Bride Rovers Notes (19th Dec)
- Dec 19,2025
PREMIER SENIOR HURLING in 2026.
“Ye are playing Senior Hurling now lads” was the greeting uttered by the late Seamus Brennan TD when he met Eamonn Ryan and other Green Party members in 2007 for negotiations to form a Government after the General Election. Well for Bride Rovers the coming season of 2026 means just that. We’ve all heard and read the phrase ‘Back at the Top Table’ and it applies especially to us for next year. Our Premier Senior Hurling Championship group opponents for next year were drawn last Tuesday night before County Convention in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. There were three groups of four teams in the draw. The Top Seeds in our Group were Midleton and St Finbarrs and also in the group with us will be Newcestown. We will face Newcestown in Round 1, St Finbarrs in Round 2 and Midleton in Round 3. Well there it is now, no one said it would be easy and it’s certainly a very tough group but at this level there are no weak teams. This year we’ve won the Tony Wash Cup, the County Division 3 Senior League title and finally the Senior A County Championship. We were in the ‘Top Tier’ before of course for many years. Back in 2003 we won the County Intermediate Championship- when there was only 1 Intermediate Championship, with a great win over Inniscarra. We were up Senior for 2004 and in 2008 reached the County Final, losing to Sarsfields by a single point. For the next decade we competed well at Senior level “crossing the camans with the bravest and best of them”. Then late in 2018 a Games Workgroup was set up to look at all the Championship formats in the County.
On 26 March 2019, three championship proposals were circulated to Cork club delegates. A basic theme running through all three proposals, was that there would be a group stage of 12 teams followed by a knock-out stage, straight relegation and one team from the divisions/colleges section to enter at the preliminary quarter-final stage.[7] On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted for Option A which would limit the number of participating club teams to 12 and see one round of games played in April and two more in August – all with county players available. The new format was introduced for 2020. The 2019 Championship had 19 Club teams so a formula was worked out to reduce this to twelve with 7 Clubs going down to the new Senior A championship. The Championship results of the clubs for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were examined. Each win was the equivalent of Two Points on a Table with One Point for a Daw. When the calculations were completed Bride Rovers were in thirteenth position and thus part of the new SAHC competition. Personally I felt very aggrieved because our 2017 1 20 to 1 18 loss to Duhallow- who couldn’t be ‘relegated’, cost us our place in the Top Senior Grade. Along with Bride Rovers, Ballymartle, Bandon, Charleville, Killeagh, Kanturk and Newcestown were all in the 2020 Senior A Hurling Championship. We defeated Ballymartle in Round 1, then lost to Fr O Neills and then defeated Kilworth in Round 3. We lost the quarter final to Newcestown 1 14 to 0 11 in Blarney. Our scorers that day were W Finnegan (0-5, 4 frees, 1 65), C O’Connor (frees), C.Barry (1 free) 0-2 each, S Walsh, K Kearney (0-1 each). Over the coming weeks we’ll look back at some games we played against Midleton , St Finbarr’s and Newcestown.
2026 CALENDAR.
Bride Rovers GAA will create and distribute a 2026 calendar. This promises to be an iconic keepsake, capturing images of a historic year for our club. This venture will raise funds for the senior hurling panel, ahead of their 2026 campaign. LATE NEWS THE CALENDAR IS OUT NOW AND ON SALE.
HISTORY MAKING KILKENNY FOOTBALLERS. As Gaeilge’ an rud is annamh is iontach’ -what seldom happens is wonderful! At Parnell Park on Saturday last it was a truly historic occasion. Muckalee from Kilkenny defeated Kerry’s Cromane in the Junior Club All Ireland ladies Football Championship Final. A last gasp point from a free by Kate Nolan saw Muckalee take the first ever National Club title to the Banks of the Suir that flows down by Mooncoin.
REMEMBER DECEMBER 1992. On a white and frosty pitch in Ballygiblin we made history in 1992. On that day our Minor Hurlers won the County ‘B’ Minor Hurling League title. It was a momentous occasion for the Club as it Marked our first County Title in any grade sins the Minors won on Sunday November the 6th 1932. We won the East Cork League in Glenville on November 7th, defeating Castlelyons in the Final by 2 8 to 6 points- Terry Broderick and James Murphy scored our goals that day. The County Minor Board under Con Murphy organised County Leagues between the Divisional winners. In the County Competition we were paired against Balinora who had just won the County Minor Championship. Seven days after the Glenville game we travelled a bit further, to Carrignavar to meet the County Champions. A great game played in artic-like conditions saw us win by 1 9 to 0 10- our scorers were Pat Barry 0 6, Terry Broderick 1 0, Noel Hegarty 0 1, Pat Cotter 0 1 and Kieran Fitzgerald 0 1. Due to very heavy rain no neutral venue could be obtained for the semi final against South East side Shamrocks on November 29th. Jim Healy, Secretary of the County Minor Board and grandfather of present Cork and Lisgoold star Diarmuid Healy tossed a coin and we had home venue. On a wet and windy day we won well by 6 11 to 0 3. Pat Barry and Terry each scored two goals, the others came from Pat and Michael Walsh. The County Final was three weeks later on Sunday December the 20th in Ballygiblin. When we got to the venue it was like a Christmas-card scene -a white pitch but luckily the referee deemed it playable. Early goals from Terry and Pat Walsh helped us into a 2 7 to 0 0 lead after 16 minutes. Ahead by 2 7 to 0 3 at the break we went on to win by 2 14 to 1 3. It was a brilliant League campaign and a superb display in the final. It came as a great boost to the Club. Earlier that year in the Junior B Hurling Championship we were beaten by Fr O Neill’s second team on a scoreline of 2 16 to 2 13. The team that brought Bride Rovers a County Title after 60 years was E.Hoskins, E. Murphy, L.Barry, A. Broderick, D.Barry, M. Walsh, B.Murphy, J. O Callaghan, K.Fitzgerald, T. Broderick©,N.Hegarty, J. Murphy, P. Cotter, P. Barry, P. Walsh, D.Ryan, B. McHugh, P.McHugh, J.Daly, M.O Connell, S.Hogan, P.Murphy, B.Barry. Six years later when we won the East Cork and County Junior Championships twelve of that minor panel were involved.
HARTY CUP HISTORY. The first ever history of the Dr. Harty Cup, which has been contested annually since 1918, was launched on Wednesday December 1st. Books are available in book shops or can be purchased by calling the Munster GAA office at 061-338593 during business hours at a cost of 35 euro (30 euro + 5 euro postage. Sponsored by TUS, this book written by McNamee Award winner Liam Ó Donnchú runs to over 600 pages and charts the development of the competition from the beginning, and details its influence on the success of hurling in participant Munster counties. Contained within its covers is a unique collection of images depicting Harty final winners from the beginning and also a statistics section with all the pertinent facts relating to the competition. Liam O Donnchu is a well known and prolific writer on Gaelic games in Tipperary, Munster and at National level. Famous hurlers also relive their Harty cup days, as players such as Declan Hannon, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Jamesie O’Connor, Tadgh de Búrca, Tony Wall and many more fascinate the reader with their Harty Cup memories.
REBELS BOUNTY WINNERS. Congratulations to James and Geraldine Aherne, as well as Orla Hallihan, who were successful in the Cork County Board's December Rebel Bounty Draw last Tuesday night. Both Tickets claimed a prize of €250.
*St Stephen's Day 5k*. The Bride Rovers Juvenile Sectio n will have their Annual 5K Run, Walk or Cheer on St Stephen's Morning (Dec 26th) at 11am Assemble from half 10 at the main pitch. The entry fee is just €10.
There will be Refreshments, Music and Raffle after the race. Prizes include those for U12, U15 and U18 boys and girls. All welcome -you can walk, run or jog at your own pace.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB GEAR. Juvenile club member and entrepreneur Cody Scanlan (SCA Sports) has designed and prepared high quality sportswear which would make ideal Christmas or New Year presents for Bride Rovers players and supporters. Both jersies and hoodies are available in beautiful styles which are reasonably priced. Jerseys: Adult: €30, Kids: €25. Hoodies: Adult: €45, Kids: €35. A contribution from each sale goes directly to Bride Rovers GAA Club. For further detail contact Claire (Cody's PA) on 087 749 9140.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTT0.
Lotto Results for Tuesday 9th of December; Numbers drawn; 3, 11, 22 & 29 and there was No Winner of the €18,600 Jackpot. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners Helen Arnold, Bartlemy, Judy O’Connell, Ballyhooly, Carmel & Sinead, Cappagh Cross, Frank O’Flynn, Sunnyside and Alex Healy, Manor Mills. This week's jackpot on Tuesday December 16th was an incredible €18,800. Remember an annual Lotto Ticket for €90 would make an ideal Christmas present for GAA fans. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via
Bride Rovers GAA Lotto
SCRAP FRIDAY. Bride Rovers Final Scrap Metal Collection for 2025 takes place this Friday December 19th. All types of scrap metal wanted, big or small-anything from a spoon to a Combine Harvester! For further detail, contact John Arnold on 087 9538077.
DINNER DANCE/ VICTORY SOCIAL. Well the Tickets are now on Sale for our Victory Social in February. It might seem a long way away but make sure not to be disappointed- get your Tickets now. Make sure to join us for what’s guaranteed to be an amazing night celebrating our County Champs! Don’t miss out—tickets will go fast! Grab yours and be part of an unforgettable celebration at The Radisson Hotel on Saturday 14th Feb 2026
B&B Rates Available at €165. To book accommodation Contact the hotel directly. For Tickets contact Club Officers as soon as possible. The Royal and Grand Hotels in Fermoy were the venues most popular when the Bride Rovers Club first organised Dinner Dances back in the 1960’s. Then in in the 1980’s and 1990’s Garryvoe and Midleton were the favoured venues.
1930 DANCE. The Bride Rovers GAA Club was formed in the autumn of 1928. After the first year in existence the Club decided to have a New Year’s Night Dance on January the 1st 1930. Rathcormac School was the venue with a String Band providing the music. The admission fee for ladies was 4/- while the gents had to fork out 5/-. Tickets for the Dance were printed by ‘Bride Rovers National Hurling Club’ and carried the following warning- “N.B. – Any introduction of foreign manners at this Dance is strictly prohibited”
CLUB TIE. Our Centenary in 2028 is only around the corner! Plans will be formulated in the coming months for this special year. A Centenary Club tie is in the process of being designed and manufactured. Full details will be announced shortly.
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.
