BRIDE ROVERS GAA
The first Sunday of September is nearly upon us and for anyone with even the slightest interest in sport, that date will be forever associated with the culmination of the senior and minor hurling championships, All-Ireland Sunday. Cork have had a great run with the inter-county hurling teams this year, winning Munster titles at senior, minor and Under 17 level. Our under 17 team has won the first ever All Ireland at this level and on Sunday next, the Cork minor team will bid to make it two underage titles for the Rebels.
We hoped our senior team would make it to the final after a marvellous campaign in Munster. When the senior draws were made last November pairing Cork against the All-Ireland champions Tipperary in a Provincial quarter-final, it looked ominous. What odds would one have got even in March or April on Cork to beat Tipperary, Waterford and Clare? They did just that before losing out to Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final.
From a Bride Rovers point of view, next Sunday is truly a historic and unique occasion. The Roche brothers, twins Brian and Eoin, are on the Cork minor team that meets Galway in the last minor final to be contested by under 18 teams. The minor grade at under 18 level was introduced in 1928, but from next year on will revert to under 17. This summer has been a fairytale for us as we followed the various Cork teams all over the country. Brian and Eoin were key players on the under 17 team that won the inaugural Munster championship and then accounted for Galway and Dublin to capture All-Ireland honours. For the final v Dublin, manager John Considine and his selectors picked Brian Roche as captain. It was a very special moment for Bride Rovers people at home and abroad to see the twins go up the steps of the Hogan Stand to jointly accept the cup – a moment to savour and one that will never be forgotten.
A week later they were back in Croke Park with the minor team helping to defeat Dublin in the semi-final. Brian and Eoin are marvellous ambassadors for the club and county and we wish them well on Sunday. Team manager Denis Ring has been a guiding light behind the Cork minor hurling teams in recent years. Cork have had great teams over the last few years, but never got out of Munster.
Everyone in the club sends the very best wishes to Brian and Eoin and Diarmuid Linehan from Ballyhooly, Barry Murphy of Castlelyons, James and Ian from Kildorrery and Liam O’Shea of Lisgoold and the entire panel and backroom team.
Galway will be hard to beat and with their senior team in the final against Waterford they’ll have huge vocal support. The talk all week has been of tickets – I’d safely say we would have 150 there from the parish if we could get enough tickets. The search goes on! For the Roche family, it’s a huge occasion and we wish Eileen, Emma and Donal all the very best. For those travelling to Dublin for the finals, we say safe travelling, Bride Rovers abu and come on the Rebels!
CORK MINORS DOWN THE YEARS
Down the years, we’ve had different players on the Cork minor hurling team. These included Tom Heskin (capt), Mossy Collins, Jack Barry (Bride St), Jimmy O’Brien, Jim Murphy (Main St), Ml. Murphy (Main St), Jimmy O’Brien, Seanie Barry, Maurice Hazlewood, Niall Fitzgerald and Brian Murphy. There is a great sense of pride throughout the parish as the names of Brian and Eoin Roche are added to that list.
EAST CORK DIV 3 HURLING LEAGUE
Our Division 3 hurlers had a point to spare over Dungourney in an away game last week, 2-13 to 2-12 was the final score.
Team: Dylan Browne, Brian Lahive, Shane O’Flynn, Mark O’Connell, Gavin O’Flynn, Jim O’Connor, Chris Coleman, Stephen Boyce, Jack Kearney, Jake Tobin, Alan O’Keeffe, Jerome O’Driscoll, Jessie Barry O’Keeffe, Donal Pyne, Billy Lynch, Ian O’Donoghue and James Murphy.
We have another game in this league on this Friday night, September 1st, away to Fr O’Neills at 7pm in Aghavine.
UNDER 21 FINAL
The East Cork A Grade U21 hurling final goes ahead on Sunday week, September 10th. Our opponents are Castlelyons. The game is not yet definite for Lisgoold, as it may be a curtain raiser on Saturday 9th to the East Cork junior hurling final in Midleton.
MINOR HURLING
The next round of the Rebel Og Minor Hurling Championship is fixed for Castlelyons v St Catherines.
UNDER 16 HURLING
The U16 hurlers have a busy few days with two big games ahead. On tonight, Thursday we face Fermoy in the league semi-final in Glanworth. Then on Monday, September 4th we face Charleville in the first round of the championship in Kildorrery. Hopefully a big vocal support will drive them to victory.
Congratulations to Paddy O’Flynn and Kieran Kearney on winning U16 All-Ireland medals at the weekend. The two lads were on the Cork B squad that won their competition in Clonmel, beating Kilkenny in the final.
FIXTURES
U16 hurling league semi-final on Thursday v Fermoy in Glanworth at 7pm. U16 hurling championship Monday v Charleville in Kildorrery at 6.45pm.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
The lotto jackpot for Tuesday, August 22nd was €14,200 and the four numbers drawn were 9, 12, 15, 29. There was no winner. Consolation prizes of €30 each went to: Grainie Leahy, Conna; Jerry Cashman, Lisgoold; Brian Arnold, Bartlemy; Siobhan at Big Vinnies and Mary Cahill, Moulane. The jackpot for Tuesday, August 29th was €14,400.
U14 HURLERS BEATEN
We lost the under 14 hurling championship game last week to Blarney. The game was played in the Delaney’s pitch and while we were very disappointed to lose the game, the worst feature of the night was the injury to Adam Hayes. Adam suffered a broken leg in the game after a heavy tackle from the Blarney goalie. We send our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Adam, who has been a star for us in all grades.
Team v Blarney: D O’Sullivan, A O’Sullivan, L Collins, J Powell, D Barry, C Hazlewood 1-0, N Kelleher, C Tobin 0-1, R O’Connell, J Ahern, A Walsh 0-5, E Buckley, A Hayes, E Cashman 2-5, T Seweryn and D Cashman 0-1.
U13 FOORBALL LEAGUE FINAL
On Saturday in Macroom we were pipped at the post by Bantry Blues in U13 league final. Having led by 6 points at half-time, Bantry took over in the second half to lead by a single point near the end. The width of the crossbar denied us victory when a shot from Josh Ahern rebounded off the woodwork right at the end of a great game. We went into the game without the services of the injured duo of Adam Hayes and Conor Hazlewood.
Team: L Roche, A O’Sullivan, L Collins, E O’Connor, C O’Sullivan, D Barry, D Cashman, C Tobin 0-1 , R O’Connell, N Kelleher, J Ahern, T Seweryn 0-2, R O’Callaghan, A Walsh 3-3 and F O’Flynn.
Training continues on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
FIXTURES
Thursday 31st: Under 16 HL semi-final v Fermoy in Glanworth. Friday, September 1st: Div 3 JHL v Fr O’Neills away at 7pm. Sunday, September 3rd: All Ireland Minor H final Cork v Galway, Croke Park. Monday, Sept. 4th: U16 HC v Charleville in KIldorrery 6.45. Wed., Sept. 6th: MHC V St Catherines in Castlelyons 6.45. Sunday, September 10th: East Cork U21 hurling final v Castlelyons in Lisgoold.
ASTRO TURF BOOKING
All bookings of the two Astro Turf playing areas are to be made by contacting the club runai, Daniel Lane at 087-2070100.
LEAVING CERT
Well done to all who received their Leaving Cert results last week and hopefully the news from the CAO this week was what everyone wanted.
CLUB SPONSORS
Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design Ltd and Veolia Environmental Services.
