Club Notes for this week.. - 11/09/2019
East Cork Champions..
Sometimes a team can win a game against all the odds, literally by putting life and limb on the line in a supreme effort. Well Friday September the 6th 2019 is one date that will go down in the annals of the Bride Rovers Club as such an occasion. The 2019 East Cork Junior B Football Championship Final against Ballinacurra will long live in the memory of those who were at the game in Dungourney. Picture the scene, just over ten minutes to go and the game going towards an inevitable-looking Ballinacurra win. We were down a man and worse still trailing by a margin of four points. But as our song says 'When hot grew that fight those hearts grew more eager', well if ever a team showed courage and spirit it was last Friday night. Point by point we tore back into the game. We levelled the game with six minutes to go but Ballinacurra took the lead again as excitement mounted. Our lads came forward in waves and a point from Conor to put us level again was followed by three more brilliant scores in succession from William Finnegan, a beauty from Tom Murray and another from Conor saw us snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was some ending to a great game and what a great way to win a championship.
We started the game in a blistering manner. Early points from William (2)and Conleith Ryan saw us ahead by 3 points to 1 after five minutes. Then a move initiated in our defence by team captain Liam Forde was worked up the field and when Conleith rounded his man we were 1 3 to 0 1 up. We had two more great chances but these resulted in wides. Then an amazing change came. Ballinacurra started winning mire possession and kicked some great long range points. The raised seven white flags in twenty minutes as we went out of the game and the Village were ahead 0 7 to 1 3. It was the 28th minute before we scored again, a point from Shane Walsh. Ballinacurra went a point up before Paddy O Flynn kicked a great score to make it Bride Rovers 1 5 to Ballinacurra's 0 8 at half time. It was strange half where we went from being in total control to just hanging in there. We had the aid of a slight cross-field breeze in the second half. We were down to fourteen men and so faced the second half playing up to the road with some trepidation but also with plenty ambition and spirit. Shane O Conor gave us the lead with a smashing point but it was soon level again. William Finnegan using all his American learned skills put us ahead but by the tenth minute it was Bride Rovers 1 7 Ballinacurra 0 11. Then came a turning point when we conceded a goal and suddenly we were four points down. The lads never panicked and with the backs tightening up we didn’t leave the opposition pull away. Conor Barry pointed a free as did Ballinacurra. The introduction of Eoin and Brian Roche and Griffin O Keeney gave us fresh legs as Ballinacurra tired. Eoin with a well worked score made the gap just three but this was out to four at the three quarters stage. Cian Hogan landed a huge free followed by two similar scores from the boot of Conor Barry brought the margin down to a single point. Brian Roche levelled the game as the tension mounted. Into the last five minutes and it was anyone's game. We came forward again and again. Ballinacurra took the lead once more before we took over. With unerring accuracy Conor put us ahead. Urged on by our supporters the lads responded. William lofted over a mighty point then wing-back Tom Murray kicked a super score before Conor gave us a three point lead. It was just an unbelievable comeback but as the game went into the third minute of injury time Ballinacurra mounted one last attack seeking a goal. They didn't get it and soon the final whistle went. We were the winners at the end of a great game of football. Well done to a brilliant bunch of players. Great credit to Vincent Cronin, Batt O Connell and Anthony Cahill for their great work with these lads.
Team and scorers ;Frank Hogan, Tadhg O Sullivan, Liam Forde, Jason Pratt, Daniel Dooley, Shane O Connor(0-01), Thomas Murray, Patrick O Flynn(0-01), Shane Walsh(0-01), Cian Hogan(0-01), DJ Cahill, Conor Barry(0-06), Jordan Mannix, William Finnegan (0-04), Conleith Ryan (1-01), Ben Hogan, Dylan Browne, Damien Buckley, Kieran Kearney, Jack Connor, Griffin O Keeney Sullivan, John O Sullivan, Ruairi O Sullivan, Stephen Pratt, Brian Roche(0-01) and Eoin Roche(0-01). Donal O Keeffe presented the Michael 'Boig' Coleman Cup to team captain Liam Forde who suitably replied. We will be meeting Inniscarra in the County Rounds. This was our eight B Grade Football Final and we've won 5. This years victory makes up somewhat for losing last years Final to Russell Rovers in Ballinacurra.
1981 Bride Rovers 1-10 Youghal 0-4
1989 Bride Rovers 1-6 Aghada 1-7
1993 Bride Rovers 1-8 Glanmire 1-4
2008 Bride Rovers 0-6 Carrignavar 1-4
2009 Bride Rovers 4 8 Russell Rovers 2 2:
2014 Bride Rovers 1 7 Castlelyons 0 9
2018 Bride Rovers 0 11 Russell Rovers 2 9.
2019 Bride Rovers 0 17 Ballinacurra 0 14.
B Grade Football Final teams over the years;
1981; Paul Murphy, Declan Kearney, Tommy O'Flynn, Liam Cahill, Anthony Cahill, Tom Kearney (Capt), Tadgh O'Donovan, Paudie Collins, Moss Dooley, Cyril Johnson, James Maye, Tom Mulcahy, Jimmy Johnson, Richie Cotter, Connie Barry.
1989; P Mannix, D Ahern, T Kearney, JJ. Barry, O.O Connor, P. Collins, T. Mulcahy (Capt), B. O Connell, John A. Murphy, B. Hazlewood, M. Hogan, B. Hogan, H. Kelleher, A. Cahill, D. Mulcahy.
1993; Pat Mannix, Tom Kearney, Mike Hogan, Liam Barry, Barry Hogan, Anthony Cahill, John Joe Barry (Capt), John A Murphy, Tom Mulcahy, Pat Barry, Batt O'Connell, Pat Walsh, Dermot 'Georgie' Johnson, Andrew O'Flynn, John O'Dowd.
2008; Vincent O’Keeffe, Alan Broderick, Batt O’Connell, Barry Murphy, Padraig O’Brien (Capt), Mike Hogan, Mark O’Connell, Kieran Manley, Brian Murphy, Tomas Kearney, Gavin O’Flynn, Michael Collins, Daniel Dooley, Alan O’Keeffe, John O’Dowd.
Subs: Garry Prendergast, Jason Campbell
2009 final played in Feb 2010 : Georgie Johnson, Alan Broderick (Capt), Trevor Moloney, Pat Barry, Podge O'Brien, Barry Murphy, Tomás Kearney, Barry Johnson, Sean Ryan , Jason Mannix, Michael Collins, Brian Murphy , Padraig Murphy, Donal Ryan, Jason Pratt. Subs: Shane Murphy, Barry Hazelwood, Declan Quinlan
2014 Team and scorers; Frank Hogan, Tadhg O Sullivan, Brenny O Driscoll, Gavin O Flynn, Shane Walsh, Barry Murphy, Shane Kearney, Liam Forde, Brendan Walsh Donncha Carr, Sean Ryan, Barry Johnson, Captain, Jerome O Driscoll, Cian O Connor, Daniel Dooley. Subs Jason Pratt, Terry Broderick, Sean O Brien, Stephen Pratt
2018. Frank Hogan, Tadhg O'Sullivan, Shane Walsh, Jason Mannix, Shane O'Connor, Jason Pratt, Barry Johnson, Daniel Dooley, Brendan Walsh, DJ Cahill, Liam Forde, Ryan Prendergast, Damien Buckley, Éinne Ó hEochaidh, Terry Broderick Jordan Mannix, Griffin O'Keeney, Shane O'Flynn, Cian Howard, Shane O'Connor, Ben Hogan, Dylan Browne, Conleith Ryan
Under 9 Hurling.
Our u9's were at home for a hurling blitz on Saturday. We welcomed Cloughduv and Killavullen who both had 1 team. Our lads were divided into 2 teams. Everybody played 3 games. Great performance by all. Our next game is football at home on Saturday at 11 v's Kilara Og. Training Wednesday evening at 6:30
Under 15's in Semi Final.
At Clonmult Memorial Park last Wed night our u 15 hurlers completed their league programme with a good win over Midleton. Our only defeat was to Na Piarsaigh. The draw for the Top Four semi final was made and we will be meeting St Finbarrs once more. Team v Midleton. Ronan O Riordan Cormac O Sullivan Liam Colin’s Eldon O Connor David Barry Conor Hazelwood Denis Cashman Ronan O Connell Nicky Kelleher Cillian Barry Cillian Tobin Adam Hayes Ryan o Callaghan Josh Ahern Adam Hynes Subs. Ben Knox & Kieran Cotter.
UNDER 10 Hurling
We were invited to a hurling tournament in Killeagh last week which attracted teams from throughout Munster and further afield. 22 of our lads tagged so we had 2 teams...Blue and Green. In our group we had James Stephens of Kilkenny up first. Every club that participated had 2 teams. Our blue team were first up and had a ding dong battle before eventually losing by a few points. Our green team then played and after a great 20 minutes lost by the minimum...Both of our sides were very slow to settle before getting into their stride. Our second game was against Kinsale. Our blue team had a great draw..3-1 each. Our green team then found the going tough...level at half time before Kinsale scored a couple of late goals.
Our third game was against Carrigtwohill. The Blues lost out narrowly with our greens winning by 1 point.
Both teams played our final games of the day against local rivals Watergrasshill. The hill were short of numbers so ended up with players having to play both games. Our blues lost by a couple of scores with our greens winning by 4 points.
The day was an education for everyone involved. We are certainly as good as most teams out there but we are certainly learning new positives about the boys every time we go out. A big thanks to Sean Crowley and Killeagh for the invitation and also to the parents for their understanding and patience throughout the day.
Junior Hurling.
We were billed to Junior B and Junior C Hurling last weekend but ended up with just one game. On Sunday morning we played Cloyne in our second last Div 2 JHL game and had a good win. WE were to play Sars in the Junior C Championship on Monday night but the game didn’t go ahead. From Wednesday of last week until 2 o clock on Monday wrangling went on about this fixture before it was finally called off. It was very unfair to players with work and school commitments to learn just a few hours before throw-in that the game was off. On Monday night at Copperalley Youghal defeated St Catherines in the East Cork JBHC so we are billed to play Youghal in the Quarter Final this coming weekend.This game could well be played at noon on Sunday next.
Fixture in Pitch.
On Sunday next we host Passage v St Michaels in the county JAFC. 3.45pm
CLUB LOTTO.
The Numbers drawn on Tuesday September the 3rd for a €20,000 jackpot were 5/9/12 and 31 and there was no winner . The winners of €30 each were Sean McCarthy, Kay Sheehan, Pat Cullotty, Nora Connolly and Pat Barry, Knockadrooleen. Tickets are just €2 and can be bought from Club members in local businesses or onoine at locallotto.ie
BON VOYAGE.
We wish Bon Voyage to Fr Seanie Barry who has returned to his mission post in Africa after a few weeks at home.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
