BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.

 EAST CORK FINAL DEFEAT.

Sport is so brilliant and magnificent but of course can be cruel too sometimes. What a difference a year makes, ah yes, this week last year the parish and Club were on a high as we planned and achieved huge success winning the County. These days we are pondering over the loss of two games  to Killeagh at under 21 level and last Sunday in the Junior A Final. Everything is relative and a short few years back if we were told that our second adult Hurling team would reach the East Cork Final no one would believe it. Having lost the final in 2025 to Cobh, hopes were high that the Jamsey Kelleher Cup would be won for the sixth time in the club’s history. Passage to the final got off to a rocky start with a loss to Dungourney. Two victories over Sarsfields and Carrigtwohill, was followed by an extra-time win over Carrignavar in the semi-final.

Conditions were dry, but windy in Cloyne. Killeagh won the toss, and chose to play against the wind for the first half. It was a tight contest for the first 30 minutes, with only one point between the teams at half-time. The first four scores for Bride Rovers came from Shaun Knox, three from frees, and a very impressive sideline cut. Jack Mannix followed these with two points from play. Shaun pointed another free, and then centre-back Liam Collins scored a great point from a long range. Killeagh were more successful in front of goal, and scored an impressive seven points from play, and when added to two pointed frees, they led 0.9 to 0.8. That lead might have been greater only for two superb saves by goalkeeper Ben Hogan. Full-back Oisin Roche suffered a leg injury in the first half, and was replaced by Adrian Buckley.

The wind stayed strong in the second half, and Killeagh made use of it. They took 16 shots for points, scoring 10. They added a goal, and four pointed frees, to pull away as the second half progressed. Shaun Knox continued to score frees, adding two to his first-half haul. Two points from play from Oran Kiely and Jack Mannix gave us a final tally of 0.12, to Killeagh’s 1.23.

Overall it was a disappointing end to a promising campaign. A Final loss cannot take away from some mighty games in both League and Championship. It has been an extraordinary achievement to contest two Junior A finals with our “second team”. There were plenty young players on the panel who will get the chance again to bring an East Cork title back to Bride Rovers. Some others will go on to play Premier Senior hurling for the club. We can only thank them for their commitment to the club, and for giving us some great displays during the championship campaign and some great memories.

Thanks also to the management team of Richie Cahill, Aiden Dorgan, James Murphy, and Oliver O’Connor, who have given so much to our Junior A and Junior B panels.

Team v Killeagh: Ben Hogan, Kieran Cotter, Oisin Roche, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Liam Collins, Denis Fitzgerald, Adam Hynes, Gearóid O’Connell, Shaun Knox, Cillian Barry, Ryan Prendergast, Matthew Kenny, Damien Buckley, Ed Cashman (captain), Jack Mannix. Substitutes: Adrian Buckley, Oran Kielty, Ben Knox, Adam Hayes, William Finnegan.

A word of thanks to Cloyne GAA Club who had their grounds in immaculate condition for the match. The Junior A Hurling Championship is sponsored by East Cork Oil, who were represented by Con Ryan. Con, who is retiring from the business, gave a stirring rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann before the game. Con was very supportive of Bride Rovers when we undertook ‘The Oskars’ a number of years ago, and we wish him well in his retirement.

Thanks to our supporters who travelled in such huge numbers to Cloyne. Thanks also to those who helped in any with preparation of the team.

WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO. The Lotto Results for  Tuesday the 20th of October -the four Numbers drawn were 3, 9, 10 & 21  with No Jackpot Winner. Congrats also to our lucky dip €30 cash winners Jacinta McNamara, Fermoy, Michael Bermingham, Knockananig
Pat Murphy, Tobernaeague, Kevin Allen, Shanowen, Fr Joe O’Keeffe, Rathcormac This week's jackpot on Tuesday October 27th was an impressive €5,800. If your ticket has expired, we would appreciate if you would enter again via Bride Rovers GAA Lotto

UNDER 21’s LOSE OUT.

At Aghavine our under 21 Hurlers lost in the quarter Final of the East Cork A hurling championship when Killeagh won by 3 points. Having reached the last two U21 Finals in he Division hopes were high of progress in this championship but we are gone at quarter final stage.  Killeagh had a great start with four quick points.  Then in the 9th minute a massive free from Ronan O Riordan was finished to the net by Cillian Barry. When Cormac Barry sent over a free we were level 1 1 to 0 4.  In a close first half points were exchanged -we led by a point twice, and we were just 2 points in arrears1 7 to 0 12 close to half time.   Then Killeagh hit a goal and it meant we were down  by 5 at half time  Killeagh added on three more white flags to lead 1 15 to 1 7. In fairness to our lads they refused to wilt and tore into the match. We got six of the next 7 scores, great points Then a bad refereeing call went against us.  Killeagh scored a goal- the layer that gave the final pass having ran at least eight steps with the sliotar in his hand.  Killeagh led by 7 points with five minutes left. Denis Fitzgeral who a great game went up field and hit  cracker of a goal- just 4 in it.  Matthew Kenny brought id down to three. In added time -nearly seven minutes we battled hard to get a levelling goal. A Michael Walsh free came down off the post and was gathered by Cormac Barry. As he was trying to hit the sliotar he was brought down -a penalty or a free ? Nothing at all! Then a last gasp attempt was saved by Killeagh and they win by 2 20 to 2 17. No fault to our lads some of whom had played with St Colman’s the day before. It was a disappointing result but a great gutsy, display. Team & Scorers.R. O Riordan, K.Cotter, E.Cashman, A.Hynes, Cathal Barry 0 1, C. O Riordan, D.Fitzgerald, 1 0, C. O Sullivan 0 Kielty, G.O Connell, Cillian Barry 1 0, Cormac Barry 0 11, 0 10 frees, J.Mannix 0 1, M.Kenny 0 1, L.Roche 0 1. Subs R.Barry, B.Knox, M.Walsh,  S.O Dowd.

THE LATE BILLY (BOB) O REGAN.  A Bride Rovers man who was as old as the Club itself, Billy (Bob) O Regan from Ballyglissane died this week. Having celebrated his 98th Birthday on a few days previously Billy died at his home in Monasterevin, Co.Kildare. Born in 1928 Billy was one the five children of Maurice and Nora May (nee Lee) O Regan. He went to Bartlemy NS from his grandmother’s house at Hightown. He played Minor (under18) when just 13 and was playing junior two years later. The Club here was going bad at the end of the 1940’s and fell through. Then in 1951 a new Club was started in Bartlemy. At a meeting in the National School Billy recalled ‘we all paid in half a crown to get it started’ The 39 people who paid 2/6 each on January 24th 1951 were Fr O Dwyer, Tom Barry NT, Dave Sheehan, Ned Hoskins, Paddy Cronin NT, Jim Ahern, Tom Ryan,  William(Billy) O Regan, Martin Murphy, Tom Heskin,  om Woods,  Patrick Roche,  Rory O Sullivan,  Michael O Brien, Dan Ryan, Moss Egan,  Joe Browne,  Bill Gubbins, Michael Cosgrove,  Pat Foley,  Danno Sullivan, Bill Ryan, Dan Lane, Paddy O Regan, Maurice O Regan,  Tom Lane,  Jim Woods,  Eugene Cotter,  Dan O Donovan, Jim Daly,  Michael Rioradan,  Dick Ryall, Jim Ryall, Paddy Mannix, Michael Dorgan , Jim Roche,  Willie Cotter, Mick Browne and Finn Adams- they’re all gone now, Billy was ‘the last man standing’  In 1955 when no Club existed in the parish Billy, his brothers Paddy and Moss and Jim ’Coach’ Coughlan joined Castlelyons and helped them win the East Cork Junior Hurling Championship for the first time ever. He emigrated first to England and then to Australia with his wife Peggy nee Murphy -they were 70 years married. ‘Down Under’ Billy organised a hurling Club -he played into his 50’s and kept refereeing after that. He never lost his love of Bride Rovers and the people of Bartlemy and Rathcormac. When the O Regans returned to Ireland they settled in Monasterevin where Billy was laid to rest this week. He valued three medals more than most -his East Cork Junior A grade medal, a a medal he won in Australia and a medal he won with the Bartlemy team at the local Carnival. AS a youngster he told  me he loved playing 'pitch 'n toss' where one tried to get your coin as closes as possible to  a target which around here was calle 'a We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Peggy, daughters Margaret, Eileen and Noramay, son William, grandchildren Max and Regan, his sisters in law Kitty and Bridie and brother in law Billy and all his many relations and friends. Ni bheidh a leithid ann aris.

SCOR TALENT COMPETITION FOR under 17’s.

Scór na nÓg is back for 2026, with clubs across Cork now invited to get involved in the upcoming competitions.  The East Cork/Imokilly final for Scór na nÓg 2026 will take place on Saturday 7th of November at 7pm in Ballynoe Community Centre and entries are closing on FRIDAY 30th of OCTOBER. 

If you were Under 17 on 1 January 2026, you are eligible to take part in Scór na nÓg and represent your club across any of the eight disciplines that cover all aspects of Irish culture: 1 Rince Foirne/Figure Dancing; 2 Amhránaíocht Aonair/Solo Singing; 3 Bailéad Ghrúpa/Ballad Group;  4 Aithriseoireacht,  Scéalaíocht/Recitation-Scéalaíocht; 5 Nuachleas/Novelty Act; 6Ceol Uirlise/Instrumental Music; 7 Rince Seit/Set Dancing; and 8Tráth na gCeist/Table Quiz. 

An open County Tráth na gCeist Babtha 1 and 2 (Rounds 1 and 2) as per Leabhar Rialacha Scór will be held on Wednesday 11th of November in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7:30pm.
We encourage as many Imokilly clubs to compete in the County Quiz. There will be NO Tráth na gCeist at the Imokilly Final.

Further information available at:  https://gaacork.ie/2026/09/21/scor-na-nog-2026-and-scor-na-bpaisti-2027-dates-announced/

If you are interested in participating and representing Bride Rovers  please contact our Cultural Officer Anna Hogan at 086-8602301.
 ONE CLUB MEETINGS.  At both the GAA and Ladies Football & Camogie Special General Meetings on last Thursday night the members votes in favour of the One Club Model.
REMEMBERING JOSEPHINE IN A SPECIAL WAY.  Announcing the Josephine O’Brien-Whitmarsh memorial charity event and raffle in aid of Cancer charities Friends of the late Bartlemy native will be doing something very special in memory of Josephine O’Brien-Whitmarsh, and also helping to raise vital funds for Cork ARC Cancer Support House and Marymount University Hospital & Hospice.
And there’s something exciting in it for you too…
Your donation will help support these two incredible charities, and at the same time give you the chance to take home one of our amazing prizes.
Every €10 qualifies for one entry… so the more you give, the more chances you have to WIN!!
Scan the QR code on the image below or donate at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/josephineslegacy2026
Every €10 counts, every share helps, every bit of support makes a difference.
Donate. Share. Get involved. And who knows… you could be one of our lucky winners. Please help us make Josephine’s Legacy one to cherish.
For any further information, please contact Linda Ahern at0868238185.

Fixtures

Club Meeting on Monday night November 2nd at 8pm.

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