Well done County Champions...

 A first in any walk of life is great and in sport to win a title for the very first time is always memorable. So it was at Church Road, Blackrock on last Wednesday night the 26th of August when an Under 16 County Hurling title was captured by a Bride Rovers team. Well done and congratulations to this fine young team on a superb win in the replayed final against Bandon. Exactly two months ago on the 26th of June this team set out on championship Journey that very few could have envisaged. On that evening in June they defeated Watergrasshill by a single point, 2 13 to 2 12. Two weeks later they travelled to Carrigtwohill to take on Passage. We conceded 3  12 but scored 4 20. That win secured a Rebel Og East Final place against the winners of Ahgada and Whitechurch which went to a replay.  Whitechurch won that replay by  0  14 to 2 6. Having beaten the Rovers by 3  1 0 to 3  4 in an April league game Whitechurch were confident going in to the Final at Ballincollig on July 23rd. A Rovers victory looked a remote possibility at half time when the team trailed by seven points. The second half display was just amazing and we won by 3 15 to 3  8. It was on then to a County Semi Final against the West Cork champions Pedlar's Cross. I remember that day in Blarney when the West Cork team took to the field - I thought 'They're after bringing their Minor team- they were massive!'. It was ding dong struggle which went to extra time and the sides were still level at 2  10 each. At the end of normal time and at the end of extra time we got the levelling scores.  The replay was just four days later and our lads made no mistake winning by 3  13 to 2  9. It was back to Ballincollig for the County Final against Bandon on August 22nd. We started well but by half time Bandon were well ahead. Staging comebacks seemed a natural thing for this team but boy oh boy all seemed lost that day. Deep into injury time we were still a point behind. The ref had the whistle in his mouth when Shane O Flynn hit a great levelling score.  Then holidays and flights had to be rearranged with a replay looming so it was all action behind the scenes. There's a line in the Bride Rovers anthem Bride Rovers Abu When hot grew that fight those hearts grew more eager and so it proved to be at Church Road on last Wednesday night. Familial pre-nuptial considerations meant that I was unable to be present for the replay but through the miracle of text I was kept well informed. A five point lead seemed inadequate at half time as we had played with a near gale force wind in the opening thirty minutes. We led Bandon by 1 6 to 1  1 . A defensive rearrangement consisting of a triple sweeper cum all hands on deck combined with aThou shalt not pass policy worked in a tense second half. Two points by high flyer Conleith Ryan were our only scores in that period but Bandon were held to four points. The last five minutes by all accounts were remarkable a time after time the West Cork lads dropped attacking scud-like sliotars in behind our D but the backs held out for a great win on a scoreline of 1 8 to 1 5. A great win- last year these lads lost the u14 County Final to Blarney in Pairc Ui Rinn and were devastated. The minute I got the news I momentarily dropped all pending arrangements for the following day's wedding. Up with the buntings at the top of the boreen and a bonfire was never so hastily assembled!  When the team and parents and supporters arrived the fire was blazing in welcome and the Song was ready. The entourage came down through Bartlemy Village, passing the site of the Bartlemy Band-room where in the Autumn of 1928 the Bride Rovers Club was founded. Well done to every one, player and mentor associated with the team and of course supporters and sponsors too.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot for Tuesday August the 25th was €6200. The four numbers drawn were 8,10, 17 and 28 and there was no Jackpot winner. 

The €30 winners were Hugh Kelleher Jnr., Mary Murphy Raheen, Mary Casey c/o LAYA, Tadhg O Donovan and Dan Quill. The Jackpot for this past Tuesday Sept ember the 1st was €6400. Tickets for the Lotto are just €2 each and can be purchased from club members and in local pubs, shops and other business outlets in the area. Tickets can also be purchased online at locallotto.ie Every €2 for every Ticket each week goes towards the cost of running the Club.

Junior C Hurling Championship.

We are fixed to play Youghal in the first round of the Junior C Grade East Cork Hurling Championship on this coming Saturday September the 5th. The game is fixed for Ballynoe at 7 o clock. We got to the final of this competition last year but this years side will be far different. With a Senior and a Junior A team in the championship and league fielding a third team is never easy. This years Third XV is a blend of youth and experience and they have had a few good results recently in the East Cork League. Last Wednesday we had a 2  23 to 1  6 over an understrength  Castlemartyr side. Youghal will also be fielding their third team, they have had great underage sides over the last decade so they will be very strong opposition. Go for it lads.

JHL V Castlemartyr

On Wednesday night we played Castlemartyr at home in the East Cork JHL Division 4. We ended up easy winners but our opponents were very much understrength. Team M. Dooley, P. Noonan, Brian Collins, J. Connor, B. Lahive, P O Driscoll,  Colm Howard, A. Buckley, G. O Flynn, S. Cotter, T. Broderick, J. Buckley, J. O Keeffe, G. Quill, J. Barry,  L. O Leary, D. Browne. 

Cork Captain.

Well done to Brian and Eoin Roche who both played with the Cork B under 15 team in the Intercounty Tournament in Clarecastle, Co Clare last Saturday. Cork won the competition with Brian Roche the Cork captain. 

ALL IRELAND SEVENS.

Best of luck to the players who travel to Dublin on Saturday next for the Kilmacud Crokes All Ireland &'s competition.

Twitter and Website.

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 Rovers  GAA 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.

ALL IRELAND FINAL.

Sunday is the biggest day of the year for Irish Sport - All Ireland Hurling Final day. It is a uniquely Irish occasion which cannot be bettered anywhere in the world. Next Sunday Kilkenny will again be favourites and it wont bother them that 31 counties will be shouting for Galway! We won the O Flynn cup back in 1988 and that's the last year Galway won the Liam Mc Carthy Cup. It's a long time and on Sunday may the best team win and hopefully we'll have a great game.

Club Sponsors.

The Bride Rovers GAA Club are proud to have Rathcormac Tyres, O Coileáns Bar and Veolia Environmental Services as our valued Club Sponsors.