Bride Rovers

We are in mid October but the games go on. After a fantastic haul of three County Titles last weekend the activity continues apace with our Junior C Hurling team in their East Cork Final and of course the victorious Ladies team taking part in the Munster Championship. The under 11 Footballers won a county League Title in Bishopstown last Saturday morning. For many followers then it was a journey across the city to the Delaneys ground at Kilbarry for the under 15 Final. This was a marvellous victory with the Club capturing a first ever Rebel Og title at Premier level.

East Cork Junior C Final.

On Saturday afternoon next our Junior C Hurling team participate in the East Cork Championship final against Cobh. We reached the final last year but were defeated by Russell Rovers. On Saturday it's our third team that face the second team of Cobh. We have defeated Youghal and Sarsfields to reach this years decider while Cobh have had wins over Killeagh, Midleton and Castlemartyr. Our wins have been against the third and fourth teams of Youghal and Sars respectively. In last Saturdays semi final Cobh defeated Castlemartyr by 1 14 to 2 10 after a very good game so they will provide tough opposition. In our two championship outings to date we have been well on top though in both games we slackened off and left the opposition back into the games. Obviously in the final we will have try to ensure a top class performance to be in with a chance of winning the title. In the East Cork Junior Hurling league Division 4 we have played five games, winning four and will meet Watergrasshill in the League Final. Padraig (Podge) Noonan captains the team on Saturday. We have a good mix of very experienced players who have played at Junior A, Intermediate and Senior as well as a number of younger players who have come up through the juvenile and minor ranks. The full panel for the Final is ;Daniel Lane, Podge Noonan, Pa O Driscoll, Jack Connor, Brian Lahive, Pat Walsh, Adrian Buckley, Gavin O Flynn, Stephen Boyce, Sean Cotter, Richie Cahill, Gavin Quill, Terry Broderick, Donal Ryan ,Owen Murphy, Cian Howard, Podge O Brien, Colm Howard, Kieran Wolfe, Pat Cotter and Dave Burke.

Our selectors are Dan Quill and Shane O Connor while James Murphy, Barry Johnson and Joe Delaney are helping with the training of the team. Fielding a third adult hurling team is difficult as many of the players can be called on during the season to play with other club teams when numbers are depleted. Well done to Dan and Shane for guiding the team to a second successive East Cork Final.

The game is fixed for Lisgoold at 3 o clock on Saturday and for those going to the game please note that no traffic will be allowed on the Ballinterry- Bartlemy- Ballincurrig- Lisgoold road due to the King of the Road Bowling competition.

It is a big occasion for the Bride Rovers Club and we wish the lads all the very best, go for it.

Brilliant Win For Under 15's.

'How oft this great team by long odds got defeated

But still their hearts were not dimmed in the fray

When hot grew that fight those hearts grew more eager

And that is why they're County champions today.

It was back in 1932 before the East Cork Junior Hurling Final; of that season that Billy Barry wrote 'Bride Rovers Abu. He told this writer many decades later that he thought the poem as it was originally might get a few public renditions. He did say he wanted it to reflect the great spirit and courage which he had seen in the early years of the Club. Billy was born in Hightown Bartlemy and later he moved to Mondaniel, Rathcormac when the Barry family bought a farm there. I know his heart would have been swelling with pride at the Delaneys pitch last Saturday and Hightown and Mondaniel were well represented on the Bride Rovers under 15 team. This was a historic win in m many respects, a first ever Cork County Championship win in the under 15 grade , a first ever title in the Premier 2 Grade and for many players a 2015 'Double' having already won the County under 16 hurling title.

In 2010 the County u 12 C title was won, the County u 13 A title was captured in 2013 and now the under 15 and under 16 titles. The Club has also contested the under 14 Finals in 2014 and 2015, losing to Blarney last year and to another Muskerry club, Inniscarra, this year.

Never was Championship title won in such a compact time period. The under 15 team opened their campaign on Thursday September the 24th with a good win over Slieverue (Ballymartle/Belgooly) and then just three days later in the semi/final at Ballyhooley a great victory over Fermoy on a 1 15 to 1 11 scoreline ensured a County Final place. The opposition in the final was St Finbarrs who defeated Nemo Rangers in the second semi final. The last time we played St Finbarrs in a Final was in the autumn of 1890 at Mallow when the Barrs won the O Connor Cup for Senior Hurling.

Conditions last Saturday at the Delaneys grounds were just perfect. It was more like mid summer than early October. Brian Roche hit our first white flag in the second minute but the Barrs equalised immediately. Griffin O Keeney and Conleith Ryan (free) put is three to one up after seven minutes. Even at this early stage the strong play of our defence led by Patrick O Flynn and Eoin Roche was evident. Cousins John O Sullivan and Seamus Ahern combined well to put Brian Roche through for a great goal. Brian followed with another good point. We then went through a spell of total dominance but unfortunately we struck five wides in a row. Kieran Kearney brought our tally to 1 5 but we could easily have had 1 1`0 on the board. Sean Cunningham then raised a green flag for the Barrs and our lead was just two points. Then with twenty five minutes gone Matthew Quinn passed the sliotar to Cian Hogan who put Brian Roche through and we had a second goal, up 2 5 to 1 3. St. Finbarrs had the last score of the first half with a point to leave us ahead by 2 5 to 1 4 at the break. We had played against the wind allright but it was no gale. Four points ahead was a nice lead but with a team like the Barrs anything could happen. Luke Hannigan reduced our lead to three but Conleith from a free made it four once more. Then the Barrs hit a purple patch scoring three points on the trot to leave just the minimum between the sides. The city side went all out for a levelling score but great defending by Ruairi O Sullivan and Peter O Leary cleared the danger. The game was in the balance now as whoever got the next score would be in a strong position. Conleith from a free and Brian raised two white flags with a little over ten minutes left. Tension was at fever pitch with the Rovers mentors on the line running as fast as the players. With just four minutes left on the clock the Barrs had a point to leave us hanging on by that most dangerous of all leads -two points. Brian Roche had two great points to leave us up by four 2 10 to 1 9 and then the final whistle went. What a great outpouring of emotion with great scenes of joy and happiness. It was a mighty win for the players and the Club. When one considers that already this summer this panel of players went through a marathon seven game campaign to win the under 16 championship this was a brilliant victory. No doubt there are great hurlers on the team but over and above their hurling skill is their outstanding attitude, spirit and courage. Many of the players come from old Bride Rovers 'stock' but several of the lads who played on the u 14, u 15 and u 16 teams are new to the parish in recent years. It is just fantastic to see how the Bride Rovers Club has brought such unity and steely resolve to the playing fields. Well done lads and to mentors Walshie, Fitzy, Joe, James and Martin sincere thanks for a massive effort. Well done County Champions Ben, Ruairi, Patrick, Peter, Matthew, Eoin, Griffin, Kieran, Jordan, Brian, Cian, Conleith, Seamus, John, Conor, Michael, Seanie, Oisin, John, Craig and Tom.

Ladies Win County.

On Sunday the Rovers fans headed city-wards once more as Mayfield was the venue for the County Senior B ladies football final against Eire Og. A game with 48 scores and what a victory! It didn't look at all likely in the first half when Eire Og led by 1 6 to 0 3. Then at the end of a long, long first half Caitriona Vaughan saved a penalty shot from Eimear Scally and almost immediately our girls worked the ball up the pitch and we were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Grace Cullotty to score and we were just a point behind at the break 2 4 to 1 8. Eire Og kicked ten points in the second half but we added an amazing 4 6 to win by four points. Well done to the players and mentors and best of luck in Munster.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.

The Jackpot for Tuesday September the 29th was €7200. The four numbers drawn were 7, 16,26 & 28 and there was no winner. The winners of €30 were Evelyn Murphy Raheen, Priscilla c/o LAYA, Bernie Flynn Melrose, Mary Arnold Bartlemy, Barry Hazlewood.

The Jackpot for Tuesday October the 6th was €7400. Tickets at just €2 each are on sale from club members, in local business outlets and online at locallotto.i

Cork GAA Members Draw.

The 2015/16 Cork GAA Members Draw will be starting up shortly. The September and October draws will be held at the end of October. It is just €10 a month to join with fantastic monthly prizes on offer each month. You can join by paying a once off payment, by Direct Debit or by the month. Tickets are now on sale for this Draw.

Twitter and Website.

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@ BrideRoversGAA or on our own website at www.briderovers.ie

Any news items or general items of interest are very welcome for inclusion and can be sent to Gerard Lane.

FIXTURE: 2015 East Cork Junior C Grade Hurling Championship Final, Bride Rovers v Cobh in Lisgoold at 3 o clock on Saturday October the 10th.

Club Sponsors.