BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.

SENIOR and JUNIOR TEAMS IN CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION.

As we remember and celebrate our Junior B winning team from 1975 we enter another weekend of non-stop Championship action. Our Senior team Junior A and Junior C teams are in Round Robin action on Friday, Sunday and Monday. On Saturday night we host a Co. Board game so never a dull moment. Last week was hectic with under 16 and Minor games. Friday night saw four matches take place on our four pitches and our Junior C hurling team were away in Aghavine, Ballymacoda to play their first Group game in the East Cork Championship. On Saturday the under 10’s took part in a Munster Hurling blitz.  All in Bride Rovers extend deepest sympathy to the O Keeffe family on the death of Katie.

WELCOME TO ALL.

On tonight Thursday August 14th we will gather in the Rathcormac Inn with members of the 1975 Junior B hurling team that won the East Cork championship. Team Captain then and Club President now was Pat O Connor. Everyone is welcome and we come together from 8pm onwards.

REBEL OG PREMIER 2 UNDER 16 FOOTBALL. 

Bride Rovers 5-7 Bishopstown 4-4

We took to the Bishopstown astro on Monday night shy of five players who had played in our previous game v Clonakilty due to holidays and injury. However this didn't deter the lads who gave a great performance on a warm night but with a significant wind. We played the first half with the wind and had a half time lead of 4-4 to a goal. Our backs were well on top and we could have been further ahead only for some wayward shooting. 

The second half continued with us dominating and keeping the scoreboard going. Bishopstown did have a spell of dominance for the last 15 minutes but we held out well. 

 

UNDER 16 FOOTBALL DIVISION 4

Bride Rovers 2-6 Erins Own 6-15

Our D4 team hosted Erins Own on Friday night and the scoreline didn't reflect the performance from our lads. We were down some players having lost 5 to the P2 team and also some injuries. However we still managed to have 19 lads tog which is a massive achievement. Erins Own started with a strong wind and used this to their advantage. Evan opened the scoring but with some poor shooting it was until Calum scored in the final few minutes of the half that we got our second score. We had some good goal opportunities which were unfortunately spurned...Daniel was unlucky not to get a penalty after some great work.  We also lost Cormac and Fionn to injury at half time. 

However the half time deficit of 2-9 to 2 points didn't deter the lads and it was Dazzler who rattled the net from the half back line to start the second half. Calum top scored in the second half with a further 1-2 with Euan and Evan also raising white flags. 

This week it's P2 hurling v Kilworth in Rathcormac on Monday night and for the D4s it's home v Ballincollig on Thursday night.

 

 COUNTY MINOR FOOTBALL  CHAMPIONSHIP.

On Wednesday night we recorded a win in the Minor Football Championship. We were away to St Vincents on the Northside of Cork City.   It was a very unusual match as the first five scores were goals!  We went on to win on a scoreline of Bride Rovers 10-10 to 4-10 for  St Vincent's
Team/panel; David O Connell Eanna Lyons Ronan Barry Gary Quirke Jack Lynch Oliver Harris
Gearoid O Connell Cormac Barry Sean Dowling Shane O Dowd Conor O Riordan Finn O Driscoll Rudi Gharib Michael Walsh Jack Mannix Subs used :Mathew Kenny Con McCormick Mark Hynes Adam Kelleher.

UNDER 10 HURLING BLITZ.  Truly it was spectacular occasion in Pairc na Bride.   With teams from Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary, Kilworth/Araglen and Bride Rovers it was a real Munster Hurling occasion.  Piper Ger Broderick led the team onto the pitch in a spectacular parade and played some stirring tunes for the youngsters.   In a poignant moment before the playing of Amhrain na bhFiann a minutes silence was observed in memory of little Katie O Keeffe. Daughter of Kevin and Siobhan and grand daughter of Kevin and Esther, Katie had battled bravely with her serious illness right until the end.  Ballygunner from Waterford, Na Piarsaigh from Limerick  and Durlas Og from Thurles in Tipperary joined the under 10’ from Kilworth/Araglen  and our own two teams

The games commenced and there was some mighty battling and skill shown by our boys in all the games played. There was a brilliant morning’s hurling and overall the skill levels right across all the teams was simply amazing. A special thanks to our referees led by Mike Carey Cormac Barry, Hannah O Driscoll and Ciaran Mohally. A special word of thanks to the parents for providing the refreshments after the blitz. Thanks to the visiting teams for coming the long distance-  it’s greatly appreciated. Finally thanks to Liam and Ann Marie Barry of Fermoy Print and Design for all their help with the sign and poster for the event.

 

REFLECTIONS ON THE CUL CAMP. Truly the dust has settled after Cul Camp 2025. Last week marked another great year at Bride Rovers Cúl Camp. Over 215 children had a brilliant week learning new skills, playing games and creating friendships. Their enthusiasm, engagement and laughter made the week incredibly enjoyable for all involved. The success of the camp was also due to the many coaches and volunteers who gave their time and skills. The children were lucky enough to welcome multiple guests throughout the week from Cork Senior Hurlers Ciaran Joyce, Diarmuid Healy, Brian and Eoin Roche, Cork Senior Ladies Footballer Sarah Murphy and Cork Minor Hurler Denis Fitzgerald. Luck continued with some great weather and fantastic goodie bags which were kindly sponsored by local businesses. Thanks to one and all for another memorable week for our future Bride Rovers stars.

FOUR PITCHES-FOUR MATCHES. That was the joyously non-chaotic scene on last Friday evening as all of our four full-size pitches were occupied with whistles going and goal and point flags being waved.

 

 

EAST CORK JUNIOR C HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP. Our Junior C Hurlers opened their championship campaign away to Fr O’Neills on Friday night away in the lovely new pitch in  Aghavine. There was a strong wind going down the pitch and O’Neill’s won the toss and chose to play with the wind. We got a brilliant start though as straight from the throw in we went on the attack and Ben finished the ball to the back of the O’Neills net. O’Neills responded with two points before Jacob put over a free and on the 10-minute mark Darragh attacked through the centre and scored our second goal, another point from Ben put us 2-2 to 0-2 up. Fr O’Neills got the next three points before points from Jacob and Frank kept us in a front. O’Neills were getting a few points but when Cameron got our third goal after the initial effort from Jacob had come back off the crossbar we had a healthy lead of 3-5 to 0-7 at the 20th minute mark despite playing against the gale. Liam Forde added another point for us but a good spell from O’Neills saw them score 1-2 and the margin was back to 3 points in a blink of an eye. Points from Liam and Frank responded to two for O’Neills and the margin was three at half , in our favour,  3-8 to 1-11

We turned to play with the wind for the second half and another point from Liam got us off to a good start. O’Neills were playing well though and 2 points from them saw us leading by just two when Darragh got through for his second goal. Another point from Ben before Jacob got our fifth goal in the 45th minute saw us into a 5-10 to 1-13 lead. O’Neills kept trying but Ciaran, Adrian and Jake were playing well in full back line, and O’Neills were being limited to taking points. Darragh got his hattrick in 50th minute and a point from Jack and a goal from Michael Collins  in injury time saw us out winners on a score line of 7-11 to 1-16.

Our next game is against Midleton on Monday the 18th of August at 7pm in Rathcormac.

Team & Scorers: S O’Flynn, C O’Dowd ©, A Buckley, J Tobin, J O’Sullivan, Jordan Mannix, L Harrington, O Kielty, C O’Sullivan, F O’Flynn (0-2), D O’Sullivan (3-0), B Knox (1-2), J Powell (1-3), L Forde (0-3), C Swalbe-O’Sullivan (1-0) Subs: M Collins (1-0), Jack Mannix(0-1), N Kelleher, K Obi, C O’Callaghan, G Gubbins, J Kearney, B Collins, D Kelleher. Well done lads, it means our Senior, Junior A and Junior C teams all had opening round Championship wins.

.

GAME IN PITCH. We had a good crowd on Saturday night for the St Catherines v Castlelyons JBHC game. A minute’s silence was observed before the throw-in in memory of Katie O Keefffe. The game was reffed by Micharl Carey. On this coming Saturday August 16th we host Kilworth and Ballincollig in the County )IHC with Pa O Driscoll as ref. Timed for 6.30 all members that can help try and be at the pitch at 5.30pm.

CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION. Well after our three adult hurling teams winning their opening games, all three are back in action over the next five

Days. First into the fray are the Seniors who take on Courcey Rovers in Riverstown on this Friday night at  7.30. The Ballinspittle side were beaten  by the Hill on opening day but have a few players back from injury and are always a hard side to beat. Then at 12 noon on Sunday the Junior side face East Cork Champions Killeagh. This game is fixed for Ballynoe.  On Monday night then Midleton are visitors in Round two of the Junior C Championship.  These are three very tough assignments but no one said it would be easy. Go for it lads and best of luck.

 CONDOLENCES.  All in the parish and in the GAA Club too were plunged into sadness on Wednesday night when we heard of the death of little Katie O Keeffe. When Katies illness was diagnosed last year the community here came together in a huge way to help the family. We had all hoped and prayed for Katies recovery but sadly this was not to be. To her heart-broken parents Kevin and Siobhan, grandparents Kevin and Esther and Gerard and Josephine Fahey and her sister Roisin and all the extended family we extend our deepest sympathy at this very sad time.

 

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