Weather wreaks havoc
Though the sun shone brightly for our national day as St Patrick was remembered across the land, the weather still has not turned to spring. Last weekend we had fixtures at adult and juvenile level cancelled. Pitches are simply swimming after 29 days of rain in February - and March isn’t much better - yet anyway! Playing surfaces really do need a few good days of wind and sunshine to get a chance to dry out properly. Hopefully by this weekend things will be looking better. Though games were few last weekend there was plenty other activity, with an emphasis on fundraising.
BUSY HURLING WEEKEND
Our three adult hurling teams all have fixtures this coming weekend as the Hurling League continues at County and Divisional level. On Saturday, March 23rd our third team travel to Caherlag for a league tie at 3 o’clock. Then on Sunday we have a double-header in Clonmult Memorial Park in Mainistir na Corann. At 11.30am the Seniors play Midleton in the Red FM SHL Division 2. After that game the Rovers and Midleton meet in an East Cork JHL Division 2 game. Best of luck to all the teams.
MINOR GAME OFF
Unfortunately Mother Nature decided that the league match vs Midleton wasn’t to be played last weekend. This game will be refixed asap.
U12 TRAINING
The U12s have been continuing with their preseason work and are doing the hard yards that February and March often bring. Rain, hail or shine, the lads are going through their paces in both codes. We have a weekend of internal hurling games this weekend and a football friendly with Glanmire the week after before our season gets underway on April 6th.
GREAT FUNDRAISER AT KIELTY’S
The Kielty homestead at Rathaneague, Bartlemy was a virtual hive of activity last Saturday. The rain didn’t deter a huge crowd attending a fundraising cuppa morning for Oran who travels to Zambia later this year as a volunteer. The family wish to thank all who helped . “A huge thank you to everyone who came to the Zambia Imersion Project fundraising coffee morning on Saturday. Thanks to those who brought delicious home-baking and everyone who has so generously donated to the fund. The family are overwhelmed and appreciative of your support to Oran. Thanks a million.” Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so through the Bride Rovers Club if they wish.
TRANSITION YEAR YOUNG WHISTLERS
Well done to Bride Rovers underage players Jack Hynes, Tomas O'Riordan, Shane Prendergast and Sean Dowling who undertook a GAA Young Whistlers course in St Colman’s College, Fermoy last week. They are now fully certified Go Games referees and can referee at all Go Games matches/blitzes from U6 to U11. Well done lads, it’s just great to see young players like these boys getting involved at this level.
WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO
The lotto results for Tuesday, 12th March 2024 were as follows; numbers drawn were 13, 15, 24 and 30 and there was no winner. Congratulations to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Michael O’Flynn, Rathcormac, Sarah O’Flynn, Rathcormac, Gary Murphy, Rathcormac, Tom O’Mahony, Kilbehenny and Barry O’Riordan, Club 100. The lotto jackpot on last Tuesday, March 19th was €16,400 and could be won for just €2. Remember if you’re not in you can’t win.
CLUB REFEREES PROGRESSING
Well done to Stepen ‘ Bopper’ Hackett and Michael Carey on being appointed to officiate their first adult league games across last weekend, having excelled at Rebel Óg level last year. Unfortunately, Bopper’s East Cork Junior Football clash between Glenville and Aghada fell victim to the weather. However, Michael both started and finished the County Football League clash between Glanmire and Ilen Rovers unscathed on St Patrick’s Day morning. Well done to our six club referees and their group of keen-eyed umpires (for championship games) that represent the club in this way.
REBELS’ DOUBLE
Last weekend the two Cork teams had good away wins in the Allianz Leagues. The Rebels defeated the Royal County in the football and the men from the Model County in the hurling. Waterford lost to Kilkenny in the hurling - if the Decies had won Cork could be in the semi-final this weekend. Now it’s Kilkenny v Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday and Clare v Tipperary on Sunday. The footballers must play Armagh this weekend but are assured of staying in Division 2 of the NFL for 2025 and the hurlers will be in Division 1. Imagine it’s only 4 weeks until the Munster hurling game v Waterford in Walsh Park on Sunday, April 21st. We’d want to have a lot of very dry, sunny weather before then to ensure they’d be dust flying in the square! Don’t remind me of 1967 and 1974.
TRAINING TO ‘SAVE A LIFE’ ON NEXT SATURDAY
The Bride Rovers Healthy Club committee will hold CPR and AED short courses across next Saturday, March 23rd. The club are funding 60 members to undertake this training to support our reaction as a club and community in the event of an incident of this nature.
The 90-minute course is led by an expert and will involve familiarisation in Adult and Child CPR, the use of AED and how to best support a victim of choking, cardiac arrest and/or heart attack. The course times are 9-10.30, 10.45 -12.15, 12.30 -2.00, 2.30- 4.00 and 4.15 -5.45. Some of the time slots are fully booked out so to avail of this course for free, please contact Orla Dorgan at 087-9769274.
U14S START
The U14s managed to play a match last weekend. We had our first Rebel Óg football league match against Carrigtwohill in Pynes on Monday. The rain managed to hold off for the hour. Going up a grade from last year we knew this league would be a test from the start. As they say a good start is half the battle, unfortunately Carrigtwohill got it. Playing with a very strong breeze they had scored 2-2 after 10 minutes. Our lads got going after that but even limiting Carrigtwohill to 4 points for the rest of the game we could only get 1-3 ourselves. Final score Bride Rovers 1-3 Carrigtwohill 2-6. We have five lads out injured at the moment so hopefully when we meet again in the Championship we can see a different result. We play Youghal in Youghal next Saturday at 2pm in our first hurling league game.
SYMPATHY
We extend our deepest sympathy this week to Emma Roddis and Charlie Byrd who both suffered bereavements in recent days. Emma’s father Pierce Power died and Charlie’s mother Anne also passed away. Both families are very involved with Bride Rovers so we send them our condolences at this sad time
REBELS’ BOUNTY
The 2024 Cork GAA Members Draw, Rebels’ Bounty will commence once more in a week’s time with three draws on March 28th. If you were joined previously we would ask that you consider re-joining. If you are not in you can’t win and for €100 there are great prizes on offer. You can get full details from any cub member or officer.
LADIES NIGHT OUT
Dresses are being bought, hair do’s arranged, pedicures, manicures and all kinds of cures are being timetabled as final preparations for the Gala Ladies Night in Bartlemy Hall on Friday week are being finalised. Last year Messrs Barry and Arnold were on security duty and though they were begged to attend this year they are not available for personal, very personal, reasons. Hopefully it will be great night - just this time last year we were starting our Oskars campaign - how time flies!
EAST CORK GRADINGS
At the last board meeting in Midleton the daws and gradings for the 2024 Championships were made. In the Junior A Football we are in a group with Cloyne, Fr O’Neills and Midleton. In Junior A Hurling we’re paired with Carrignavar, Carrigtwohill and Killeagh A. In Junior C Football we are in with Glenville, Carrigtwohill and Aghada and in Junior C Hurling we are in a Group with St Itas, Cobh and Russell Rovers. The next East Cork Board meeting will be held in Cobh on Wednesday, April 10th to mark the Centenary of the founding of the East Cork Board in Cobh in April 1924. On Saturday, April 13th a Mass will be celebrated in Cobh Cathedral by Bishop William Crean to mark the Centenary.
COUNTY QUIZ
The Open Cork GAA Table Quiz took place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on last Thursday, March 14th. A total of 29 teams took part and the proceeds went to Marymount Hospice. Bride Rovers Club was represented by Robert Barry, Daniel Lane, Shane O’Connor and John Arnold, we finished in 7th position.
JOHNNY O’BRIEN, LEAMLARA
After a short illness the death has occurred of Johnny O’Brien of Dundullerick, Leamlara. Johnny was a great Gael involved in the GAA especially, providing PA for so many events for Scór and with the Lisgoold Club. Along with his late mother Beth, Johnny was one of the founders of the Ladies Gaelic Football Board in East Cork and was also involved at County Board level. A great character, we extend our sympathy to his brothers, sisters and other family members. Rest in peace Johnny.