'Magic' Johnson inspires great Win for Seniors....

 

There's an old saying 'Cometh the hour, cometh the man' and how true it was at glorious Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday last in Round Three of the Cork County Senior Hurling championship. Over the years Barry Johnson has given many, many masterful displays for our club teams. His tally of 2 10 against Courcey Rovers last Sunday was a fantastic contribution but that huge tally is really only half the story. We won this game after extra time despite playing poorly for much of the normal time. In the final analysis though the fact that we are still in this championship came down to one stroke of the sliotar- but what a bullet! In the 61st minute of the game with the referee ready to blow the final whistle Brian Murphy gained possession. We trailed by three points  0  16 to 1  9 so it was a goal or nothing. Brian headed goalwards but was pulled down by one of the backs about twenty seven yards from the target. Barry stood over the sliotar as nine of the Courceys players manned the goalmouth. For those of us old enough to remember it was a moment similar to the end of the East Cork Junior Hurling Final replay in Midleton on Sunday September the 9th 1973. On that occasion we trailed by two points but Gussie O Driscoll's  bullet-like shot was saved. On Sunday last it all came down to Barry's free - a save or a wide and Bride Rovers were in the dreaded Relegation final. As he has done so often in the past Barry scored a magnificent goal and we were still in the championship. So many people have shook their heads and mused 'what is it about these players, where do they get that never-say-die spirit from?' I don’t know the answer but I think tradition plays a huge part in it . We've known dark days too and '92 and '94 shook us badly. You have to meet victory and defeat and greet them in equal measure and simply put your mind on the next game.

A month ago leaving Pairc UI Rinn after the mauling by Sars in Round 2 of the championship I overheard two (not Rovers) hurling followers debating the games to come and both agreed that 'the Rovers will go down this year' In fairness after our good showing against Carrigtwohill on the last day of May the display against Sars was way below par. In the last four weeks our Junior, Minor and u21 hurling teams have all been beaten in championship ties so avoiding a similar fate for the Senior team was imperative.

The stakes were high for both Rovers' teams going into last Sundays tie. We use the phrase 'triple-decker' in relation to almost everything but in essence last Sunday's Pairc Ui Rinn fixture was a 'quadruple decker'; the winners progressed in the championship, avoided a relegation battle, guaranteed senior status in 2015 and will be hurling until the end of August-at the very least. It was just thirteen months since our last Senior championship win against Ballinhassig in June 2013. On a beautifully warm day Courcey Rovers started with the aid of a stiffish breeze blowing from right to left. Despite playing against the wind we settled well. Shane Walsh was fouled in the second minute and Barry opened our account. Early on we enjoyed a huge amount of possession but three wides in the first six minutes reflected our poor finishing. From play in the fifth minute Barry doubled our lead. Courceys had a wide before opening their account with a point in the eight minute.  By the 20th minute when Michael Collins was stretchered off after a mid-air collision we were 0  4 to  0  2 in arrears.  Thankfully Twiggy's injury wasn't as serious as it first appeared but it shook us and Courceys took a grip and were winning the majority of puckouts from both keepers. In the remaining ten minutes of the game the Ballinaspittle side added on four point while Barry hit over two for us. We were five points down 0 9 to  04 at halftime and though we would have the wind in the second half the wind never won a game for anyone. Having had a great start we had faded alarmingly and let Courceys dominate in so many positions. When Courceys went up six points after just forty seconds of the second half the signs looked ominous for us. Yes we had the breeze but Nyhan the Courceys keeper was able top drive the sliotar as far against it as with it. Then Cian O Connor was pulled down by Nyhan- penalty, and a chance to narrow the gap. Unfortunately Barry's shot was saved as was his attempt at getting the rebound into the net. Shortly after this a long free from Barry ended up in the square where sub Owen Murphy finished it to the net. Cian O Connor shot over a great point and the gap was down to just two points 0  10 to 1  5. Courceys went three up before Barry pointed  a free after Mike Liddane was fouled ; 0  11 to 1 6. Our scoring dried up after that as Courceys struck over 4 points in a row to lead by 0  15 to 1  6. Points from Barry and Cian(2) left it 0  15 to 1  9 before Courceys added a further point per Daire Lordan and Barry replied in kind to leave a goal between the sides as the clock passed the 60th minute. Then came Brian Murphy's gut-busting run which ended when he was grounded.  Amidst unbearable tension Barry Johnson hit the net to draw the game.;Bride Rovers 2 10 Courcey Rovers 0  16.  The contest wasn't over and Michael Collins who had come back on had a shot for a winning point blocked down. Extra time beckoned for two very tired teams. Courceys had the wind for the first period of ten minutes and scored the first point. Barry levelled. Our defence and midfield tore into the game hugely and took complete control. Sean Ryan gained possession after a great movement involving Mike Kearney and Stephen Glasgow and was hauled down; penalty. Barry stepped up and the green flag was waving. Almost immediately Mike Kearney went on a solo run down by the dressingrooms and cut across the end-line. He was grounded but passed to Sean Ryan who pointed.  Half time in extra time and  there was steely determination amongst the players not to let this one slip. Courceys attacked and got a free on the twenty one over by the covered stand - the same spot where we were awarded the last free against Cloyne two years ago in the relegation final. In that game the free was put in a more central position for dissention. Shut mouth was the policy on Sunday last. Nyhan's shot was saved and cleared with no repeat of the Dinny Fitz/Dave Burke double act!. When Courceys drove a 65 wide we kept our four point lead. The game which started at 2.30 finally ended at 4.25. What a spirited comeback, we won without playing terribly well but we often played brilliantly and lost! Great credit to the twenty players who took part in ensuring we progressed in the championship. Credit to Barry and Padraig and all the backroom team for thee huge effort they have put in since last January.

Team and scorers; Dinny Fitzgerald, Shane Kearney, Brendan Walsh, Donncha Carr, Shane Walsh, Brian Murphy, Liam Forde, Jason Pratt, Barry Murphy,  Michael Collins, Barry Johnson (2  10), Cian O Connor (0  3), Owen Murphy (1 0), Jason Mannix, Stephen Glasgow, Sean Ryan (0 1).

Subs; Fergus Collins, Owen. Murphy, Mike. Liddane, Michael. Kearney, Jerome. O Driscoll.

In the second game at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday Na Piarsaigh defeated Killeagh by 1  22 to 2  15 and we will meet the Northsiders in the next round in three weeks time. By a remarkable coincidence the two losers will also meet as Courceys and Killeagh are now in the relegation final.  A special word of thanks and praise to our supporters  who gave might vocal encouragement when it was needed last Sunday - as one supporter said to me after Sundays game 'We've got some value for our money over the last twenty years with the Rovers'. It certainly was an emotional and happy dressingroom after the game as the two losses to Carrig and Sars were forgotten and the victory savoured. Fr. Seanie was on the phone from Nairobi later in the evening to share in the joy of the win.

 Pictures and commentary from the game on www.briderovers,ie

When Courceys defeated us in the first round of the County JHC on Sunday Oct 6th in 1968 the Rovers lineout was John Gettings, Tony Walsh, John Ryan, Willie Sheehan, Paudie Murphy, Sean Murphy, Batty Hogan, John Meade, Tom O Riordan, Past Sheehan, Seanie Barry, Pat Hoskins, Frank Meade, Johnny Barry, Tony O Brien. Subs Dick Shelley and Donie Murphy. Courceys won by 5 8 to  26. God rest Tony Walsh, Garda John Ryan and Tony O Brien.

Last week’s draw took place in Benskin's Bar on Tuesday July 22nd  for a jackpot of €2,600. The four numbers drawn were 3/11/19 & 22 and there was no jackpot winner. 

The winners of the  five €30 'Lucky Dips’ were: BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS.
Thanks to our Main Club Sponsors Rathcormac Tyres, Veoila Environmental Services and O Coileains Bar for their ongoing support.
-Ann Barry, Rathcormac 
-Ger Crowley, Scatbarry
-Louise Keating c/o Laya Healthcare 
-Billy Hanrahan, Rathcormac 
-John Arnold, Bartlemy. 

This  week’s draw took place in The Rathcormac Inn  on Tuesday July 29th for a jackpot of €2,800.

 

Tickets for the weekly Lotto Draw are priced at just  € 2 each and can be purchased from Club members. They are also available in local business outlets  and online at locallotto.ie  We would urge all Club members and supporters to tell relations, connections and friends about the online facility to purchase tickets. The costs of  running a GAA Club are increasing all the time. As well as the day to day costs we are planning more major Development work in Pairc na Bride in 2014 so finance is always needed. We are always looking for new Lotto Ticket sellers so if you could sell even a few tickets each week it would be of great benefit to the Club.

 

Well done to the girls who defeated Cloughduv in the first round of the Co  League/Championship on Monday night. With many of the girls also playing Senior Football and on various Cork teams it's a very busy time for the Ladies Clubs.

 

The Tweets and Twitters have been going well all year. 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@ Bride RoversGAA or on our own website at www.briderovers.ie  Any news items or general items of interest are very welcome for inclusion and should be sent to Gerard Lane.

 

Thanks to our Main Club Sponsors Rathcormac Tyres, Veoila Environmental Services and O Coileains Bar for their ongoing support..