Busy times for the Rovers
There’s a grand stretch in the evenings at last and the weather seems to be settling. Pitches are drying up well so it’s full steam ahead on all fronts. Our Senior hurlers made the trip to Ovens last Sunday to play Eire Óg. But lost by a four point margin. Our second and third hurling teams were in league action against Watergrasshill and Sarsfields with positive results. This coming Saturday is a big day for the club with the 2024 staging of the Tony Walsh Memorial Hurling Tournament. Over the years we’ve had teams from Waterford, Tipperary, Carlow, Limerick and of course Cork play for this cup and on Saturday it’s the five-ina-row seeking Limerick that provide the opposition. The lotto jackpot of €17,600 was not won on the last Tuesday of April. Cork face Limerick on Saturday night in a ‘do or die’ Munster SHC game.
EAST CORK AMARENCO JHL DIV 2
Our 2nd hurling team made the short trip to Felix Sarsfield Memorial Park, Watergrasshill on Friday evening to play their fourth league match of the campaign. It was a lovely evening for hurling and the first half was a very tight affair with both sides going score for score for the thirty minutes with nothing between the sides. They couldn’t be separated and it was 7 points apiece at half-time. Our scores had come from Conor (4), Cillian, Seamus and Adam.
The second half started in similar fashion and the teams shared the next four scores with both of ours coming from placed balls for Conor. We were hurling well and we entered a period of dominance from the 40th minute on and Conor was accurate as always with the placed balls and we managed to build a 4-point lead by the 45th minute. The Hill pulled a point back to leave it 13 points to 10 with quarter of an hour to go but we again managed to score four points on the trot to have a nice 0-17 to 0-10 lead with time up. The Hill never gave up and a goal in injury time made for a nervous end of the game before Shaun scored our last point of the game to see us out winners by five on a score of 18 points to 1-10.
Team: R O’Riordan, N Kelleher, L Collins, E O’Connor, K Cotter, J Peters, O Roche, S Ahern (0-1), Conor Barry (0-12, (9 fs) (1 65”), Cillian Barry (0-2), J Pratt, DJ Cahill, A Hayes (0-1), S Knox (0-1), R O’Callaghan. Subs C O’Sullivan, W Finnegan (0-1).
Our next Division 2 game in the Hurling League is a home tie against Killeagh on next Wednesday evening, May 15th in Páirc na Bride at 7.30.
RED FM SENIOR HURLING LEAGUE
On Sunday we travelled to Ovens for a game against Eire Óg in the Red FM Senior Hurling League. After a recent good win against Courcey Rovers we were hoping for a repeat. It was not to be however as the home side came out on top. It was a good, competitive match all through but Eire Óg shaded in in the end on a scoreline of 1-18 to 1-14. Our next game in the Red FM SHL is against Fermoy in Rathcormac on Thursday week, May 16th at 7.30.
Panel v Eire Óg
Adam Hayes, Adam Walsh,, Conleith Ryan, Conor Barry, Conor Hazelwood, Daniel Dooley, David Barry, DJ Cahill, Edmond Cashman, Eldon O’Connor, Fergus Collins, Jack Connor, Jamie Peters, Jason Mannix, John O’Sullivan, Josh Ahern, Kieran Cotter, Louie Roche, Liam Collins, Paddy O’Flynn, Shane O’Connor, Tadhg O’Sullivan, William Finnegan.
U14
Our U14 hurling game with Douglas fixed for last weekend was postponed due to Féile. We play Midleton on Friday evening at 7pm in the main pitch in the next round of the football championship.
EAST CORK AMARENCO JHL DIV 4
Our Third XV hurling team played the fourth round of their league campaign on the bank holiday Monday evening on what was a perfect setting for hurling in Páirc na Bride, Rathcormac. We started well and Ben had our opening two scores within the first couple minutes of the game. John, Ryan and Kamso all followed with points to see us leading 5 points to 2 after 10 minutes. Sars got the opening goal of the game but the lads kept hurling well, three more pointed frees from Ryan and a long range free from Liam saw the teams level at the break 0-9 to 1-6.
We started the second half brightly and another pointed free from Ryan was followed by a goal from Ronan when a free from inside our own 45 went all the way to back of the Sars net. Two more points from Ryan had us leading 1-12 to 1-6 after 40 minutes but Sars responded well and scored the next 3 points to half the deficit.
Eldon and Liam added two long range points for us but Sars kept responding and there was still only the 2 point margin with 5 minutes left but scores from Ryan, Ben and John saw us out winners on a final score of 1-17 to 1-14. A nice win, well done lads.
Our next game in the Division 4 league is away to St Itas in Pilmore on Sunday week, May 19th at 2.30.
Team: R O’Riordan (1-0 (f), L Collins, B Collins, J Kearney, E O’Connor (0-1), L Forde (0-2(1f)), J Mannix, A Barry, N Kelleher, K Obi (0-1), T Macak, J Buckley (0-2), C O’Callaghan, R O’Callaghan (0-8 (6 fs,1 65”)), B Knox (0-3) Subs: L O’Flynn, C O’Dowd, D Kelleher.
LOTTO
Results for Tuesday, 30th April, the 4 numbers drawn were 1, 16, 30, 31 and there was no winner. Congratulations to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Evelyn Murphy, Raheen, Maura Donovan, Kildinan, Meeks Carr, Bartlemy, Philip Hazelwood, Shanowen and Sandra Mannix, Monard. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again. Thank you again for all your support.
FÉILE GAMES IN RATHCORMAC
For the first time in many years we held a qualifying round for U15 football Féile in Páirc na Bride and Pynes field. This obviously was rescheduled from its previous expected date of early April and thankfully we had much better conditions! Much thanks to Denis Ahern for having both pitches in great order. We hosted Youghal, Inniscarra and Kiltha Óg with all teams playing 3 games of 24 minutes. Carpooling between both pitches wasn't quite the headache that was expected with all clubs giving great feedback for the running of the day! Youghal and Inniscarra came out on top with both clubs travelling to Bishopstown for the semi-finals at 5.30.
In the end the final was contested between St Michaels and Ballinora with Ballinora coming out on top after extra-time. Many thanks to all that helped out on the day with the catering staff led by Orla Cronin and the hi vis traffic brigade led by Barney O'Driscoll. Thanks to all who supported on the day. Special thanks to Liam Mannix for his sponsorship of Taytos and soft drinks for all the kids and adults on the day! The Hurling Féile is up next week with us travelling to Mallow on Saturday. We have 2 games v Mallow and Blarney with the semi-finals the following day.
U13 HURLING V MALLOW
The Bride Rovers U13s opened their league account with a fantastic win over Mallow. The game was played in Páirc na Bride under perfect conditions. The lads were in the lead from the start, going in at halftime with a three point advantage. From the start of the second half the boys worked hard and kept Mallow to 2 points and tacked on 1-5 to leave the final score Bride Rovers 3-8 Mallow 1-3. Well done lads.
TONY WALSH SENIOR HURLING TOURNAMENT
On this Saturday, May 11th we welcome South Liberties Hurling Club from Limerick to Páirc na Bride for the annual Tony Walsh Hurling Tournament final.
It is indeed fitting that two Club senior hurling teams should take to the pitch in Rathcormac to compete for this cup. In the early days of the GAA back in the 1880's tournaments were hugely important. In many cases there was more prestige in winning a cup in a local tournament than in winning an 'official' competition. The popularity of tournaments ebbed and flowed over the years. In the 1960s and 70s when carnivals and festivals were very popular so too were hurling tournaments. It was in the 1960s that Tony Walsh first got involved with the Bride Rovers Club - an involvement that lasted for a lifetime. The club was inactive in the 1962/3 period but in December 1964 the Bride Rovers Club was reorganised once more. At the first meeting in Bartlemy Hall an interim five man club committee was formed to assist the new officers. The committee members were Dave Ryan, Tony Walsh, Tom Heskin, Willie Cotter and Tony O’Brien. Donal Lehane NT was elected secretary for 1965. During the school holidays in early summer Donal went home to West Cork and Tony took over as club secretary. The club started off with a Junior B hurling team and Tony soon slotted in as corner back - a position where he won three East Cork medals, B grade in 1966, A grade in 1968 and 1969. In 1966 when the Rovers made the East Cork breakthrough Tony was secretary and player and club chairman Michael Murphy was also on the team. Tony played for the club until the early 1980's -lining out at corner back but wearing the number 13 jersey for a few seasons in the 1970s. He was the traditional corner back, safe, reliable and ever present. He knew his role and his place on the field of play. He played that game as sportsmen did play it, he was manly straightforward and clean on the field. In a long playing career he was never sent off. He was never a man to retaliate or strike a foul blow - that wasn't his style.
His dual role as player and officer rested lightly on his shoulders - out of the first one hundred games the Rovers played in the 1965 -1967 period Tony lined out in 98 of them! As a club officer he served as secretary, assistant secretary, registrar and juvenile secretary - for a total of twenty seven years. When his own playing career finished he became a selector and was involved with the JHL winning teams of 1981/82, the Minor County League winning team of 1992 and the East Cork JBHC winning team of 1993. When the club pitch was purchased Tony was very involved in fundraising and in 1983 was on the sub-committee in charge of enclosing the pitch and erecting the wire, stakes and gates. In our Centenary year of 1984 the club decided to borrow £21,000 to build dressing rooms, Tony was one of the first to go guarantor for the club. When club funds were very low in 1974 Tony was one of the club members who went and cut ash roots and got hurleys made by McCarthys of Killeagh. Tony’s death in 2012 came as a tragedy for our club but more particularly for Tony's devoted family.
Tony Walsh epitomised all that is good in the GAA. He loved the games, the Cork teams - but above all he loved the Bride Rovers Club. We can never repay the debt which Tony and people like him are owed to make our club one of the best in Cork. Tony was proud to wear the green, white and gold jersey with distinction. In playing this tournament we hope to ensure that wherever and whenever Bride Rovers are mentioned the name of Tony Walsh will never be forgotten. The game on Saturday is at 12.45 to facilitate the South Liberties team and supporters who are going on to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.
CORK V LIMERICK
Well it’s down to the wire time now. Seems strange to think that though it’s only mid-May one team could be out of the Munster Championship this weekend. Cork simply have to win to stay in real contention. It won’t be easy but if ever a huge performance is called for it must be this weekend. Go for it Rebels.
CAR BOOT SALE
The next Car Boot Sale is on Sunday week, May 19th. Helpers are always wanted so if you have an hour or two to spare please contact Mossy, Tom or Billy.
BARTLEMY RACES
Next Sunday is Bartlemy Pointto-Point Race Sunday and we wish all involved a great day of sport.
CORK U20S SHOCKED
The Cork U20 hurlers got a land in Thurles on Friday night with an 11 point loss to Tipp. Cork are still in the competition and will probably face either Clare or Tipp in the Munster semi-final.
OSKARS 2023
This time last year the club and parish were on a wave of excitement and anticipation as Oskars Night, May 26th was fast approaching. It was an amazing and historic time that still reverberates through the club. The camaraderie, craic, fun, fundraising and sheer thrill of it was just wonderful
CIVIC RECEPTION
This year 2024 marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the East Cork GAA Board. Different events are taking place throughout the year and on Monday next a Civic Reception will be held in County Hall Cork for the board.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We extend happy birthday greetings to Denis Hurley of Sarsfields GAA Club on his 91st birthday on this Friday, May 10th. Denis is truly one of the ‘father figures’ of the GAA in county Cork.
CLUB MEETING
The next club executive meeting is on Monday week, May 13th at 8.30pm in the clubroom.
UNDER 11’S V WATERGRASSHILL IN HURLING GO GAMES
Our U11 boys played a mighty game against our local neighbours, Watergrasshill, on the main pitch last Saturday. Both teams played some outstanding hurling and we were very happy with our boys for their work rate, especially coming out of rucks with the ball. Each player made a massive contribution to a fantastic game of hurling.
Players on the day were: Liam Ryan, Aaron Murphy, Max Bradley, Eoin Burke, Harry Fitzgerald, Theo Skillington, Logan Ryan, Kayden Freeman, Darragh Feeney, Liam Harrington, Killian Donegan, Luke Buckley, Dara Murphy and Joey Allen.
SYMPATHY
We extend deepest sympathy to the O’Donovan family of Kildinan on the death of John.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS
Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia.