BRIDE ROVERS GAA CLUB NOTES.

GREAT WIN FOR OUR ‘HOLY TERRORS’ as CORK MAKE MUNSTER FINAL.  

 Back in the 1880’s it was Fr Edmond Barry that ‘christened’ our third hurling team ’The Holy Terrors’- last Friday May 23rd was his 125th Anniversary and on that evening the 2025 version of the Holy Terrors had a great league win. By Leeside on Sunday the Cork hurlers defeated Waterford thus earning another crack at Limerick on Saturday week. On Friday evening we are home to Blackrock in the RED FM SHL – the Rockies second team. Well done to Minor  hurler Matthew Kenny who lined out with Rebels in the Celtic Challenge semi -final last weekend . Our Lotto Jackpot for last Tuesday night was €13,000.

EAST CORK JHL DIV 4. Our Junior C hurlers played their final game of the East Cork Division 4 league on Friday evening last in Pynes with a great crowd around as the U14s were playing their championship match on the pitch beside us. It was lovely evening for hurling though there was a strong wind going across the pitch. We had a great mix of youth and experience on the team, and it resulted in a fine performance. We started the game brightly and points from Nicky, Conor, William and Cormac got us off to a great start and saw us leading 4 points to 1 and when Jack got the opening goal in 8th minute things were looking good. We had a good spread of scorers and a run of 5 points in a row saw us into a 1-11 to 2-point lead in the 20th minute. Erins Own kept battling and had the better of the last 10 minutes before half time. A goal and 4 points saw the margin reduced back to 7 points at half time 1-13 to 1-6.

We had a great turn out of players on the evening which allowed us to make several substitutions, and the fresh legs had a great effect in the second half and our first three scores of the second half were all goals coming from Conor, Cormac & Darragh saw us into a good lead. We continued to take our points and when Cameron got two more goals towards the end of the game it helped us finish off our league campaign on a high note with a win on the score-line of 6-23 to 1-13.  Lads, no doubt Fr Barry would be proud of ye.

THE NAME ‘HOLY TERRORS’  When Fr Barry had seen two hurling teams (21 a side) emerge from the parish there were still more young men who wanted to play. A Trial game for these was arranged  in the ‘pitch’ on Kilshannig lawn one  Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately Fr Barry had to attend  a funeral in Castlelyons. When he returned he asked about the players that had turned up to form a Third team. One man said ‘Do you know what Father they are regular downright  holy terrors’ -he laughed and Fr Barry laughed too and he gave the name ‘Holy Terrors’ to the parishes third team and we still use that name on occasions today -a century and a quarter after Fr Barry’s death.  Getting back to the Division 4 Hurling league we’re currently sitting in 2nd place in this league but Dungourney still have their last game to play and a win will see them pass us out and take the place in the league final against Lisgoold. Team & Scorers: M Collins, C O’Dowd, A Buckley, J Kearney, J Tobin, Jordan Mannix, J O’Sullivan, J Buckley (0-2), C Barry (1-1), N Kelleher (0-1), W Finnegan (0-10), C O’Riordan (1-4), Jack Mannix (1-3), D O’Sullivan (1-1), G Gubbins Subs J Buckley, B Collins, C Howard, J Powell, C O’Sullivan-Swalbe (2-0), S Boyce, D Kelleher, M Manley

COFFEE MORNING FUNDRAISER.  A coffee morning will take place in Rathcormac Community Hall next Sunday 1st of June from 11am to 1pm. This event takes place to raise funds for Brain Tumor Ireland.
If anyone wishes to donate or bake for the event, it would be greatly appreciated. Any baking can be dropped into the hall before Mass.
If you wish to help in any way, please contact Mossie O'Sullivan 086 835 4093

ROVERS REBEL. Well down to our Matthew Kenny of Bride Rovers Minors who represented his Family, Club  and County in the All Ireland Celtic Challenge Hurling Semifinal away to Limerick  on Saturday. The contest was played in the magnificent Ballybrown pitch. After a 47 score thriller
Cork won on a score-line of 6-23 to 5-13.

CORK WIN; It mightn’t have been a classic game but a win is a win and the Cork Senior hurlers, with Brian Roche starting, defeated Waterford last Sunday in the Park. Now we are in the Munster Final and another chance to cross camans with Limerick. We can predict that this provincial Final on Saturday week will be closer affair than two weeks ogo in the Gaelic Grounds. Unfortunately injury problems seem to be mounting for the Rebels but hopefully these will be cleared up for the Final. God be with the days when a Munster Final was played of a Sunday afternoon. One could make the sandwiches and head off nice and aisy after Mass. All’s changed, utterly changed now with a 6 o clock Angelus-time throw in in Limerick on Saturday week. No Minor Final -will we have a Band and a Parade?

FULL STEAM AHEAD ON THURSDAY.

Rathcormac Vintage Club and Rathcormac Men Shed will host a Vintage Gathering, featuring Steam Engines, at the Community Field, Rathcormac on Thursday evening next 29th May at 6pm. It’s part of the Annual Dublin to Cork Run which ends at the Steam Rally in Halfway. The steam engines and other vintage vehicles will be at the Community Field on Thursday from around 6 o clock.

STUDENTS MASS;  Mass for the year's examination students will take place in Rathcormac Church on Saturday 31st of May at 7:30pm. The Junior and Leaving Cert Exams start next  week and we wish the very best to all our students.

CORK MINORS WAITING. Denis Fitzgerald and his Cork Minor colleagues will be keeping a close eye on the All Ireland Quarter Finals in Thurles this weekend. Cork and Kilkenny await the winners of the Limerick v Waterford and the Clare v Galway contests.

ROCKIES COMING ON FRIDAY NIGHT. We are getting towards the ‘business end’ of the RED FM SHL now and we have a home game against Blackrock on this Friday night May 30th.  This game is on in the Main pitch at half 7. Our next game then is away to Courcey Rovers on June 15th. Back in 1933 we defeated Blackrock in the second round of the County IHC at Carrigtwohill. A tight game- we won by 3 2 to 1 5. Team;  Ned Hoskins, John Healy, Joe Healy, Mick Mulally John Holmes, Tom Collins, Bill Murphy, Jimmy Ryan, Dick Ryan, Patrick Collins, Ned Daly, Tom O Shea, Jim Murphy, Billy Barry, Mick Thompson,

CAR BOOT SALE. Thanks to all who helped in any way with the car Boot Sale last Sunday -it was a huge success .

FIXTURES; Fri May 30th SHL V Blackrock, home at 7.30

June 8th J Football League v Aghada away at 7.30pm.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres Fermoy Print & Design Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia.

BRIDE ROVERS GAA JUVENILE NOTES;

 UNDER 14FC.

Date;  Friday May 16th. Venue; Aghavine, Ballymacoda. It was another fine sunny evening down in the East Cork grounds of Fr. O'Neill’s for the first round of the FeU14 Div2 Football Championship. Both teams were undefeated in their respective Leagues coming into this match topping the table in their individual Sections, so a close battle was expected. The Bride Rovers team was impacted by a number of late withdrawals due to injuries but they were backed up as always by our U13's who stood up to ask and made a massive contribution to the team as always. In an action packed game it was the home team who struck first with a goal within the first couple of minutes, but Rovers then hit back with 3 unanswered points, before full-forward Jack O'Dowd was fouled in the box for a penalty which Henry Bagnel duly converted, before following it up with a point from the next kick-out. A couple of minutes later Jack O'D struck again with another goal, but this was cancelled out by O’Neill’s who struck back with their second goal straight after. Some great work was put in by the Rovers backline, containing a lot of attacks, from a team who were intent on going for goals. Both teams traded a couple of points with Cathal Quinlan getting a great score from play, before Jack O'D struck again for his second goal, only for it to be cancelled out shortly afterwards again by another O’Neill’s goal, and a final point before half-time leaving it 3-2 to 3-5 to Bride Rovers at half-time. 

After a couple of strategic changes made at half-time, Bride Rovers then started to pull away with 3 unanswered points from Henry B., Kai R. and Padraig B. before yet again Jack O'D struck with his 3rd goal. Fr. O'Neills then hit their purple patch with 3 points and a goal, but credit again to the Rovers defence who when under siege, prevented far more scores than they conceded. A final point from Fr. O'Neills was then followed by a goal from David Aherne and a final point from Henry B., leaving the final score: Fr. O'Neills 4-6 (18) Bride Rovers 5-9 (24).

 

 

BALLYDUFF U.10 FUN FESTIVAL OF HURLING. Back in 1996 two great hurling ‘visionaries’ Maurice Geary and John Jackson came up with the idea of running an under 10 hurling Tournament in Ballyduff Upper.  Four teams entered back 29 years ago. Over the years the Tournament grew and grew – pre-covid  there were 32 teams entered.  This year 28 teams took part from Waterford, Cork and Tipperary. It started last Friday evening and continued on Saturday. We entered two teams. We had a Team in Group 1 and Group 3. 

We played Mount Sion, Fermoy and Castlelyons in Group 1 advancing to a semi-final next Saturday.
In Group 3 we played Mount Sion, Naomh Brid and Ballyduff Upper. It was a great experience for both teams and they acquitted themselves very well. Thanks to Ballyduff for the invitation. A lovely touch is the fact that every player who takes part gets a special Certificate of Participation and a Goodie bag. Best of luck lads on Saturday next.

REBEL OG fe 14 FC.

Date ;Fri May 323rd, venue Pynes New  Field.

On a glorious Friday afternoon in Pynes, Bride Rovers Under14 hurlers took to the field for a thrilling clash against a highly-rated Killeagh side. The setting was perfect on the club’s new pitch, a fantastic facility that stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local community. With the Junior C team playing Erins Own in the pitch alongside it was a super evening of hurling.

From the throw-in, Bride Rovers showed their intent with a solid and composed performance across the field. Goalkeeper Ciarán was in outstanding form, launching accurate puckouts and commanding his area with confidence. In front of him, the full-back line of Denis, Cathal O'B, and Senan formed a formidable barrier, cutting out numerous Killeagh attacks with cool heads and strong hurling.

The half-back line of Ruarí, Ollie, and Seán who captained the team on the night balanced defence and attack with great energy, driving the team forward at every opportunity. Midfielders Cathal Q and Jack F put in a tremendous shift, covering every blade of grass, supporting both defence and attack. Padraig was a key link player, roaming across midfield and the forward line, always offering an outlet and adding to the Rovers’ attacking options. In the half-forward line, Alex and David worked tirelessly on the wings, pressing high and creating vital turnovers that put Killeagh under constant pressure. Henry at centre-forward done great both scoring himself and setting up his teammates with clever distribution. Inside, Conor H and Liam proved a handful for the Killeagh defence. Their combination play was a joy to watch, and Liam was electric, finishing with an incredible tally of 4-7 – a performance that underlined his sharpness and determination. The strength of the Rovers panel was evident as substitutes Harry, James, and Conor C came on and made a real impact in the closing stages, ensuring the team finished strongly and secured a memorable win. Final Score: Bride Rovers 7-11 (32) Killeagh 5-9 (24)

It was a high-quality game of hurling between two skilful sides. Credit to Killeagh for a great contest – no doubt these two teams will meet again as the season progresses. Well done to all involved!

 

 

ROVERS REBEL. Well down to our Matthew Kenny of Bride Rovers Minors who represented his Family, Club  and County in the All Ireland Celtic Challenge Hurling Semifinal away to Limerick  on Saturday. The contest was played in the magnificent Ballybrown pitch. After a 47 score thriller
Cork won on a score-line of 6-23 to 5-13.

 Fixtures;

 May 31st Ballyduff under 10 Hurling Festival v De La Salle, 1030am

May 31st u 12 Fl V Mayfield, home, 12.300

June 6th u 14 HC v Ballycastle Gaels in Castletownroche at 7.30pm