicured pitch the surface was ideal for ground hurling and on several occasions when Leon, Conleth, Griffin and Jesse were confronted by much bigger opponents they simply whipped on the sliotar to great effect. After fifteen minutes O Mathunas reduced the deficit to a single point 0 3 to 0 2. After a great passage of hurling involving Adam, Griffin and Leon, Conleth Ryan hit over a sweet point to put us two ahead. Team Captain Jordan Service had a great shot saved by David Cronin, the O Mathunas net-minder. Jordan was not to be denied however and he scored a great goal -it turned out to be the crucial score of the game, in the twentieth minute, to give us a 1 4 to 0 2 lead. We were well on top at this stage but had three wides. O Mathunas were not finished and scored a fine point to leave us ahead at the short whistle by a margin of four points, 1 4 to 0 3. Considering our dominance of the game in the second quarter it didn't look like a great lead. Luckily our defensive unit was magnificent. The pressure they came under in the first half however was nothing like the waves of attack in the second period. From the restart the Carbery side were in the attack and had two points from frees to leave just two points between the sides. Time and again they came in search of a levelling score but Adam O Sullivan led the defence in great style and D.J. Cahill rallied the half backs to deny O Mathunas what looked like certain scores. Their defence improved as well and our forwards could make little headway. Jesse O Keeffe struck a fine point from a free to put us three ahead, 1 5 to 0 5. Griffin O Sullivan and Leon O Flynn at midfield came more into the game when we looked like being overwhelmed as O Mathunas surged forward. The game was in the melting pot once more when they got their sixth point. They were now looking for a winning goal but Shane O Flynn in goal led by example. Eoin Roche came on as a sub and soon he struck a grand point. Jordan had a great effort saved and Dylan, Jesse and Shane were in hard luck for scores. With five minutes left we were holding on grimly to a three point lead. O Mathunas brought the margin back to two once more as the huge Bride Rovers crowd were in full voice. Twice in tension filled closing minutes we were awarded frees and like Henry Shefflin or Eoin Kelly, Jesse stepped up to the mark and raised two white flags to put us 1 8 t o 0 7 ahead- a margin of safety. O Mathunas never gave up but at last the final whistle went and Bride Rovers were County Champions. It was a magnificent sight after the game, luckily 'Pitch Invasions' haven't been banned in Caherlag! Mick Lyons from Araglen presented the Trophy to Jordan amidst great scenes of jubilation. This was a great win for a great team. They are a great bunch of lads and proof positive that there is great a hurling tradition not alone in the parish but in Ulster too as Jordan, Jack and Conleth have proud Northern connections. There was a noisy and happy homecoming for the team as they travelled back through Bartlemy and Rathcormac en route to Pairc na Bride foe victory celebrations.
Team and scorers; Shane O Flynn, Adam O Sullivan, John O Sullivan, Brian Roche, D.J. Cahill, Jack Connor, Griffin O Sullivan, Leon O Flynn, Dylan Browne 0 1, Shane O Connor 0 2, Conleith Ryan 0 1, Jordan Service 1 0, Jesse O Keeffe 0 3. Sub Eoin Roche 0 1.
Other Panel members were Tadhg Sheehan, Mark Connelly, Jordan Mannix, Patrick O Flynn, Dean Browne and Ben Hogan.
EXECUTIVE MEETING
We have a Zoom Club Executive meeting on Monday night next May 10th. Hopefully at this meeting we will have strong indications of what way the Playing Season is shaping up at County Board and East Cork Board levels.
Sympathy.
The Bride Rovers Club extends it's sympathy to the relations of John Kent of Killamurren who died last week. A native of Mitchelstown John was pre deceased by his wife Betty nee Leahy, a member of a really old Bartlemy family. We extend our sympathy to John's sons David and Karl and his sisters Jo McGann, Rita, Mary Ann and brother Dave and his daughters in law and grandchildren. Sympathy also to the Fenton family of Glenville and Kearney family of Watergrasshill on the death of Gobnait Fenton nee Kearney of Glenville. Gobnait's late father John was a prominent hurler with the Rovers in the 1930's. We also extend deepest sympathy to the family of Tim O Riordan of Watergrasshill who died last week. A vet by profession Tim was an outstanding hurler with the Hill and was on the County winning team in 1974. May they all rest in peace.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres,Fermoy Print & Design,
