BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.

FINALS WEEKEND.

They say you could be ages waiting for a bus and then two come along together! Well it’s bit like that for us in Bride Rovers this weekend -after a long wait we have both a County Hurling Final and an East Cork Hurling Final. When I hear people giving out that it’s nearly November and ‘getting late’ for matches, I think, isn’t it just great to be so involved at this time of year! Woeful weather that swept across Cork last Saturday meant the postponement of the Senior A hurling Final scheduled for Saturday evening last. Initially the time was brough forward from half 7 to 6.30 and then to six o clock before the fixture was cancelled along with the curtain-raiser Bandon v Aghabullogue in the Intermediate A final.  The Co. Board have now refixed our game for 6.30pm  next Saturday, in Pairc ui Chaoimh. The curtain-raiser will now be the Premier Junior Football Final between Buttevant and St. Nicks at half 4. Our East Cork Junior A grade Hurling Championship Final remains as fixed for half two in Midleton on Sunday. This will be our 11th time reaching the Imokilly JAHC final. On Sunday last the under 15 hurlers had a good championship win over Ballyhea. St Colmans had a drawn Harty Cup game with Midelton CBs and will be in action again next Wed week November the 5th.

REBEL OG PREMIER 2 UNDER 15HC.

Bride Rovers 5-13 | Ballyhea 3-7

Venue: Pynes Sand-Based Pitch, Sunday 19th of October

Bride Rovers’ Under15 hurlers regrouped for the P2 Championship and produced a superb display to overcome a strong and well-respected Ballyhea side in Pynes on Sunday. Despite weather warnings being in place for the weekend, the new sand-based pitch played like a summer surface, allowing both teams to serve up a wonderful game of hurling in ideal conditions.

Ballyhea got off to the perfect start, striking for a goal within the opening minutes. However, Bride Rovers quickly responded with a series of well-taken scores, showing great determination and fighting spirit to take control of the game. By half-time, the Rovers had carved out a four-point lead, thanks to some clever link-up play and tireless work across the pitch.

The second half continued in the same vein — two committed teams battling for every ball. As the game wore on, Bride Rovers began to assert their dominance, their forwards showing superb movement and sharp finishing to rack up an impressive total of 5-13. The midfield duo worked tirelessly from end to end, constantly supplying quality ball into the attack and keeping the pressure on Ballyhea.

 

At the back, the defence stood firm throughout. Even when the Black and Whites mounted late pressure, the Rovers’ rearguard held their ground, clearing their lines with composure and ensuring the goalkeeper had little to worry about. All substitutes made valuable contributions when introduced, reflecting the depth and unity of this panel. Despite missing a few key players, the management were full of pride in the collective effort shown — a hallmark of this dedicated group. With this victory, Bride Rovers now advance to face St. Finbarr’s in the Quarter-Final of the Championship next weekend.

Panel: Zack, Ollie, Danny (C), Sean H, Cormac, Cody, Cathal O’B, Sam, Sean F, Evan, Ciarán, Fionn L, Liam, Fionn C, Dom, Cathal M, Daniel, Luke.

At the time of writing no definite details of the Rovers v St Finbarrs fixture have been announced, possibly 11 on Sunday morning.

 

 SENIOR HURLING. It was back to the training pitch on Sunday morning for the Senior panel after the postponement on Saturday evening. The team hadn’t left for the game though many fans had in order to get a good parking spot. It’s well I remember several playing seasons in the 1970’s, ‘80’s and 1990’s when we were done and dusted in early August -out of all competitions both Championship and League so it’s fantastic to be competing in late October.  It’s just eight weeks from next Saturday until December the 25th- Christmas Day! The sand-based, floodlit pitch in Pynes is a wonderful asset at this time of year. The drainage is great and the surface superb. Before ‘lights’ became common in any pitch I remember teams training using the headlights of cars around the pitch for illumination!  So it’s been a magical, hectic, crazy and brilliant week with both the Junior and Senior teams training for their weekend finals. The Pairc Ui Chaoimh pitch was in great order for the two games last Sunday- congrats to Sars and Ballinhassig, and though we’ve had some rain it should be perfect for Saturday next. This time the forecast is good so hopefully all will go ahead as planned.  The extra week will have been of great benefit to any player with a little knock or a bruise.  Our Senior campaign began on August 3rd at Pairc Ui Rinn with a  1 22 to 1 15 victory over Blarney.  On August 15th at Riverstown we won against Courcey Rovers, 4  22 to 2 18. Next came a trip to Ballynoe on September 6th where we were well beaten by Watergrasshill,  1  22 to 1 13. These results saw us into the quarter final. Back to Pairc Ui Rinn for a win over Inniscarra – 2 23 to 1 18. Pairc Ui Chaoimh was the venue on Sat October 4th for the semi final against Carrigtwohill, a 3 14 to 1 14 win. So we have scored 11 94 and had 6 87 scored against us. In the run up to last weeks fixture many pundits were predicting a Castlelyons win particularly on their experience- this will be there sixth major Final in four years. Our lads have prepared well so again we wish them the very best- go for it lads. Again thanks to all who have gone to fierce rounds in putting up signs, flags, buntings, painting car, vans and houses and creating a massive atmosphere in the parish.

JUNIOR HURLERS BID FOR 6th TITLE.

On Sunday in Clonmult Memorial Park in Midleton our Junior Hurlers contes the East Cork A Grade Championship Final. We are bidding for a sixth title. Our first win was in 1930 and our fifth title came in 1998.  Our successful  Final appearances came in three decades -the 1930’s, 1960’s and 1990’s. Just two years after the Club was founded in 1928 we won our first East Cork, in 1930. We lost the 1931 final and the 1938 finals but won our second in 1932.   After a long, long lapse we won in 1968 and 1969. Losing in 1972 and 1973 and again in 1997 we reclaimed the Jamesy Kelleher Cup in 1998 and went on to win the County.  Fielding a second team at Junior A Grade is never easy as often payers are promoted to the Senior team during the Championship campaigns. In recent years we have given great displays in the knock-our stages against St Itas and Killeagh but were just pipped.   Our opposition next Sunday Cobh will be the hottest favourites having gone unbeaten through their Round Robin campaign. They came to Rathcormac and had a convincing win over Carrignavar in the semi final. We have already met them in our third Group game when they beat us by three goals. Led by Cork and Imokilly hurler Timmy Wilk they will be an extremely hard side to beat. From our point of view it’s massive to get to the Divisional Final -after an absence of twenty seven years.

2025 EAST CORK JAHC CAMPAIGN

August 4th in Lisgoold Bride Rovers 1 19 Carrigtwohill 0 13

August 17th in Ballynoe Bride Rovers 1 15 Killeagh 0 16

Sept 9th in Watergrasshill Cobh 2 17 Bride Rovers 0 14

Sep 19th in Glenville, Quarter Final Bride Rovers 2 24 Sars 2 22 (after extra-time)

Oct 10th in Dungourney  semi-final.Bride Rovers 1 18 St Itas 1 15.

Led by captain Liam Collins we have a nice mixture of experience and youth in the panel. Daniel Dooley, Tadhg O Sullivan, Jason Pratt, Ryan Prendergast, Cian O Connor, William Finnegan, Shawnie Knox and Michael Collins have all played at Senior Level. The younger players have had great experience at Minor and under 21 level and with College teams too. In the two toughest games so far,   against Sars and St Itas the lads showed fierce heart and determination and real Rovers spirit to win both matches. Lads ye have done the Club, parish and yere families proud this season. Best of luck in the final -go for it. Great credit to the management team of  Richie, Stephen, Oliver, Aiden, Nathan and Darren for the massive effort put in all year.

BRIDE ROVERS RESULTS IN EAST CORK FINALS DOWN THE YEARS.

1930`Bride Rovers 5  2 Leeside 0  1.

1931 Bride Rovers   Aghada  3 2 Bride Rovers  1  4

1932 Bride Rovers  4  6 Leeside 2  3.

1938  Bride Rovers 3  2  Cloyne 5 5

1968 Bride Rovers 5 8 Sarsfields 4  10

1969 Bride Rovers 3 11 Carrigtwohill 6  2- draw.

1969 replay, Bride Rovers 3 17 Carrigtwohill   6 4

1972 Bride Rovers 2 8 Dungourney 5  7

1973 Bride Rovers 7 11 Erins Own 6 14 -draw.

1973 replay, Bride Rovers 2 14 Erins Own 4 10

1997 Bride Rovers 0  9  Castlelyons 1 16

1998  Bride Rovers 2 13  Dungourney 2  6.

Cobh were the first winners of the East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling Championship in 1926. Twenty one years later the Jamesy Kelleher Cup was first presented to the winners (no trophy from 1926 to 1946) Ballinacurra, in 1927 and 1928 and 1942, won the East Cork JAHC three times but never won the Jamesy Kelleher Cup. In total 22 Clubs have won the East Cork Championship – Castlemartyr have 11 titles, Midleton 10, Carrigtwohill and Cloyne 9 , Aghada, Killeagh and Erins Own 6, Bride Rovers and Fr O Neills 5 each.

BRIDE ROVERS TEAMS v COBH DOWN THE YEARS

1930; East Cork JAHC ; John Healy, Jack Leahy, John Kearney,  Joe Healy, Connie O Brien, Ned Hoskins, Dave Hogan, Tom Barry, Andy Scannell, Billy Hanan, Dick Ryan, Tommy Condon, Ned Daly, Denny O Leary, Ned Barry.

1975 JBHC semi final; Joseph O Brien Derry Cotter  Donie Murphy Declan Kearney Tom Kearney Eddy Barry Pat O Connor (Capt)  Connie Barry Fachtna O Driscoll DK Barry Niall Long Seanie Barry Johnny Barry John Byrnes Tom Hogan. Subs; Frank Meade & Garry Meade.

1982 JHL Final;  Pat Hoskins  Seamus Collins Tommy O Flynn Paudie Murphy Tom Kearney Liam Cahill Declan Kearney  Denis Ahern Pudie Collins Cyril Johnson Tom Mulcahy James Maye John A Murphy Connie Barry Pat Cotter Subs Jimmy Johnson Denis Mulcahy Maurice Kearney Oliver O Connor.

1983 East Cork JAHC Pat Hoskins Seamus Collins Tommy O Flynn Declan Kearney Noel Murphy Liam Cahill Maurice Kearney Paudie Collins James Maye  Tom Mulcahy  John A Murphy Cyril Johnson Seanie Barry Denis Ahern Pat Cotter. Subs; Paudie Murphy, Tom Kearney & Gus O Driscoll.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO. The Lotto Results for Tuesday 14th of October – the four  numbers drawn  were 10, 16, 26 & 29 and there was No Winner of the €17,000 jackpot. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners Martina Carey, Monanig, Sadhbh MacDonagh, Pairc Dara, Finn Cotter, C/O Golf Club, Rebecca Howard, Rathcormac and Sarah O’Flynn, Rathcormac
This  week's jackpot on Tuesday October 21st was an incredible €17,200.
If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via
Bride Rovers GAA Lotto. Remember you can also buy €2 tickets in local shops and from Club Members.

VISITING THE TRAINING. On Monday night I drove out to Pynes to see the Juniors training under the new lights. It was heart-warming on a cold but dry October night to watch the lads going through their paces. There was a great buzz amongst all present knowing that in their own right this group of players were making history. We have seen Midleton, Sars, Erins Own and Killeagh’s ‘second strings’ all contest and win East Cork Junior Titles in the last twenty five years but it’s a new experience for us. I left them hurling away nearing 8 o clock. I drove in to Pairc na Bride where the under 9 boys were training in the astro. These are young Rovers born in 2016 and 2017 and I was amazed to see their skill level and most of all their enthusiasm –‘mol an oige agus tiocfaidh siad’.

HARTY CUP DRAW. It took a late Cormac Barry point from a free to earn St Colman’s a draw against Midleton CBS in the Harty Cup in Lisgoold last Wednesday. A 20 points each draw was the outcome of a game which was tight and when Colman’s built a second half 4 point lead they looked good. Midleton reeled of great points and it took the late, late white flag from Cormac to even up matters. Cormac had his  Bride Rovers team-mates Dinny, Finn, Cathal and Matty wearing the green. Colman’s next game is on Nov 5th against Waterford’s De La Salle.

DEATH OF PHILLY RYAN. All in Bride Rovers extend deepest sympathy to the family of Philly Ryan the Clonmel Commercials and Tipperary football legend who died suddenly at the weekend. A former Tipp goalie- his son Shane is the present No 1 on the Tipp team, Philly was the current County Football Manager. He was a passionate Gael and is a huge loss to his wife and family and the wider GAA family in Tipperary.

WEATHER FORECAST. Things are looking good for Saturday and Sunday. Light rain  may fall  down South but nothing like last week’s  deluges..

ST. COLMANS HISTORY BOOK. The much anticipated St Colman’s College  book ‘St. Colman’s College, Fermoy- A History’ will be launched in the College on Friday November the 7th at 7.30pm.

 

FIXTURES;

Saturday October 25th Cork Senior A Hurling Championship Final, Bride Rovers  v Castlelyons, Pairc Ui Chaoimh  7pm.

Sunday October 26th East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling Championship Final Bride Rovers v Cobh at 2.30pm.

Sat Nov 1st under 21 A Hurling  v Erins Own

Sunday Nov 2nd under 21 C Hurling v Castlelyons

 

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.