Castlelyons GAA lodge planning permission for second pitch
Despite these tough times Castlelyons GAA are moving ahead well with our development project. We have applied for planning permission to construct a fully drained pitch with specified goalposts and ball retention nets at either side of the pitch. The planning also includes an application for a new one way exit only system for traffic coming into the proposed new development.
A technical committee from the club reviewed the newly acquired land the site and carried out a site survey. A layout group undertook some site visits to recent GAA development projects and discussed them with the steering group. A grants committee have researched available grants and are presently preparing for submission of relevant forms. Thanks to all who are assisting and to others who have put their name forward to help too.
The laying out of a new pitch is still just part of a proposed overall development and while we are going well, we will now map out how we are going to get there. So, the setting out of masterplan which shows flexibility for the delivery of partial developments will really provide a vision of the future. The inclusion of a financial fundraising model comprising of grants and club to deliver the facilities over time will be contained in the masterplan.
CASTLELYONS LOOKING FORWARD TO SETTING OUT A PROPER GYM
Well, Castlelyons are going to set down a gym in the complex shortly and the following information may help members and the public understand the value of such a facility. All sports writers agree that honing and toning the body in the gyms is a vital part of the fitness and wellbeing of our players plus all members both male and female. A handy sized gym can take 14 - 16 people at a time and is available from sunrise to long after sunset. This type of training facility is very convenient for parents as they are not in a pressurised game and is available to them throughout the day when children are attending school etc. In fact, the gym is often recommended to patients and of course sports people by the medical profession for recuperation. It is the ideal facility with weights and gadgets to tone the body at one’s own pace and the wall mirrors facilitate watching one’s own movements and style. The risk of injury from this type of low impact training or class involvement is extremely low. There are other dynamics fuelling why people are generally training this way and prompting clubs to invest in gyms.
HEALTH AND FITNESS AWARENESS
There is a growing health and fitness awareness. Companies want to trim insurance costs and people want to trim the body to remain healthy. Employers want healthy employees and at times even give an allowance towards gym membership provided it is used. It is necessary too. In fact, exercise increases the cardiovascular fitness and boosts overall health. Also, regular workouts help in reducing stress, anxiety and depression and other diseases affecting health.
For many members, the rising cases of osteoporosis and lowering of bone density are also prompting people to take health, diet, and fitness seriously. Earlier, only the men showed interest in the gyms, but today the ladies are crowding into the gyms. Thanks to the internet, TV and growing education levels, there is a complete shift in the perspective of everyone, and particularly women, who now consider exercising a serious affair.
There is a huge interest in a healthy lifestyle in recent years. Even the consumer demand is for healthy natural and organic food. This in turn has caused a focused fitness drive and a rise in the popularity of gyms, even as an assist to walking and running as an exercise.
AGE IS NO BARRIER TO FITNESS
Through multiple sources like doctors, researchers etc, we are constantly reminded about the benefits of exercising, which is right too. People of every age group, from the 20s through the 60s and beyond, need to work hard to remain fit. Also, it needs to be kept in mind that the human body has different requirements at different ages and aging is an unavoidable part of life. We should all realise this and come to terms with the fact that those who exercise regularly are happier and healthier compared with those who do not.
Injures are rarely an issue for this type of low impact training or class involvement. People find that gyms are suitable for individual training, recuperation and for the sports person training to a programme.
DIGITAL AWARENESS OF TRAINING ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATING
New devices like the Fitbit, Apple Watch and smartphones are being used and people have personal biometric health statistics literally at their fingertips. They can see how many steps they walk or run in a day, how many calories they burn, what their heart rate is, or what their blood pressure is, making them much more in tune with how their body works and how they can improve their health.
This growing awareness of healthy eating together with digital feedback causes people to start making more healthy decisions in other aspects of their life. They will want to improve even more by training and treating the body well. Thus, another reason why they are all heading for the gym.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FOR OUR TEAMS
The importance of strength and conditioning for our players male and female cannot be underestimated. The evidence is clear that if individuals / teams have specialised strength and conditioning the ability to perform to the best of their ability is greater and the risk of injury lesser. In fact, in demanding games like hurling and football while injury is prevalent it is preventable if the player puts in the proper strength and conditioning work.
The days of Mick Dwyer’s twenty rounds of a pitch or Ger Loughnane’s running up Shannon Hill although very successful at the time has faded in hearts and minds. We are now playing catch up with the Dublin footballers and Limerick hurlers. Locally Cork media have placed major emphasis on the work of the same strength and conditioning expert who was with both Blarney and Blackrock as they took the SHC and PIHC this year even though there was no cognisance of our own injuries in the final. This writer strongly believes those unfortunate injuries in the final led to our defeat.
Generally, a look at the physique of county and some club players reminds us of the importance of gym work for our own teams, that is if we are to be serious. A gym programme is a vital cog in any strength and conditioning programme for our players male and female and hopefully we will have this facility shortly.
GYM CAN BE A BOUTIQUE STYLE FITNESS STUDIO
A gym can be moulded into a boutique fitness studio system and again this could be set down and specialised in a small area. The boutique comprises of spinning, high-intensity interval training classes, circuit training, weights and Pilates. This investment is reasonable but the income strong and, of course you can fit a group in a small area which will yield fitness and friendship as people enjoy a strong social engagement while they develop their fitness in a friendly environment.
A GYM MAKES GOOD BUSINESS MODEL SENSE
A reasonable kitted gym will be invaluable to our players both male and female for strength and conditioning. It can be used by all including the injured and non-playing members for recuperation and on advice of medical profession. As said already can be available from sunrise to long after sunset to a huge number and span of the local population. A reasonable marketing system and dynamic pricing for membership will assist as a revenue generator for the club. The club have already paid out over €5,000 rental fee away from our complex to have a temporary gym for our players. So hopefully, it will be possible in forthcoming changes and development to have such an invaluable facility for all in our complex.
REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW
The club are still selling tickets for the Rebels’ Bounty Draw 2021 and they are available from our committee. There are 30 cash prizes each month with the first prize €20,000. On two of the months the first prize is €25,000 and the December prize is €100,000. As all are funded by Cork GAA and there no risk to our club. The draw is great value and tickets are selling very well. They are available from club members and cost just €100. We can also put two names on the ticket so if you feel like joining with your friend it is just €50 apiece.
We are extremely grateful to those who have supported us to date as we have some repairs to carry out to the pitch for the coming season, it costs money to run the club annually and we are embarking on a development programme. The draws for January, February and March will be held on March 25th and monthly thereafter. If you have not joined to date it is a topclass draw with excellent prizes and great value at €100 while you will be assisting our club and we would really appreciate your support.
CASTLELYONS GAA WEEKLY LOTTO – JACKPOT NOW €10,200
This draw was held Monday, February 22 and the numbers drawn were 5, 6, 15 and 21. There was no winner, and the jackpot is still a whopping €10,200. The lucky dip winners were as follows: - Ciara Gannon, Fiona O’Callaghan, Joanne Lee, Mark Custer, Michael Condon, John Molloy, Nora McCarthy and Eily Pyne. The next draw is Monday, March 1st. Thanks so much for your support and please advise your friends that they can play our lotto online or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.
REASON TO BELIEVE THE COVID TIDE IS TURNING
We are now one year into the Covid-19 pandemic and it was a tough time on all. The positivity rate is dropping once more and thankfully the numbers in hospital are generally going down. Our sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic and again this rate is falling. The signs are good, and internationally we see the success of Israel and the UK where vaccines are clearly protecting people from disease and severe illness. So, we can be confident that the sooner vaccinations are put out here and internationally the greater the curtailment of the pandemic.
No doubt this evening after writing this piece the government will have updated the ‘Living with Covid Plan’ thus mapping out how our country will ease restrictions in the coming months. The government are playing a fairly tough game due to variants and behaviourisms. Jonas Salk discovered the polio vaccine and he said that the reward for work well done was the opportunity to do more. The same is true for us now, we must all keep a complete team effort going to drive case the numbers down. Every contact we make socially, every time we take a risk, can potentially add to those numbers. But when we make a smart choice, we can help reduce numbers and it is within our gift to do so. Remember we have a lot of great work done so keep it up, there are better days on the way. Keep safe.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SINEAD BARRY AND EOIN MCLOUGHLIN
Wishing many congratulations, health, happiness and plenty of sleep to Sinead and Eoin on the birth of their baby Barry, from all in Castlelyons GAA.
CLUB MAIN SPONSOR
Zeus Packaging Group.
This time last year we had started our 2020 playing season and things were looking good until this Corona/Covid virus came along. Since then everything has really been trí na chéile with lockdown followed by opening up and then further lock downs. The only consolation I suppose about this weekend is that even if it was ‘all systems go’ not a game could be played after the deluges of rain we’ve had. That’s little consolation for players, young and old, who are ‘champing at the bit’ to get back training and playing.
There is a general improvement across the country with Covid numbers coming down and the vaccine rollout underway. Having said all that we are still on level 5 restrictions and we ‘would need to be down to level 3 at least before club games can commence. The GAA at national level brought out a plan earlier with All-Ireland finals pencilled in, crazily in my mind, for July. Well that plan has now fallen by the wayside and we await a new plan. I hope club games won’t be simply shoved back and back into the autumn to make away for the inter county championships. I think that as we approach the first day of March and the likelihood of no games for at least another 6 weeks, the national leagues should just be shelved for this season
GAA CONGRESS
Having been lucky to have attended a few GAA Congresses over the years I can say with certainty that GAA people from the 4 provinces will really miss the annual event. This year, like everything else, it’s virtual. John Horan’s term as Uachtarán comes to an end, and Corkman exiled in USA, Larry McCarthy takes the helm. Looking at the different motions on the clár I noticed one that would have had a bearing on two of our players if it was introduced a few years back
A motion proposes to amend Rule 4.15 (a) as follows:
(a) It shall be the privilege of the captain (joint captains are not permitted) of a winning team to accept the trophy on behalf of the team.
Had it been in force, Brian and Eoin Roche would not have been allowed to be joint captains of the Cork U17 All Ireland winning team. I can see no logic in the motion to be honest.
The practice of backs preventing goals being scored ‘ at any cost’ has led to the proposing of the following motion; If any of the following infractions (fouls) are committed, on an attacking player with a goal scoring opportunity, either inside the 20-metre line or the semi-circular arc (a) To pull down an opponent (5.1) or (b) To trip an opponent with hands, arm, leg, foot, or hurley (5.2) or (c) To use the hurley in a careless manner (5.6) the following penalties shall apply -
(i) A penalty puck shall be awarded to the team affected.
If it leads to the abolition of cynical fouling this could be a very positive move.
CLUB LOTTO
The jackpot on last Tuesday night, February 16 was €20,000, the numbers drawn were 2, 10, 12 and 26 and there was no winner. The winners of €30 each were Barry Hazlewood, Dave Guthrie c/o online, Elaine O’Riordan, James Finn and Robert Ryall.
The jackpot for last Tuesday night, February 23 was €20,000. You can join the Bride Rovers weekly lotto online or purchase tickets from any of the retail outlets locally that are open. Tickets can also be got locally from Bride Rovers GAA Club members throughout the parish. Your support of the weekly lotto draw is deeply appreciated. If you’re not in you can’t win and each €2 is a help for our club.
2021 CORK GAA MEMBERS DRAW COMING SOON
‘Rebels’ Bounty’ is the new name for the Cork GAA annual members monthly draw. The tickets are just €10 a month or a single once-off payment of €100. This year there will be 30 prizes each month. The minimum first prize each month will be €20,000 with prizes of €25,000 in December and April and in August 2021 the first prize is €100,000. The January, February and March draws are down for March 25th. Bride Rovers Club is encouraging members, players and supporters to join the draw. Tickets can be had from club officers or contact our Rúnaí Daniel Lane at 087 2070100. A brochure outlining all the details of the draw can be had from any club officer.
GREAT COMEBACKS
Winning any match is great but there is something extra special when a victory that seemed unlikely is achieved. If a team is down four or six or ten points and then go on to win it’s a cause of great jubilation. In Bride Rovers we’ve been lucky to see some mighty comebacks. We were 3-7 to 0-4 behind in the 1968 East Cork final v Sars, down by 1-9 to 0-4 v Ballinascarthy in the Co JHC semi-final in 1998, down by 4 points with minutes to go in the JBFC final v Ballinacurra in 2019 -and we won all these games.
Next week we will have look down memory lane at some of these unforgettable games. Any reader with a particular favourite ‘great Rovers comeback’ just let me know at 087 9538077.
CLUB 100
Our Club 100 fundraising scheme is now in its 3rd year. It provides an income stream to guarantee us finances to carry out further development work as we head towards our centenary in 2028. There are three options for joining the Club 100, gold, silver and bronze. Joining Club 100 combines paying club membership, supporting the weekly club lotto and joining the Cork GAA Monthly Draw. Payment is on a monthly basis. Full details from any club officer.
BRIDE ROVERS PROFILES
Player Name; Pat Walsh, B.Sc, MIIE, LBB, LSSGB. Occupation; Operations/Quality Engineering, Matrox Europe Limited.
Was the hand injury you got v Killeagh the worst injury in your career? Yes it was, 3 fingers and a knuckle, but that’s the nature of physical sport.
Can you remember your first ever game with Bride Rovers? Yes against Castlelyons in the old field, I togged out with my brother Michael in the old bus. Half-way down the bus there was a hole, you had to jump over to get a seat. It was U12, he was 11 and I was 9. Came on, made no impression.
Was winning the East Cork and County MHL in 1992 the real ‘foundation’ of the Golden Era for the club? I’m not sure, on that starting team only 5 went on to play in the 1998 county, I think the 1995 second team winning the Junior B East Cork, (captained by Denis Mulcahy) changed the mindset.
What age were you when you first played at Junior level? 18. I was introduced to Liam Cahill in training, he taught me alot “match the physically or go home with your tail between your legs”.
Your parents Ollie and Teresa took you everywhere to games, was there much of a GAA tradition in their families? My parents are great all round sports people. Mam and dad were hot-rod drivers, pool players, tug-of war, horse and hunt people, dabbled a bit in GAA. My father’s uncles would have been involved in the Fermoy side of the 1940s. I think they won a few senior football titles. On my mam’s side her Uncle Frank Corcoran played for Waterford, his claim is that he put Seanie Barry in his pocket. But they didn’t have pockets in their shorts in those days! (*Munster Intermediate Championship Hurling final August 1st 1965 in Walsh Park, Cork 1 15 Waterford 3 2, Seanie Barry at wing forward scored 0-2, marked by Frankie Corcoran, Shamrocks.)
Where did you learn or pick up that ‘never say die’ attitude you had to playing? I don’t know about “never say die” but you have to have pride in what you do. I used to do athletics and Bob Burke in Fermoy and Dick O’Brien in Castlelyons coached me to understand tactics. There is a time you have to dictate the pace, there is a time you have to sit in and watch what is happening around you. If the pace changes you have to react, you have to stay in the battle. They were terrific coaches, everyone should do athletics.
If you could make one change to the rules of hurling what would it be? Stop giving Cork players a free when they roar, no I think the game is perfect . It’s a tough sport, leave it alone.
Did you love, tolerate or hate training? Absolutely loved it, I looked on it as an opportunity to improve, be with friends, give it you all and enjoy it after. What you put in you get out.
In your time playing what do you think was the very best performance by a Rovers team? We played a good county final in 2008, but the reality is we left it behind. I think the performance against Newtown in 2004 when they had a team of all stars was excellent. We lost by 2 points, they went on to win the All-Ireland. From a coaching point of view the 2-25 to 0-17 against Na Piarsaigh in Midleton. We scored 2-17 from play that day, the boys were immense.
Can you define the ‘spirit of Bride Rovers’? Bride Rovers Spirit is having pride in your area , your team mates, having the character to go out and give it your absolute best, to train cohesively all in the pursuit of a common goal. Tony Walsh would have instilled that belief in me, he was all about parish and the club.
There are huge numbers playing at underage level for the Rovers, what do you think are the most important aspects of hurling that should be taught to all players? First thing is to enjoy it, enjoyment comes from putting in a massive effort, your skills improve, your fitness improves, your mind improves. I still miss the craic with the lads down the field.
Captaining the Rovers to the All-Ireland 7-a-side win, what are your memories of that day in Dublin? Being wrecked, the performance of Barry Murphy for the whole tournament, Terry Broderick missing half his nose, because he believed 7’s was a loose game. Dinny Lad singing in the bar afterwards.
Do you think that at inter county level the joy, the fun, the craic is gone from the game - is it too serious nowadays? Counties need to look at themselves, development squads, not allowing players to play with clubs, the €1.5 million team preparations cost, holding back the club scene and finally building “the big white elephant” that is Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Now they are levying 10 grand per club to pay it back. The pandemic has shown what GAA clubs do for their parish, it should be about the 99% not the 1%. Leadership is extremely poor at county level. We should be looking at what happened to rugby in 1995, the club scene has been destroyed, low attendances at club level, money going to the top. Good club players not getting an opportunity at provincial level or international level.
Do you prefer a light or heavy hurley? Heavy.
Something that few people know about Pat Walsh? Munster U11 2000 metre champion 1984.
Who was the hardest opponent you played against whilst playing with Bride Rovers? The hardest I played with Donal Ryan, Barry Murphy, the hardest opponent was Niall McCarthy.
Rovers were 1-9 to 0-4 down after 38 minutes in the Co JHC s/f against Ballinascarthy in 1998, how did we win that game? I’ll never forget it, Anthony Cahill pulled me to the side at half time and said “you are playing like a fellow content with your East Cork medal”. And do you know something he was right, not that I made that much of an impression. But in the second half as a team we gave it our all, Ryano, Jerome and Batt McHugh had good games. But as a team we really just went for it. An interesting fact - the ref thought it was a draw!
If you could invite any three people (outside of family) to dinner who would your guests be? Terry (Broderick), Ryano (Donal), Fitzy (Alan).
Are you in favour of a ‘Split Season’ with Inter County and Club running at different times? Split the season, at least club players can plan the year. What makes hurling such a special game? Speed and skill. You can watch and enjoy a bad game of hurling, you can’t do that in rugby or soccer.
What was the funniest thing that ever happened you while playing? A sliotar wedged in Alan Broderick’s face guard, he kept running, the ref gave a free in for over carrying, Butch said “you have to have it in your hand to over carry”.
What does the Bride Rovers Club mean to you? The club is a very important aspect of my life. The club is about nurturing the community, it kept me active, provided a platform where I could meet people, I have made some great lifelong friends, kept me focused and supplied some of the best days in my life. I was recently talking to someone and they said “Welchie there is more to life than hurling and football”, they are right but there is more to a club that just hurling and football.
Advice for young players? Enjoy the challenge and get ready to meet the challenge.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE BRIDE ROVERS GAA CLUB IN 2021?
Are you a hurler, footballer, camogie or ladies football player, builder, painter, flag-maker, gardener, ticket seller, IT specialist, singer, poet, dancer, Quiz fanatic, carpenter, bookbinder, plasterer, floor sweeper, writer, lawn-cutter or just a willing and enthusiastic community worker? Well if the answer is yes then Bride Rovers GAA Club needs you. We are always anxious to get new members to help out with the running of the club. Maybe you could give an hour a week to help with some aspect of the club’s varied and enjoyable activities. Many hands make light work so if you want to help out with any aspect of our club you will be very welcome indeed. If you are interested please contact our club rúnaí Daniel Lane at 087-2070100.
SYMPATHY
The club extends sincere sympathy to Pat Whelan and all the Whelan family on the death recently of Pat’s father Bill Whelan of Clontinty, Glanworth. The Whelan family are steeped in the GAA and Pat, through his business Rathcormac Tyres, has been a long time benefactor of the Bride Rovers Club. May Bill rest in peace.
Bride Rovers Club sponsors are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design and Veolia Environmental Services.