First meeting for 2022
Back in January of 1929 the newly formed Bride Rovers GAA Club were busily preparing for the club’s first season. I recall talking to some of the ‘Founding Fathers’ of the club like Billy Barry, David, John Barry, Ned Daly and Tom Barry ‘the Master’ and they all said there was great a buzz around with the new club having come into existence in the autumn of 1928.
The club paid 2/6 or ‘half a crown’ to the East Cork Board as the fee to enter the Junior Hurling Championship for the season. The actual playing year got under way on St Patrick’s Day in Bartlemy when Midleton travelled up for a hurling challenge game. It was the first time the name ‘Bride Rovers’ was used, Midleton won by 5-4 to 3-2 and showed their prowess later that same year winning the East Cork Junior Hurling Championship.
Every journey start with a small step and so on next Monday night we make the first move into action for 2022. We have the first meeting of the Club Executive on Monday night, January 24th at 8pm. Because the Covid pandemic is still rife this meeting will be held online and the meeting link will be forwarded to all members. The signs seem to be improving so hopefully before long we will be back in action with face-to-face meetings. There will be a full agenda on Monday night which will be circulated in advance.
‘EYES DOWN’ RETURNS
In 2021 we trialled a new adventure for the club with online bingo sessions. It was both a fun social activity as well as being a fundraiser and proved very popular with young and old, at home and abroad. On Saturday week next, January 29th the ‘Eyes Down’ for 2022 returns and will probably run until the time changes. We will be giving full details of how to play and how to download bingo books next week and information will also be sent out via the club texting service. Mark your card now - Saturday week, January 29th and get ready to shout “Check- Bingo”.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
Our lotto takes place every Tuesday evening. The results from the draw on January 11th are as follows; Numbers drawn 1, 8, 18 and 22, there was no winner of the jackpot. The lucky dip winners of €30 each were Leah Holestelle Monanig, Bartlemy; Tommy O’Flynn, Rathcormac; Donal O’Connell Castlelyons; John Joe Barry Monanig Bartlemy and Ann Lonergan Fermoy. Play our lotto online and join in the fundraising efforts ! You can join online at or purchase from any of the retail outlets locally. Or from club members. The jackpot for last Tuesday night, January 18th was €17,000.
JUVENILE CLUB IN ACTION
The first meeting of the Juvenile Club for the New Year took place last Thursday night. The following were appointed in charge of different agegroups for this year;
U6: Andy O’Regan, U7: Brian Murphy, U8: Sean Ryan, U9: Dave Burke, U10: Patrick Croke, U11: Joe Delaney, U12: John Lynch, U13: Jerome O’Driscoll, U14: Brendan Lyons, U15: Paddy Hynes. A further meeting is to be held on the large astro, Páirc Na Bríde this Thursday evening, January 20th at 7.30pm and all members are welcome. As the new season approaches the Juvenile Club will welcome any new players who wish to start practising hurling and football. Gaelic games are our native games and in the Bride Rovers Club we want to ensure that our juvenile players will have plenty fun as they learn the skills of the games.
DONIE O’SULLIVAN RIP
A link with the club’s Golden Era in the 1960s was severed last week with the death of retired Garda Donie O’Sullivan in Cork. A native of Doneraile, Donie came to Rathcormac as a member of the Garda Siochana in the mid 1960s. The club was just after being reorganized and was going well. A man who loved both hurling and football Donie joined Bride Rovers and until he left when transferred to Ballyduff, Co Waterford he was a valued and enthusiastic supporter of the club. John Meade recalled that he played a few games at fullback but it was as a mentor that Donie really got involved.
Back then there were no ‘backroom staff’ or ‘support officials’ and the roles of trainer/manager and selectors were not so clear-cut. Donie O’Sullivan was one of the men who was with the team to help with hurleys, jerseys, sliotars, first aid – whatever needed to be done. It was a golden era for the club and there was no one prouder than Donie when the Rovers won the B grade title in 1966 and two A grade titles in 1968 and 1969.
He valued the friendships he made within the club and in later years was thrilled to see Bride Rovers move up from junior to intermediate and then to senior. Living in Cork city with many years Donie is survived by his wife Margaret (nee Kenneally) daughters Margo and Carmel and sons Ted and Donal. To his family we extend our deepest sympathy. Donie O’Sullivan was proud to have been a Rovers man and we in Bride Rovers were so lucky to have had him in our midst. Ar dheis lámh De go raibh se anois.
DOWN MEMORY LANE
In 2021 we won our third A Grade Junior Football Championship in East Cork. Our previous wins were in 2004 and 2007. In 2004 it really was a case of ‘third time lucky’ as we had lost both the 2002 and 2003 East Cork finals - losing both to Erins Own.
In 2002 we got a walk/over from Dungourney in round 1 which saw us into the quarter-final. Here we had a good 1-14 to 0-7 win over Carrigtwohill. A 1-9 to 1-6 victory over Fr O’Neills meant we were through to our first ever A grade football final. We played a drawn game v Erins Own, 2 9 to 2 9, in the decider but lost the replay by 2 10 to 1 5.
Our team was R Cahill P Barry, J Murphy, P O’Driscoll, Brian Murphy, Barry Murphy, Batt O’Connell, Brendan Walsh, Donal Ryan, J O’Driscoll, P Murphy, T Broderick, J O’Dowd, S Ryan, H Kelleher, P Walsh, M Hogan, T Moloney, B Hazlewood.
In 2003 we started the campaign with a narrow 2-11 to 1-10 win over Midleton followed by 3-6 to 0-5 quarter final victory over Castlelyons. In the semi-final we played a thriller of a game, winning against Cobh by 1-16 to 1-15 after extra time. Erins Own were the final opponents once more. This time it was under lights in Páirc Uí Rinn and for the second year in a row Erins Own won by 0-13 to 0-5.
Team; R Cahill, P Barry, P Walsh, B O’Driscoll, T Moloney, P Murphy, J Murphy, B Walsh, D. Ryan, Brian Murphy, T Broderick, S Ryan, J O’Driscoll, M Hogan, H Kelleher, J O’Dowd.
In 2004 our opening opponents were Glanmire, a game we won by 0-14 to 1-6. Next we beat Midleton by 3-7 to 2-8. The quarter-final pitted us v St Catherines and we won by 2-12 to 0-7. After two final losses to Erins Own we finally got on top in the 2005 semi-final by 2-11 to 0-8. In the East Cork final we captured the Jim Ryan Cup for the first time ever defeating Fr O’Neills by 2-7 to 1-2 – our two goals coming from Brian Murphy.
The history making team: R Cahill, B O’Driscoll, P Walsh, P Barry, T Moloney, Barry Murphy, P Murphy, D Ryan, B McHugh, T Broderick, Captain, B Walsh, Brian Murphy, C O’Keeffe, M Hogan, S Ryan, P O’Reilly, B Johnson, A Collins, J O’Driscoll.
After so many heart-breaking defeats that win was a superb display and a great reward for a committed bunch of players.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN BRIDE ROVERS?
Players at all grades of hurling and football are very welcome, please contact 086-8247230. If you would like to get involved in any way you will be made very welcome in the Bride Rovers GAA Club.
REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW 2022
Well it’s time to be thinking of the Rebels’ Bounty Draw once more. Tickets for the draw can now be purchased from club members for the 2022/23 series of draws. The special ‘Early Bird’ offer of free entry into a draw for All-Ireland Hurling and Football tickets for all tickets purchased online has been extended until Monday, January 24th at 6pm. Please contact any Club Executive member for full details.
GO FOR IT BALLYGIBLIN!
Just an hour away from an All-Ireland dinal in Croke Park, that’s the massive incentive for Ballygiblin hurlers this coming Sunday afternoon. At 12.30 in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, Ballygiblin take on Fullen Gaels of Manchester. It’s a novel semi-final which will be refereed by Colm McDonald and we wish the North Cork, Cork and Munster Champions all the very best in this historic game. The second semi-final is on at LIT Grounds Limerick at the same time between Kilkenny’s Mooncoin and Salthill/ Knocknacarra of Galway.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100 FOR 2022
The Club 100 Scheme brings in much needed finance for ongoing club development work. We are at present seeking additional members for the scheme. Basically those who join the Club 100 commit to making a monthly donation to the Bride Rovers Club on an ongoing basis. There are three distinct packages - gold, silver and bronze and the monthly contributions are €40, €30 and €20. For this financial contribution Club 100 members can avail of club membership, family club membership, tearly club lotto ticket (tickets) and Rebels’ Bounty Draw ticket - the level of benefits varies with the type of Club 100 membership. If you would like to join the Bride Rovers Club 100 simply contact any club executive member.
FROM THE ARCHIVES - A LOOK BACK AT JANUARY 2008 TRAINER APPOINTED
The first meeting of the new club executive took place on Tuesday night of last week. There was a very good attendance which is encouraging for the new season. There was a lengthy agenda which chairperson, Kathleen Johnson, got through quickly. The appointment of Pat Bennett as senior hurling team trainer was ratified at the meeting, having being proposed and seconded. Pat is a native of Ballysaggart, Co Waterford. He played at all grades of hurling with his native county.
As well as playing with Ballysaggart, Pat also hurled with Skeheenarinky in Co Tipperary. He has a wealth of experience at coaching, having been involved successfully with several club teams. In recent years Pat has trained St Catherines and Tallow. Barry Hazelwood, Anthony Cahill and Tim McAuliffe were also ratified as the senior hurling selection committee for 2008.
James Bermingham, the outgoing Cultural Officer, agreed to continue in the position until the conclusion of this year’s Senior Scór competitions. The East Cork final of Senior Scór will be held in mid-February so we are seeking competitors for all sections. Taking part in Scór is a very enjoyable experience so if you want to participate please contact James. The position of Field Officers for 2008 remains unfilled as of yet, though a new Field Committee was appointed at the meeting. In recent weeks we’ve heard much about the trouble in Kenya in Africa. Our own Fr Seanie Barry, Fr Martin Barry from Glanmire and Fr Oliver Barry of Midleton are amongst the many Irish missionaries working in Kenya. The church grounds of Fr Martin and Fr Oliver have been used as a refugee for thousands of people during the troubles. It was decided to hold a Church Gate Collection to raise funds for this very worthy cause.
THANKS
Thanks to our three main club sponsors - Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print and Design and Veolia- we deeply appreciate the financial contributions you have made to our club. Also to the many other individuals, families, shops and firms that have helped during the year - your assistance is valued and we look forward to your continued assistance in 2022. Those firms that have taken advertising space in our grounds are all businesses that support us in Bride Rovers so we urge our members to support them..