Club Notes... - 2024-01-06 06:26:00
A new year..
Happy New Year to all as we face into 2024 with hope, confidence and determination. We bade farewell to last year with hurling games well into December. In no time at all the 2024 season will be upon us. Remember we still have the Split Season Model in vogue. There is no doubt this model gives absolute certainty as to when championship games are to be played -we have our August and September Senior Hurling fixtures and venues already, but having no big club games, especially hurling during May, June and July causes me concern for the long-term future of the game. I seem to be in a minority with this view and I certainly hope I am wrong! Anyhow the Christmas Season will be officially over on this Saturday and after that’s it’s meetings at Club, Divisional and County Board level. Each year we have players progressing from our Juvenile ranks to play hurling and football at adult level. With decoupling still in the Rulebook players who have not reached 18 will not be allowed play at adult level -though they can play at under 20 or under 21 level. Look the argument has been tossed around with a year and in reality strong arguments were made on both sides. Be that as it may the situation has been decided for 2024 at least so we will have to work within the rules. Well done to the huge crowd who turned out on St Stephen’s Morning for the annual 5k. We have our first Club Executive meeting next Monday night. The Weekly Tuesday night Lotto recommenced after a one week break on last Tuesday night January 22nd. The East Cork Scor AGM in on tonight Thursday in Lisgoold.
GREAT 5K on St Stephen’s Day.
Bride Rovers Juvenile Section held their annual 5k road race on St Stephens Day. A fantastic crowd of 270 runners and walkers came out on a lovely morning to run off the turkey and ham. Under perfect weather conditions the participants had an enjoyable run, jog and walk. The organisers would like to thank everyone that helped out on the day. It takes contributions from many to make sure everything goes smoothly - from timing, traffic management, stewarding, registration to the provision of food and drinks after the race. Special thanks to Orla, Catherine and Kate for manning the teas and coffees, Shelly and Emma for the registration, Ray for the traffic management organisation and finally Alan and Damo who organised and coordinated the race. Many hands make light work.
JANEY SPLITS THE BUCKET.
On the Wednesday night before Christmas Eve in Bartlemy Hall Janey O Driscoll won the €1800 prize on offer in the Bishop O Brien NS 'Split The Bucket' Christmas Draw. Well done Janey.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.
Our first weekly Lotto draw was held in march 1996 so we are now in our 28th year. Tickets which are just €2 each can also be purchased from Club members and in local business outlets. An Annual Lotto Ticket would make an ideal present for a friend or a family member at home or abroad any time of the year. Contact Club Cisteoir Aiden Dorgan. Social Media can spread the message far and wide so please let everyone, everywhere know that Bride Rovers GAA Club is always appreciative of support from all corners of the world. Thank you again for all your ongoing efforts which are deeply appreciated.
2024 FIXTURES.
Let no one say they didn’t know when our 2024 Senior Championship games are on! Our three Group Games are v Cloyne, Castlelyons and Fermoy - in that order. The Cloyne game is in Killeagh and for the other two we’ve just the short journey to Ballynoe to take. DETAILS ;
Rd 1 SHC v Cloyne in Killeagh, on Saturday August the 3rd at 7.30pm
Rd v Castlelyons in Ballynoe on Friday August 23rd at 7pm
Rd 3 v Fermoy in Ballynoe on Saturday September 7th at 6.30pm.
We have been selected to host six County Board fixtures and we’ll have details of these next week.
ALL IRELANDS.
Well excitement is mounting all along the Bride Valley as our neighbours Castlelyons and St Catherines are finalising their arrangements for a date with history on Saturday week, January 13th in Croke Park. That evening at 5 o clock and 7 o clock the two teams that are geographically side by side both take on Kilkenny opposition. People must think I’m an ‘influencer’ or something like that in the GAA as I don’t know how many people in the last two weeks have asked me “Why are these games not on at 1.30 and 3.30?” -the answer is I don’t know, for the life of me I cannot understand why Clubs in Finals like this are not consulted. For families with children who would love to witness these historic games surely earlier starting time would make common sense? But then again common sense isn’t that common in the decision-making echelons of the GAA. Leaving Dublin city at perhaps half past nine at night is crazy. A first game at half past 1 o clock and the second at 3.30 would make perfect sense and certainly ensure that a bigger crowd would attend. Leaving all that aside it’s a great time for the people of Aghern, Ballynoe, Bridebridge, Britway, Castlelyons, Coolagown, Conna, Curraglass, Glengoura, Kilmagner, Lacken and Kilcronat. There’s no doubt that Tullogher/Rosbercon and Thomastown are doughty opponents but the two East Cork clubs have come through tough County and Provincial campaigns and this will surely stand to them on the fateful evening in Croke Park. Players from St Catherines and Castlelyons are no strangers to Croke Park. Several have played with Cork Minor, under 20/21 and Senior teams and I think the wide expanse of the Jones’s Road Stadium will suit both Castlelyons and St Catherines. Interestingly Walter Walsh of Tullogher/Rossbercon will be the only player from the four Clubs involved to have previously played in a Club Final. Back in 2008/2009 his Club reached the Final but on February 15th 2009 in Croke Park Diarmuid O Riordan led his Drispey side to All Ireland success by 2 15 to 0 18 against Walsh’s club. Ballygiblin, Mayfield, Meelin, Fr O Neill’s and Ballinhassig have also brought All Ireland Junior Crowns to Cork. Just three Cork Clubs- Kanturk, Blarney and Ballymartle have won the Intermediate title.
JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100.
A few years back as we began planning for our Club’s centenary in 2028 the Club 100 concept was put in place. It’s a method whereby supporters and benefactors of the Club can commit to heling the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major Club developments in recent years. Now with massive 3 pitch Development project in Ballybrowney well under way we will need huge funds over the next decade. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Siver and Bronze. The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this on gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus,2 Rebel Bounty Draw Tickets and family Membership of the Club.
The Silver costs €360 and give 2 Lotto and 1 Rebel Bounty and Membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children)
The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings 1Annual Club Lotto ticket plus, 1 Rebel Bounty and individual Membership. Many people make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ at this time of year- why not consider joining our Club 100.? Full details from any Club Officer. At the end of each year the Bride Rovers Club holds a special draw confined the Club 100 members with substantial prizes. We had the 2023 confined draw before Christmas on the Lotto night, in conjunction with the special Christmas Draw. The First Prize was 2 Pairc Ui Chaoimh Premium Tickets for 2024 and the winner was Catherine Murphy. Second prize of €500 went to Lorraine Cuffe and further cash prizes of
€100 each went to Rose & Pa O'Leary, John Madden, Ken O'Riordan, Billy & Carmel Finnegan, Patrick Croke, Seamus Farrell, Michael Walsh (Hightown), Dick & Elanor Kearne, Kenneth Drury and David Fitzpatrick. Well done to all our winners.
EAST CORK BOARD 100
This year 1924 marks thew Centenary of the East Cork Divisional Board. During the 1920’s the Cork County Board encouraged the formation of Divisional Boards to lessen long travelling to games. The Avondhu, Beara, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Imokilly, Muskerry and Seandun Divisions came into being. The first official meeting of the East Cork Board was held in Cobh Town Hall on April 13th 1927. The Clubs represented were Dungourney, Midleton, Cobh, Carrigtwohill, Little Island, Sarsfields and Youghal. A number of Centenary Events are planned in the Division this year. 1924 was also the year of the foundation of the Castlemartyr Club.
CLUB MEETING.
The first Club meeting for 2024 takes place in the Clubroom on next Monday night January the 8th at 8pm
BEST WISHES TO THE HAVEN.
We wish Castlehaven all the very best on next Sunday when they face Roscommon’s St Bridgid’s in the All Ireland Senior Club Football semi-final in Thurles. Watty Grahams of the Glen in Derry face Kilmacud Crokes in the second semi- a repeat of last year’s Club Final.
EARLY START IN 1927.
On Sunday February 6th 1927 the hurlers of Bartlemy and Rathcormac met in a challenge game in Ballinterry. “The field for the occasion was kindly given by that old-time athlete, Mr Jerome Maye” Bartlemy led one, nil at half time. Early in the second half Rathcormac equalised and went on to win by 3 1 to 1 0. A month earlier, on Sunday January 2nd Bartlemy played their first game of the year. “ A hurling match of great local interest was played at Bartlemy before a large attendance. The contestants were Bartlemy and Ballyreidy and the display given by both team was of a high standard and augurs well for the future of the game in this hurling centre. The match resulted in a win for Bartlemy on the score 10 goals and two points to 1 goal for Ballyreidy” Note; at the end of the 1928 season Bartlemy and Rathcormac Clubs united to form Bride Rovers.
SCOR AGM.
The AGM of the East Cork Sor takes place in Lisgoold on Tonight January 4th at 7.30pm.
1938; FOUR GAMES TO DECIDE FINAL- NO EXTRA TIME, NO PENALTIES.
The St Catherine’s Club was formed in 1946. Before that Clubs had existed at different times in Conna, Ballynoe, Lacken and Kilcronat. Conna actually won the 1944 East Cork Junior B grade HC- they drew, Conna 4 6 Carrigtwohill 5 3 in the Final with Conna winning the replay by 0 6 to 1 1. A few years before that an epic series of games were played in the Final of the Inch Hurling Tournament. Kilcronat drew with Castlemartyr in early summer of 1937, Kilcronat 1 9 Castlemartyr 3 3. They replayed in September- another draw! They met in October for the third time and it ended all square once more Kilcronat 1 4 Castlemartyr 2 1. The third replay was advertised for May 29th 1938 but the game went off! It was August the 21st 1938 before the Final game in the series was played out with Castlemartyr winning by 5 3 to 1 2. Admission to each game was 6d (sixpence) and the Inch Tournament Committee never even considered resorting to extra-time, penalties or sudden-death of any kind. Maybe the GAA bosses of today might reconsider the Modern Rules! The Kilcronat team for the fourth game was E. Drake, M. O Mahony, J. O Mahony, B. O Mahony, E. Mulcahy, J. Hurley, E.Roche, G.Barron, J. Lynch, J. Buckley, D. O Connor, D. Mulcahy, P. Hggins, M. Tobin, E. Flynn. The ‘J. Buckley’ on that team was of course the late, great Johnny Buckley. Many years ago Johnny sat in with me and he gave me a guided tour of all the district around Kilcronat, Lacken, Monaloo and Glengoura. Johnny was a great Gael, a lover of all things Gaelic and a fount of knowledge about his own area and a great St.Catherine’s man
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS
are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia
