Senior hurlers win second game
Bride Rovers 0-21 Ballincollig 3-11
On the eve of St Patrick’s Day our senior hurlers made the journey to the Powder Mills of Ballincollig for round 2 of the Red FM Sponsored Senior Hurling League. Weather had threatened this fixture but credit to Ballincollig for having their pitch in good condition so that the game could go ahead. Referee Ian McCarthy got the game underway at 8pm where the new rule of players being outside the 45 for the throw in was implemented for the first time.
Ballincollig had the first score of the game and minutes later Adam Walsh converted his first free of the evening. Another free scored by Adam was matched by the Ballincollig free-taker. In the 10th minute Ballincollig struck for their first goal getting inside our fullback and giving Cian Hogan no chance to save. As in the Fermoy game, the Rovers were undeterred by this and set about getting back in the game, a third pointed free by Adam Walsh was followed up by a brace of points from Conor Barry.
Rovers start to take control of the game with Conor Hazelwood and Ronan O’Connell getting on plenty ball. Adam Walsh scored his fourth free and Conor Barry added another point before points from William Finnegan and Josh Ahern extended the Rovers lead. Ballincollig responded with some points of their own and with Adam Walsh adding another 3 points to his already impressive tally, the Rovers looked like going in at halftime with a three point lead but a second Ballincollig goal followed by another point turned the game on its head as it was now the home team that were in front.
Into the second half and Kieran Kearney grabbed the equalising point. A third goal for Ballincollig was poorly conceded as this ball should have been cleared. Again the Rovers showed great resolve in reducing the deficit, points from Adam Walsh, another brace from Conor Barry before Ronan O’Connell pointed to restore the Rovers lead. An Adam Walsh free followed by a Jason Mannix point had the Rovers 2 points to the good with time nearly up.
Ballincollig responded with 2 points to draw level but in injury time Adam Walsh struck his 10th and 11th point of the game to Ballincollig one more point to secure our second win of the campaign by the bare minimum. Final score Ballincollig 3-11 Bride Rovers 0-21.
Team and scorers: Cian Hogan, Davy Barry, Shane O’Connor, Jordan Mannix, Jason Pratt, Conor Hazelwood, Denis Cashman, Kieran Kearney (0-1), Ronan O’Connell (0-1), William Finnegan (0-1) Josh Ahern (0-1), Adam Walsh (0-11, 8F) Jason Mannix (0-1), DJ Cahill, Conor Barry (0-5). Subs used: Fergus Collins and Seamus Ahern.
Next game v Newtownshandrum (away) on Sunday, 2nd April at 12noon.
U18 HURLERS EARN A DRAW Bride Rovers 1-14 Aghada 0-17
We renewed rivalries with Aghada last Friday in Páirc na Bride. After a pitch inspection in the morning the match went ahead. We were minus a few lads through injuries and work and with one player after playing two games already on Tuesday and Thursday nights it was going to be a tough ask against the seasiders.
The first half was tight was very scoring-wise. We got some great scores from Thomas. Darragh and a wonderful side-line cut from Connor.
Denis had to come off at halftime after giving his all. But three games in four days is too much for anyone. In the second half Aghada got a run on us and stretched their lead. With five minutes left we got a free 30 yards out. The referee told Ryan it was a four-point game. His strike found the net and up went the green flag. With time running out Cormac was fouled and the resultant free was struck over.
The referee blew his whistle and the match ended in a draw. It was a good result as it didn’t look likely with a few minutes left, well done lads.
Panel: Ronan, Colin, Kieran, Darragh, Thomas, Denis, Luke, Cormac Barry, Cormac O’Sullivan, Cillian, Ryan, Kamso, Conor, Frank, Ben, Gearoid, Adam and Jack.
U18 fixtures; Saturday, March 25th Football League v St Catherines in Rathcormac at 1 o’clock and Wednesday, March 29th Hurling League v St Catherine’s in Ballynoe.
COLMAN’S BRIDGE 12 YEAR GAP
Congratulations to the 10 Bride Rovers players on the St Colman’s team squad who won the Cork Colleges Senior Hurling Competition for the famed Dr O’Callaghan Cup. The final was in the MTU grounds on Monday of last week.
Colman’s bridged a 12 year gap by winning this trophy, defeating Gaeilscoil an Mainistir Thuaidh in the decider.
EAST CORK JHL DIVISION 4
We travelled to Caherlag last Sunday to play Erins Own in our second junior league game, having lost a tight game v Midleton in our opener. It was a 12 noon throw-in and with conditions very poor it took both sides a while to get going. The wind and rain made top class hurling difficult.
We took our chances well and at half-time we were leading 1-7 to 0-8. With a mixture of youth and experienced lads we ran out winners on a scoreline of 3-10 to 0 11 with a panel of 20 players all getting game time. Well done lads for good scoring in tough conditions
Panel: Ronan O’Riordan, Darragh Kielty, Brian Collins, Leon O’Flynn, Jack Kearney, Liam Collins, John O’Sullivan, Adam Hayes, Jack Connor, Nicky Kelleher, Cillian Barry, Craig O’Callaghan, Frank O’Flynn, Ryan O’Callaghan, Cian Howard, Podge Noonan, Kamso Obi, Danny Kelleher and Colin Hogan.
Two of the lads - Ronan O’Riordan and Ryan O’Callaghan - picked up O’Callaghan Cup medals with St Colman’s the previous Monday.
EXECUTIVE MEETING
A busy agenda was gone through in an hour and a half at last Monday’s executive meeting. Reports were heard on child protection, finance, healthy clubs, juvenile, coaching, ladies, field and Club Celebration night.
Chairman Pa O’Driscoll and Dev Committee members Ger Lane, James Bermingham and Cisteoir Aiden Dorgan gave an update on Pyne’s Field Development. Work started this week and it is planned that the laying out of the first new pitch will commence in April. It’s an exciting time for the club with so much happening both on and off the field.
U14S TO PLAY 23 GAMES
Juvenile chairman Jerome O’Driscoll outlined action on all fronts with games in every grade now in full swing. With two U14 teams Jerome said we’re scheduled to play 23 U14 games between now and the end of June.
CORK V KILKENNY NHL
On Sunday next unbeaten Cork hurlers face a huge challenge against Kilkenny in the NHL league semi-final. Already qualified the Cork team still put on a good display in Ennis last Sunday to draw with Clare. The Rebels will travel to Nowlan Park on Sunday to face the home side.
In the same fixture last year in Páirc Ui Chaoimh Cork beat Kilkenny but lost the League final to Waterford later. Brian and Eoin Roche have played major roles with Cork in the League to date so we wish the lads and their team-mates all the best next Sunday on the banks of the Suir that flows down by Mooncoin.
RONAN AND CILLIAN BUSY
Ronan O’Connell and Cillian Tobin have both been involved with the Cork U20 hurlers in recent weeks. We wish them all the best as Cork will shortly begin their Munster round-robin championship campaign.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
This time fifty year ago, in March 1973, the parish was in mourning after the tragic death of Cyril Johnson. A proud Kildare man Cyril and his Tipperary born wife Elizabeth (Ciss) nee Shelly, had set up home in Ballyready. They settled in so well to the community and were great neighbours and friends to so many. Cyril’s death at such a young age was a terrible blow to the family. Ciss was a brilliant woman and reared a great family who have contributed so much to bettering the lives of so many.
Fifty years after his death we think of Cyril and Ciss too, may they both rest in peace.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EOIN
Well done to Eoin Roche on his selection on the Electric Ireland Rising Stars Hurling team for 2023. The 15 selected players have been picked after their Fitzgibbon Cup displays with their Colleges over the last two months.
The full team is Dean Mason - UL, Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny, Eoin Lawless – University of Galway, Athenry, Galway, TJ Brennan – UL, Clarinbridge, Galway, Eoin Roche – UCC, Bride Rovers, Cork, Tiernan Killeen – University of Galway, Loughrea, Galway, Bryan O’Mara – UL, HolycrossBallycahill, Tipperary, Cormac O Brien – UCC, Newtownshandrum, Cork, Brian O’Sullivan – UL, Kanturk, Cork, Jack Prendergast – SETU Waterford, Lismore, Waterford, Brian Concannon – University of Galway, Killimordaly, Galway, Gearóid O’Connor – UL, Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary, Seán Twomey – UL, Courcey Rovers, Cork, Reuben Halloran – SETU Waterford, De La Salle, Waterford, Mikey Kiely – UL, Abbeyside, Waterford, Aaron Ryan – MIC Thurles, Fourmilewater, Waterford.
U11S PREPARE
The U11s are back into the flow a few weeks now and are training away in the rain in anticipation for the first match of the season this coming Saturday. We travel to Midleton to play football against the home team. This is the first of four games in the next five weeks with a second football match against St Catherines lined up also.
We wait to see who our opposition will be in hurling group. Hurling training on Monday nights from 6 to 6:45pm. Wednesday night training resumes on 29th March at 6pm in Pynes.
OSKARS EXCITEMENT
Well last Monday night the Old School in Rathcormac was the place to be as the ‘Casting Night’ for the forthcoming Oskars was held. Over 70 people turned up for the auditions, ranging in age from bubbly teenagers to several with the Free Travel Pass!
There was nervous excitement as the wannabe actors waited for their turn. The Green Room was thronged as last minute make-up was applied and voice coaches put male and female debutantes through their speaking exercises. It must be said that since the Night At The Oskars was first mooted a few weeks back there has been huge anticipation all around the Parish and beyond.
There has been a rush on passports as many now making their Bride Rovers silver screen debut are anticipating being called to various Hollywood studios before the year is out. At 9pm in Barry’s Bar on this coming Friday night the Oscars night will be officially launched and the cast line-ups for the different films will be revealed. Club members and supporters are reminded that canvassing is not allowed and no cash inducements, promises of foreign holidays etc for the casting directors will be entertained. Rehearsals will be on each Monday night. The actual filming will be at the end of April and start of May - over two weekends.
Don’t forget that Friday, 26th May is the Red Carpet Movie Premiere in the Rochestown Park Hotel. The €30 tickets for that Gala night will go on sale shortly. Anyone looking for additional information on the event please feel free to contact any of the organising committee of Evelyn Murphy 086314 3054, Pa O’Driscoll 086-811 3109, Aiden Dorgan 085-712 4312, Bridgee Collins 087-980 2151.
LOTTO RESULTS
On Tuesday, 14th March 2023 for a jackpot of €6,000 the numbers drawn were 02, 07, 25 and 29 – there was no jackpot winner. Congratulations to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Denis Fitzgerald, Main St, (Club 100), Catherine O’Flynn c/o online, Eleanor Quirke, Glenakip, Denis Mulcahy, Midleton and the Finnegan Family, Quarter Lane (Club 100).
This week’s jackpot on Tuesday, March 21st was an incredible €6,200. You can join the Bride Rovers weekly lotto online at 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 ongoing promotion of Gaelic games. A yearly ticket at €90 can also be purchased.
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
At present there are several vacancies locally for positions on Community Employment (CE) Schemes. These jobs entail working for 22 hours per week. Those over 21 and on a Department of Social Welfare payment are generally eligible for CE placement. For full details please contact 08630009107.
U13’S WIN ROVERS V ROVERS
The U13 boys got their hurling league campaign of to a great start with a good win against Valley Rovers on Saturday in Páirc na Bride. It was the lads’ first hurling game on the full pitch with full rules so it was good to start on a great team performance. All the extra space takes a bit of getting used to but both teams coped very well.
Panel on the day was Zack, Jack, Cathal M, Cathal O’B, Nathan, Cody, Danny, Ciaran, Sean F, Sean H, Fionn C, David, Fionn L, Cormac, Liam, Alex, Sean O’L, Evan, Sam and Daniel.
Our next U13 game is football in Pynes on this Friday coming at 5 o’clock against Midleton.
SPREADING THE ‘FAITH’!
Last Sunday the Bride Rovers U11 camogie girls took part in a Blitz with Sars and Eire Óg in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G pitch. One of the Eire Óg mentors was Pat ‘Patsy’ O’Callaghan- born and bred in Kildinan but now a member of the Eire Óg Club in Mid Cork, great to see Rovers people spreading the Gaelic games ‘good news’!
CAR BOOT SALE
Next Sunday, March 26th is car boot sale day in Rathcormac. If you can help for even an hour it would be great, so please contact Billy Finnegan or Mossy O’Sullivan. Help is also needed on Saturday morning to prepare the field .
DRAMA
Castlelyons Drama Group will stage John B Keane’s ‘The Field’ in Rathcormac Hall on this coming Saturday, March 25th at 8pm. This show is a fundraiser for the newly established Rathcormac Men’s Shed.
GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIPS
An bhfuil aon mac leinn ata ‘gra’ acu don Gaeilge? A subsidised Scholarship Scheme to the Gaeltacht is available through GAA Clubs in East Cork. A subsidy of €100 towards the cost of a student going to stay in the Gaeltacht for U16s is available. Details from Mike, our club Runaí at 087 9808973.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS
Sponsors are Rathcormac Tyres Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veoila.