Oh what a night!
Elsewhere in this edition you’ll find a full report on the Night At The Oskars last Friday night in the Rochestown Park Hotel. It was a memorable, magnificent and absolutely brilliant occasion. The culmination of months of hard work the Oskars night will be spoken of for many a day and night by the banks of the Bride and further afield. The whole Oskars ‘project’ brought the community and club together in a fantastic display of community spirit.
Thanks must be extended in a very special way to Bridgee Forde and Evelyn Murphy for taking on this fundraiser. With the help of Pa, Mike and Aiden - our officers, they put hundreds of hours into every last detail of the Oskars from start ‘til the finish on Friday night last. From a financial point of view it was a huge success but even more so from a social and parish point of view. Truly the red carpet was rolled out and well deserved. Thanks to everyone who supported us over the last few months in this rollercoaster of cooperation.
JUNIORS PIPPED IN AGHAVINE JHL DIV1 V FR O'NEILLS 29TH MAY
It was a lovely warm evening for a match last Monday but a strong wind made scoring difficult. O'Neills won the toss and decided to play with it and it took 10 minutes before the opening score of the game by Michael Collins. Louis followed with a second quickly before O'Neills got won back.
Our defence was on top of the opening 20 minutes but the 1st chance O’Neills to get past our defence ended up with a goal and they lead 1-1 to 2. Conor Barry got a point before O’Neills got a second goal. Conor got another point to narrow the margin back to 4 at the break.
O’Neills got the opening point of the second half before Louis got 1 back for us. A long free from Conor ended up in the back of the net and another point from him saw the teams level 1-6 to 2-3 after 15 minutes of the second half. Our shooting started to leave us down and we had a run of 6 wides in a row will O’Neills made the most of the opportunity that came their way to take the lead again by 1. Eddie levelled the game up with a point in the 23rd minute but O’Neills responded again with a score before Conor levelled it again after 25 minutes. O’Neills scored the next 3 points to take what looked like a game winning lead with time almost up but credit to our lads we came back and got 3 points in a row from a long range free from Knoxie and 2 points from Conor.
We were well into injury time when O’Neills again managed to get the next two scores to leave them winners on a scoreline of 2-10 to 1-11. Our final league game is next Wednesday v Killeagh in Rathcormac at 7.45. This is a game we will need to win and hope results elsewhere go our way to stay in Division 1 for 2024.
Team: S Knox, L Collins, A Buckley, E O'Connor, K Cotter, L Forde, A Hynes, C O'Sullivan, F Collins, F O'Flynn, J Mannix, M Collins, C Barry, E Cashman, L Roche. Subs: O Roche, D Buckley and A Hayes.
CORK OUT
We used to sing in the past about ‘Tipp being bate and the hay saved’, well not this year. While the weather is mighty and no doubt a lot of hay will be saved this week Tipp are still there as well as Clare and Limerick who put paid to the Rebels’ Championship winning hopes for 2023 last Sunday. It’s my personal opinion that having the likes of Cork, Waterford and Wexford gone from the Championship before the month of May is over is ludicrous. The exponents and proponents of the Split Season will say it gives certainty to everyone. Yes that’s true - but at what cost to the game of hurling and its promotion? Hurling is essentially a summer game and now for the months of June and July – the best ‘hurling months’ of the year, we’ll have very little club hurling. When the summer’s gone and the days are getting shorter then the real action will commence. What a way to promote our national game!
For Cork the season is over after a win, a draw and two onepoint defeats. By Shannonside last Sunday the Rebels battled bravely. With a four point lead they looked like they were motoring well until that goal came. A draw would have seen Cork progress but defeat by a single, solitary point was so tough. To have had Brian and Eoin Roche playing Senior with Cork has given the club and parish a mighty boost, they will have good days in the red and white in the future. It was Pat Ryan’s first season in charge of the Senior team and progress is certainly being made, but for now Limerick roll on.
GREAT PERFORMANCE FROM OUR U17S
Bride Rovers U17 boys had their first hurling league match of the season away to Ballygiblin on Wednesday night last week. We travelled with a very young team but that didn’t stop the lads and they got straight into it against a physical opposition. The half-time score was Bride Rovers 1-5 Ballygiblin 9 points.
The second half continued in the same vein with our lads battling hard right to the end, winning on a scoreline of Bride Rovers 3-10 Ballygiblin 1-15.
Team: Cillian Sullivan (capt), Oran Kielty, Ben Knox, Gearoid Gubbins, Jack Mannix, Jack Collins, Jack Hynes, Con O’Riordan, Gearoid O’Connell, Shane Prendergast, Darragh Delaney, Denis Fitz, Matthew Kenny, Ronan Barry, Cormac Barry, David O’Connell and Sean Dowling.
RATHCORMAC NS LOSE OUT
Hard luck on the boys of Scoil Bhríde, Rathcormac on losing to Newcestown in their Sciath na Scol final last week.
TERRY PLAYS FOR CORK
Well done to Terry Broderick on his display with the Cork Masters Football team on Saturday. On Friday night Terry was treading the red carpet with The Snapper cast and on Saturday wearing the red jersey when Cork lined out against Waterford. Cork won and Terry scored two points. Also playing with the Rebels were John Miskella and Nicholas Murphy of All-Ireland winning fame and JJ Kearney of Watergrasshill/Glenville.
FOUR ROVERS WIN WITH COLMAN’S
Well done to the St Colmans’ U14 team who defeated Midleton CBS in the County League Hurling final. Colmans won a great game by 3-16 to 1-16. Congrats to our four players involved, Michael Walsh, Cathal Barry, Fionn O’Driscoll and Mark Hynes.
BEST OF LUCK CILLIAN AND RONAN
Next Sunday is a big hurling day with the Minor (U17) and U20 All-Ireland Championship Finals on in famed Semple Stadium in Thurles. Clare and Galway meet in the Minor final at 1 o’clock at 3 with Cork and Offaly to follow in the U20 decider. We wish Cillian Tobin and Ronan O’Connell and all their Rebel comrades the very best in this match. Great to see the ‘Best Of Luck’ signs up again.
SCRAP STILL WANTED
The club is still collecting and accepting scrap metal as a fundraiser for the club. To make arrangements just ring 087-9538077.
MATCH IN THE PITCH
Some few will have to stay at home ‘to mind the house’ on Sunday as we host a County JBFC game between Castlelyons and St Catherines on Sunday evening at 7.30pm.
ROVERS GIRLS IN MALLOW
On Sunday while the main sporting focus was on Limerick and Thurles, Mallow was a hive of activity as the Cork Senior ladies footballers took the field for the Munster Final against Kerry and the half time spectacular entertainment was provided by U8 teams from both counties including our own Bride Rovers U8 girls. To call the girls superstars is a massive understatement as they represented the club with passion, pride and tenaciousness. Every ball was ferociously contested and every score taken with finesse. Our own Bride Rovers Katie Quirke was an inspiration to our girls with a ‘Player of the Match’ performance in the big game and our U8s mirrored her excellence on the pitch.
Our players on the day were Aoife O'Connell, Caragh Bermingham, Charlotte Walsh, Ella Rose Cuffe, Emily McDonald, Emma Burke, Emma O'Regan, Jessie Doyle, Kaia O'Conner, Leona O'Dowd, Mia Murphy and Ona Ezquerra Vidal. Congratulations to all the girls, you did us all proud. Special word of thanks to the Cork Ladies team who afterwards were very generous with their time, none more so than our county stars Katie and Sarah Murphy.
U13S AWAIT LEAGUE FINAL
The U13s are busily training for the Hurling League Final v Eire Óg on 10th June. No venue has yet been announced for this game. Training continues for this game on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
SENIOR HURLING LEAGUE
We have three games left to play in our Division 2 League Campaign against the Glen, the Barrs and Courceys. On this coming Friday evening, 2nd June the match v Courcey Rovers takes place in Ballinspittle at 7.45pm.
U14S IN CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION
Bride Rovers host Youghal in the U14 Premier 2 Football Championship this Friday night, June 2nd at 7pm. Bride Rovers travel to Sars on Friday 9th for Premier 1 Hurling Championship action.
HEALTHY CLUB - CPR AND DEFRIBILATOR TRAINING
Bride Rovers are delighted to be able to offer a 2-hour CPR and AED short session on Saturday, June 10th. Given their involvement with our teams, club mentors will be given priority but it is anticipated that there will be space for further members and supporters to attend on the day also. The course involves familiarisation in Adult and Child CPR, Use of AED, Choking, Difference between Cardiac Arrest and Heart attack. The Course is Non-certified as it a relatively short familiarisation session. Limited places, 16 per session. 1st come will have choice of times in the 5 sessions between 9am and 5pm.
EAST CORK JHL DIVISION 4
We played Cobh at home last Tuesday evening. The match was in in Pynes - 4th game of the league. This was always going to be a tough game as it was Cobh’s second team against our third XV. At half time the visitors were ahead by a margin of two points.
The second half was a tight affair but we managed to pull away near the end and win on a scoreline of Bride Rovers 18pts Cobh 2-8. Our next league game is at home to Killeagh in Pynes this Tuesday 30th at 7.30 - note; we got a walkover from Killeagh in that fixture.
REBELS BEAT LOUTH
The new format for the Sam Maguire Cup is underway with 16 teams in a 4 group round robin. Cork defeated Louth after a close game. Mayo have already beaten Kerry so Cork will have two more games. Three qualify from each group of four. Cork are at home to Kerry next Saturday afternoon, June 3rd, at 3 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and away to Mayo on June 17th.
FIXTURES
Wednesday, May 31st Fé 17 FL v Carrigtwohill, away. Friday, June 2nd Fé 14 FC v Youghal home, SHL v Courceys away. Sunday June 4th Cork v Offaly all Ireland U20 hurling final in Thurles.
WALSH FAMILY FUNDRAISER
The GAA is a close-knit organisation and in times of trouble, sadness and adversity the sense of cooperation come to the fore. Recently the Walsh family of Killeagh suffered a terrible double blow. The Walsh family home was destroyed in an accidental fire and shortly after came the shocking news of the death of Brendan. A gofundme page has been set up to help the family. All clubs in East Cork received the following letter last week. “At the last County Board meeting, I had the privilege to talk about my club mate from Killeagh; Imokilly and Cork player Brendan Walsh on his sad and tragic passing over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Since that meeting, many clubs have been in contact seeking to donate to the Walsh family to help them get back on their feet. A lot of support will be required over the coming days and weeks, but your help and that of your clubs will be greatly appreciated. I would kindly ask to share this link among your members. Killeagh GAA Walsh Family Fundraiser. Search online for gofund. me/8777cc87. Yours sincerely, Pat Mulcahy” (Secretary East Cork Board). We in Bride Rovers urge all our members, friends and supporters to help this very worthy cause.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
The lotto results for last Tuesday, 23rd May 2023 were as follows; Numbers were 02, 20, 27 and 32. There was no winner. Congratulations also to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Claire Lynch, Dungourney, Damien McCormack, Shanowen, Shane O’Connor, Scartbarry, Laura Troy c/o online lotto and Jack Johnson, Bartlemy.
This week's jackpot on Tuesday, May 30th was an incredible €8,200. As always lotto tickets can be bought from club members, in local business outlets and online. Other options are an annual lotto ticket or consider joining the Bride Rovers Club 100 - full details from 085-7124312. Each ticket costs just €2 but every extra ticket sold is of benefit to the club.
SYMPATHY
We extend our deepest sympathy to Kieran McGann of Castlelyons on the death of his beloved mother Nellie of Gortaclare, Bell Harbour, Co Clare. She died on Sunday and was laid to rest within the ancient Abbey of Corcomroe on Wednesday. May she rest in peace.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS
Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print and Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia.