Bride Rovers

Under 21's bridge 21 year gap..

As the song says '21 years is a mighty Long Time' and so it was that on Wednesday night last we captured our first East Cork Under 21 Hurling Championship title since Sunday December 7th 1997. All those years ago we drew with Carrig in August but the replay took place almost four months later! This time round just eleven days had elapsed since the windy night in Lisgoold. That night we looked safe leading by three points well into injury time but conceded a late, late goal and then had to look on as Carrig had a chance to grasp victory with a last gasp free. Luckily that free went wide and both teams got a second chance. So it was under the lights in Pairc Naomh Caitrionaigh in Ballynoe that the teams took to the field for the replay. With Ryan Prendergast out through injury it was always going to be a very tough task. On the night however our lads played very well. Conor Barry raised the first white flag from a free in the 2nd minute. Carrig levelled and then in the 3rd minute they took the lead. Jesse soon equalised and after that we really took a grip on the game. With our defence marking Carrig danger man Liam Gosnell very closely it was our forward line that took over. Three points from Conor and one from Brian Roche made it 6 to 2. Carrig added a point but in the last ten minutes we added five more points - a superb one from Griffin, one from Jesse and three from Conor, two frees and a 65 left us ahead by 11 points to 3 at half time. An eight point lead was a fair reflection on our superiority. Our hurling was much crisper and direct than in the drawn game. Three minutes into the second half Jesse put us nine ahead with a lovely point. We were really dominating at centre-field but we hit five wides in a row when we could have the game wrapped up. Carrig staged a come back with four points on the trot to make it 12 to 7. Carrig tried hard for a goal but the backs held out from repeated pressure led by team captain Shane Walsh. We then took control for the last ten minutes and added four more points from Conor, Griffin, Jesse and Brian to win by 16 points to 8. Well done lads on a superb display and a famous win. There were great scenes of excitement and jubilation before East Cork Board Chairman Donal O Keeffe presented the Ben Purcell Cup to Shane. Shane thanked Team Manager Fergus Collins and the selectors and backroom team.

Ben Hogan, Jordan Mannix, Shane Walsh, Matthew Quinn, Paddy O' Flynn, Eoin Roche, Griffin O' Keeney (0-2), Jake Tobin, Shane O' Connor, Kieran Kearney, Conleith Ryan, Conor Barry (0-8), DJ Cahill, Brian Roche (0-2), Jesse O' Keeffe (0-4).

Thanks to the huge number of supporters who turned up in Ballynoe on the night and thanks to the referee Pa Beausang and his officials and the St Catherines Club for the superb state of the pitch. The team had little opportunity for celebrations as they were due in action again less than 72 hours later. Donal Ryan was our winning Captain in 1997. We have lost four Under 21 East Cork Finals since that win 21 years ago.

Donal O Keeffe East Cork Board Chairman Shan Walsh U21 Captain and Fr Seanie at the 68/69 renunion function in the Rathcormac inn

REBEL OG PREMIER Under 15 Hurling.

We played Kiltha Og last Wednesday in Castlemartyr with an early throw in at 6pm -two hours before the Under 21 replay. We played some brilliant hurling in the first half leading on a scoreline of 2-7 to 1-4 at the break Kiltha Og pushed us really hard in the second half but our lads kept the scoreboard ticking over with some brilliant score's running out winners on a final scoreline of Bride Rovers

3-21 Kiltha Og 3-15. This was our final group league game and we now play Valley Rovers in the league semi final -date and venue tbc. Well done lads, with only three players on the age this has been a brilliant effort by the panel. Team Frank O Flynn Darragh O Sullivan Liam Collins Jacob Powell David Barry Conor Hazelwood Nicky Kelleher Ronan O Connell Cillian Tobin Denis Cashman Adam Walsh Adam Hayes Josh Ahern Edmund Cashman Louis Roche Eldon O Conor Cormac O Sullivan Ryan O Callaghan Cillian Barry.

Our next game is the u14 Premier 1 League Hurling semi final v Midleton in Rathcormac on Sunday 7th at 1pm in the main pitch.

1968/69 Team Reunion.

On Friday night we had a great gathering upstairs in The Rathcormac Inn to pay tribute to our Junior Hurling team of 1968 and 1969 who won two East Cork Junior A Grade titles. It was nostalgic yet very happy night as twelve of the players of fifty years ago were present and we also had representatives for another seven. Chairman Richie O Regan opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone present on a special night for the Club. MC John Arnold recalled the early days of the Club winning East Cork titles in 1930 and 1932 but then going through a long barren period. He said tradition ias great but needs to be continued and preserved and improved by successive generations and the players of the 1960's were truly the men who created a Golden Era for Bride Rovers. He remembered in a special way John, Tony, Tony, Michael, Davy, Willie, Johnny and John -all proud Rovers, May They Rest in Peace.

A presentation was then made to each of the players and family members present. This unique gift was a minature ash hurley incorporating a clock with individual name plate hand crafted by Denis Ahern. Club President Pat O Connor made the presentations. Fr Martin Barry on behalf of the Sars team of 1968 and James Roche on behalf of the Carrigtwohill team of 1969 then spoke and thanked Bride Rovers for the invitation -Paddy Roche and Ollie O Connor of Carrig also attended. Fr Seanie Barry captain of the 68 and 69 teams then spoke. He said he was honoured to be present at such a wonderful gathering to recall the great days of half a century ago. He said the teams of the 60's laid a foundation which is still being built on and he singled out the Under 21 winning Captain ShaneWalsh who was at the function. Seanie recalled the great bond that still exists between the players of the 1960's and wished the Club all the best in the future. Final speaker on the night was East Cork Chairman Donal O Keeffe who congratulated the Club on holding the function to honour the players if fifty years ago and he also spoke of the u 21 win two nights previously. The evening ended with refreshments and plenty talk of days gone by and days and games to come. Thanks to the Rathcormac Inn staff for their help.

County Under 21 Hurling Championship.

As our Divisional replay was taking place in Ballynoe on Wednesday night so too was the Carbery (West Cork ) Final being played. Here Newcestown defeated Clonakilty by nine points to set up an East v West County Quarter Final. This game went ahead in Blarney on Saturday afternoon. It was close enough contest until a Brian Roche goal gave us a three point lead. We led by two at the break 1 7 to 0 8 against a physically very strong opposition. Three points from Conor, Griffin and Brian added to our lead. They got one back but two frees from Conor and a point from Shane saw us lead by 1 13 to 0 9 after three quarters of an hour. Our defence coped well with the Newcestown attackers. Our lead was down to four points with ten minutes left but we finished on a high with further goals from Brian Roche and Conleith Ryan for a 3 16 to 1 12 win. Mighty stuff lads. Next we face a very tough, strong Passage West team in the County semi final on Saturday week next October13th.

Team; Ben Hogan, Jordan Mannix, Shane Walsh, Matthew Quinn, Paddy O' Flynn, Eoin Roche, Griffin O' Keeney (0-3), Jake Tobin, Shane O' Connor (0-1), Conlieth Ryan (1-0), Conor Barry (0-10), DJ Cahill, Kieran Kearney, Brian Roche (2-1), Jesse O' Keeffe (0-1).

Subs: Cian Hogan, Shane O' Flynn, Colm Howard.

MINORS IN COUNTY PREMIER 2 FINAL.

On next Monday evening at half past six in Pairc Ui Rinn our Minor Hurlers contest the Premier 2 Championship Final. Our opponents will be the Dromina/Newtownshandrum combination Shandrum. This is a huge game for the team and for the Club. En route to the Final we have defeated St Finbarrs, Fermoy and Blackrock. Though this is our First Premier minor Hurling Final It will, I think, be our sixth Co Min9or Hurling Final in the Club's history. Back in 1932 we beat Gen Rovers in the Co Final and were heavily defeated by the same opposition the Final in 1933. In 2008 we reached the final but were defeated by St Fachtnas from West Cork. Five years later we defeated Clyda Rovers in the Co Final in Killavullen

The team and scorers that brought us our first County Minor Title since 1932 was as follows;

Shane O Connor, Padraig Noonan, Tadhg O Sullivan, Jamie Buckley (Captain), Shane Walsh, Ryan Prendergast, Cian O Connor, William Finnegan, Dean Linehan, Sean Cotter, Colm Power, DJ Cahill. Subs James Barry , Cian Howard, Nathan Buckley, Jack Connor, Jack O Mahony, Colm Howard, Jake Tobin, Ciaran O Grady, Jesse O Keeffe, Darren Moore. Scorers; C O Connor 1 3, C. Power 0 4, D. Linehan, S. Walsh 0 4, W. Finnegan 0 3, S. Cotter 0 2, DJ Cahill 0 1, J. Buckley0 1.

Then last year back in Killavullen we had a great win over Kilshannig. Our opponents on Monday night Shandrum are a ferocious and powerful side. They scored 3 17 in defeating the Barrs in the semi final and will be tough opponents. In fairness to our lads they have played well all year in League and Championship. They have all played also at Senior, Junior and/or under 21 level. The lads in charge have put in a massive effort and hopefully it will pay off on Monday night next. It's a half six throw in so let's hope for a huge Rovers following. Come on boys, Bride Rovers Abu.

CLUB LOTTO.

The Numbers drawn last week for a €20,000 jackpot were 5, 6, 11, 26 -and there was no winner. The Jackpot on Tuesday of this week Oct 2nd was €20000
€30 each to Denis Ahern, Fr. Sean Barry, Pat Cotter, Aidan Dorgan and Noreen Hartnett .

Tickets for the Lotto are just €2 each and can be bought from Club members, in local business outlets and online at locallotto.ie Your ongoing support of the Lotto is really appreciated. The Income from the weekly Lotto is vital in helping with the day-to-day running of the Club.

Bon Voyage.

Best wishes to Fr Seanie Barry on his return this week to his Missionary work in Kenya. He enjoyed his break and was thrilled with the under 21 wins last week, the 68/69 team reunion and the Church Bi centenary celebrations on Sunday last

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