BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.. 

“AND THEY’RE OFF” 

It might be a horse-racing term but truly, in GAA terms, it can be said the Club Season is really taking off with a bang this weekend. This coming weekend we have huge games in Senior and Junior A hurling and we also host two games -one for the County Board and one for the East Cork Board. With the Cul Camp ongoing all week it’s been a hectic last week of July. Take Monday for example- what a day! The Cul Camp for 2025 opened with over 200 youngsters from 7 upwards descending on Pairc na Bride from half 9 onwards. At the same time our under 12 hurlers and their mentors arrived- all excited as they waited for their bus to Croke Park.  As part of a Munster Council initiative our under 12’s along with Ardfert from Kerry, Ballyduff Upper from Waterford and Newmarket-on- Fergus (Clare) were invited to play a blitz in the GAA headquarters -read full details below.  Monday night saw our under 16 hurlers travelled to Barryroe to play Ibane Gaels, the u 15 camogie team played Cobh in Pynes and the Junior C hurlers played St Catherines in a challenge game in the Main Pitch. We also had an Executive Meeting on Monday night with an extensive Agenda. Never a dull moment! 

MINOR FOOTBALL; Bride Rovers Minor Win First Round Football Championship 
It was another Championship win for Bride Rovers Minor team last Wednesday in Pairc Na Bride. We faced neighbours Lisgoold in football. 
We had 22 togged out  and got 20 players in total into the game, great credit to the boys for a great performance in a high scoring football game. 
Both sides had a fast start with a few points apiece, we were trying hard but failed to take some more early scores, Lisgoold were winning possession from their kick outs and they travelled up the field at speed and forced some saves from our backs & keeper and had wides too. 
After the first quarter we were setting in better and playing  some nice passing and running football. We pushed on with two first half goals and a few more points to leave the half time score at Rovers 2 8 Lisgoold  1 3 
In a 15 minute period just after half time we really pressed them and were winning more of the high ball and battles. The forward division scored heavily in that period with two more  goals and more than a dozen points from play and frees. It gave us a chance to play 5 of our Subs. Our opponent got opportunities and they took them well scoring 3-3 in the second half but it was the fitter and better team that kept going to the end on a winning Full time score of Bride Rovers 3 20 v Lisgoold 4 6.  

HURLING ALL THE WAY. On Sunday next August the 3rd our Senior Hurlers take on old rivals Blarney in the first Round Robibn game of this years Senior Championship. We’ve had a great League Campaign winning the Division 3 title but unfortunately serious injuries will mean we will be missing some key players. The game is fixed for Pairc Ui Rinn at 3 with the Hill and Courceys at 1.15. It wont be easy but go for it lads. On Monday night our Junior A hurlers face Carrigtwohill in Lisgoold in the East Cork Championship opener -best of luck lads.  We host Carrig  and Fermoy at 7.30 on Friday night in Pairc na Bride with a big crowd expected. On Sunday night then we host Carrignavar and St Itas in the East Cork JAHC at 7pm. Club embers are asked to help out with both fixtures. 

UNDER12’S SHINE ON CROKE PARK’s HALLOWED TURF IN BLITZ. It was a day to remember for the Bride Rovers Under12 hurling team as they travelled to Croke Park on Monday, July 28th to take part in the Munster Council-organised blitz at GAA Headquarters. Excitement was high from the moment the young Rovers lads stepped off the bus in Drumcondra. Before picking up their hurleys, the players were treated to a tour of the iconic GAA Museum and even got the chance to explore the famous Croke Park dressing rooms – walking the same corridors as their Cork heroes. 

On the pitch, Bride Rovers gave an excellent account of themselves, facing off against strong opposition from Ballyduff Upper (Waterford), Newmarket-on-Fergus (Clare), and Ardfert (Kerry). Across all three matches, the Rovers showed skill, spirit, outstanding teamwork and some serious work ethic resulting in truly excellent scores. 

 Every player gave their all and wore the Rovers jersey with pride on the biggest stage in Irish sport. The panel on the day was Liam Harrington, Harry Fitzpatrick, Dave Fitzpatrick, Robbie Scanlon, Liam Ryan, Jack Gubbins, John Keating, Hugh Clerkin, Luke Buckley, Fionn Purcell, Logan Ryan, Kayden Freeman, Dara Murphy, Aaron Murphy, Joey Allen, Elliott Fitzgerald, Daniel Fitzgerald, Jamie Kearney, Tiarnan Lyons, Darragh Feeney, Killian Donegan, Oisin Barry Sheehan, Jack Roddis, and Eoin Burke. 

 A huge thanks to the mentors and parents who helped make the day such a memorable experience for the boys and special thanks to the Juvenile club exec for supporting the team to make this happen. Days like this will live long in the memory – and who knows, maybe some of these young stars will return to Croke Park again in the years to come wearing the Cork jersey. 

P2 Football Championship v Clonakilty 

PREMIER 2 MINOR FOOTBALL. We welcomed Clonakilty to Pairc na Bhride on Tuesday night last for our first round of the football championship. We started well with points from Finn and Fionn Lynch before Clon had their first on the 9th. Fionn Lynch scored a cracking goal in the 9th with 2 points from Finn and 1 from Cody giving us a comfortable lead on the 17th minute. With Cathal dominating at centre back, Donagh doing a great man marking job and Mark and Michael dominating at midfield we had a great platform to continue to push on. Michael had his first point with Finn following up before a cracker of a goal from Michael in the 27th. Oliver ran the length of the field to have a point with Michael grabbing his second  before the half time whistle.This was a great performance with Dylan making his debut in goals and showing great composure.  

Cody started the second half with a goal from wing back followed by 3 from Finn. Oliver again before Fionn Lynch with his second goal. Clon went on a scoring run scoring 1-4 before Fionn Collins got a great point and Mark Hynes finished the scoring. Final score...6:13 to 1-10. 

This was a great team result with Tadhg, Jeff and Ciaran all showing great interplay to follow up from last weeks league final victory.  

Div 4 football v Glanmire. 

This was a game of tough luck with a great team performance. Callum was on fine form from frees with Sean Finn scoring a goal and Evan with a point also contributing to a decent first half performance. Glanmire got some luck with a few goals which allowed them a 3 goal lead. The second half was tit for tat with every score equalised by the opposition. We had some chances with an unfortunate penalty miss and several near misses. Callum finished with 8 points, Evan with 2 and Cormac Lyons also contributing. A good battling performance by the lads. Final score 4-16 to 1-14 to G;anmire 

Div 4 football v Carrigaline 

This was another battling performance from the lads which was only 48 hours after the Glanmire game. Despite some injuries and holidays we still had 19 tog which is fantastic. Evan Crowley marked his comeback with a  point in the 1st minute. Carrigaline dominated the scoreboard but not the possession as we missed several good chances.  Calum continued his fine scoring form with a point before Cormac got on the end of a fine move contributing from centre back. Calum and the Evans..Crowley and Quaine contributed white flags in the second half to leave the score 3-7 to 6 points. Another missed penalty would have had the scoreline looking different but again the lads battled to the end.  

Premier 2 Hurling championship v Ibane Gaels 

We made the long trip to Barryroe on Monday night for a tight battle. With the grass "slightly" high it led to a lot of ground battles which were very evenly contested. Finn opened the scoring with a free following great defending by Sean Finn in corner forward. A free from Cathal was followed up with our first from play by Michael. Ciaran got another from an acute angle before Michael got 2 and Sean Finn had 1. Ibane in the meantime scored 2 goals which were against the run of play...all following decent periods of possession by the lads. Oliver was moved to midfield and a great run through the middle led to the Ibane keeper making 2 decent saves from Fionn and Ciaran before Oliver finished the rebound to the net. Finn followed up with 2 points to leave the scoreline at 2-4 to 1-9.  

This was a strange game with the grass slowing the game and some good physical play styming our normal game. Finn opened the second half with a "65 followed by a long range Oliver point and a Finn free. Ibane went on a scoring splurge scoring 1-5 between the 41st and 47 mins. Cathal scored a great long range free to stop the rot before 3 from free left us level. Cathal again had a long range free before Michael sealed it on the 59th. This was a tough battle made all the sweeter by the response by the lads to not lie down.  

Final score BR 1-18 IG 3-10 

HURLING CHALLENGE. We played St. Catherines on Monday night at home in a Junior C Hurling challenge. After a high-scoring match we won out by 4 22 to 3 13. Team; D. Buckley, G Gubbins, B. Collins, J Kearney, J Tobin, Jordan Mannix, John O Sullivan, L. Harrington  A Buckley Kamso Obi, O Kielty, Cameron O Sullivan, Ml Collins, L Forde, J Powell Subs S Boyce M Manley. 

 1975 TEAM TO BE HONOURED. On Thursday August 14th our Junior B Grade hurling team of 1975 that won the B Grade Hurling Championship will be honoured. It’s half a century since that team led by captain Pat o Connor defeated Carrigtwohill, Dungourney, St Catherines, Cobh and St Itas to win the Cup. Of the panel Johnny Barry, Niall Long, John Byrnes and Jerry Martin are gone to their eternal reward and we will remember them on the night. Full details next week. 

UNDER 14’s PREPARE. Our Under14 teams are just training at the moment as no fixtures have been ratified just yet but we have final and semi-final ‘appointments’ coming soon in both codes  

We are playing Castlelyons in the football semi -final which should be fixed in the next couple of weeks. We are awaiting the winners of Erin's Own and Killeagh for the hurling final in mid-September. We are arranging a few challenges over the coming weeks  

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO.  The Club Lotto Results for Tuesday 22nd of July – The numbers drawn were 7, 21, 25 & 29 and there was  No Winner of the €14,600 Jackpot. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners Ita Madden, Ballynanelagh, David O’Keeffe, Fermoy, Ryall O’Mahony, Midleton, Niamh Kavanagh, Pairc an Oír, BLZ, AHR, DAE & LEK c/o D Murphy 
This week's jackpot on Tuesday July 29th was an incredible €14,800. 
If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https://bit.ly/BrideRoversweeklyfundraiser. Thank you again for all your support. 

UNDER 10’s VISIT TIPPEARY.   They might have defeated us in the All Ireland Final recently but Tipperary held no fear for our under 10’s who made the ‘Trip to Tipp’ last Saturday.  Poet CJ Boland wrote a famous poem about places in Tipperary called ‘The Two Travellers’-the last verse goes as follows; And I wouldn’t much care for Sierra Leone/  If I hadn’t seen Killenaule/And the man that was never in Mullinahone Shouldn’t say he had travelled at all”   

Well indeed it’s long way to Tipperary and on Saturday morning last the u 10’s headed off with their mentors for Killenaule in the Premier County. Its 85.9 km (53 miles in the old money!) and we got an invite from the home club to play a series of games at this age group. We had 22 players and they all got ‘game time’ in a great morning of sport where our lads represented their Club and County in a brilliant manner. Thanks to Killenaule for the invitation and hospitality.  

SPONSORS. The Bride Rovers GAA Club sponsors are Fermoy  Print & Design, Rathcormac Tyres, Gerd Gubbins Construction and Veoila -please support our sponsors when you can.