East Cork GAA - a century old
There was a great gathering in the harbour town of Cobh last Saturday to mark the centenary of the founding of the East Cork GAA Divisional Board. It was exactly 100 years to the day - April 13th, 1924 - since a small group of Gaels gathered in Cobh Town Hall with an idea of forming a board to govern Gaelic games in East Cork.
Cork GAA secretary, Padraig Ó Caoimh, whose name was mentioned a lot in the last few months, had placed an advert on the Cork Examiner inviting all interested to attend. Henry Murphy of the Shamrocks Club, vice-chairman of the county board, presided. From that initial gathering the GAA in Imokilly ‘took off’ and hasn’t looked back since.
So, on Saturday evening last the proceedings started with the 6 o’clock Mass in Cobh cathedral concelebrated by Bishop William Crean and Fr Tom McDermott. The readings and prayers of the faithful were all done by representatives of the clubs and officer board of the Imokilly Division. In his homily Bishop Crean, a proud Kerryman, praised the role the GAA has played down the years in providing games and also in character formation of our youth. He lauded the hundreds of volunteers across the division who for a century have given so much time to the promotion of Gaelic games. It was a beautiful celebration.
Little did Ben Purcell, James Barry, Joe Foley and Eamonn Fleming think when they met in the Town Hall on that April Sunday that they were planting a tiny acorn that would grow into a huge oak.
After Mass, we adjourned to Páirc Ui Chonaill, home of the Cobh GAA Club. Present board chairperson, Avril Geary, unveiled a plaque in memory of Ben Purcell, the founding chairman. We were welcomed to Cobh by the club chairman, who introduced the speakers on a nostalgic night for the GAA in East Cork. Avril Geary spoke of the significance of the occasion and outlined the history and growth of the division. She mentioned particularly Denis Hurley of the Sarsfields Club who was present. In his 90s, Denis has been part and parcel of the GAA all his life.
Avril thanked the Imokilly Centenary committee for their work.
She said we have a very proud tradition and can rightly look to the future with confidence. Jerry O’Sullivan, board president, also spoke, as did Tom Hayes, Cobh GAA president.
The formal proceedings ended with a rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann. Afterwards the Cobh club supplied beautiful refreshments to end a very special evening. Personally, I thought it was a unique and fitting occasion. I first went to the board as a teenage delegate in the early 1970s - my driver and mentor was the late David John Barry. His brother Tom NT, the Master, was a former board secretary and chairman. Paddy O’Driscoll, Fr Declan Hennessy and Derry O’Brien were other officers I thought of, as were Jack Cotter, Felix Sarsfield, Seamus O’Flynn, Dave Hoare, Tomjoe O’Riordan, Jack Kelly and Tom Fitzgibbon.
Bride Rovers had a good representation in Cobh, including former board delegate Pat Cahill - Pat’s uncle, Dave, was a long serving Board GPC member in the 1950s.
UNDER 14 FOOTBALL Bride Rovers 2-3 Glenville 1-9
Although fixed for Glenville this league match was moved to Rathcormac on Friday due to Glenville pitch being closed. However, we couldn't make home advantage count as a well organised Glenville team made it difficult to score. Being a local derby plenty effort from both sides produced a good game in sticky conditions. We have a hurling challenge match on Friday evening at 7 against Inniscarra in Rathcormac and football championship begins the following week away to Carrigtwohill.
CORK V WATERFORD ON SUNDAY
It might be only April, but with split season regime in place, the Munster Senior Hurling Championship round-robin section starts this weekend. God be with the days in late May, June and July when the sun would be splitting the stones, dust flying in the square and plenty goalmouth ‘schemozzles’. Back in 1972 when I went to see Cork play Tipp in Limerick with Pad O’Connor and the late Dave Ryan, we stopped on the way at Mick O’Neills in Hospital – ham sandwiches and lads, truly lemonade never tasted so good! We ate again from the boot of the car in Limerick city, the match was a draw and we stopped again on the way home – yes, summer time and the livin’ was easy!
So, on Sunday next it’s D-Day – Decies Day for the Cork hurlers as they head for the newly refurbished Walsh Park in Waterford to take on the home side. In 1967 and again in 1974 when it was a straight knock-out championship, Cork were dumped out of the Munster championship. Well that can’t happen now with four chances to progress and the top 3 going through. We wish Brian and Eoin Roche and all their Rebel colleagues the very best. Safe travelling to all.
UNDER 12 FOOTBALL
On Wednesday night, the U12, team 1 travelled to Castlelyons for their first competitive Rebel Óg football fixture. We got off to a slow start and were down 0-4 to 0-1 after the first 15 mins. Our lads woke up and we headed into half-time level at 4 points each.
The lads went out fighting after half-time and even though Castlelyons got the first point of the second half, Rovers kept their heads and as the rain started to pour down, our lads tore ahead with 2-4 in unanswered scores. It was 26mins into the 2nd half before Castlelyons got a score back, which followed by another Castlelyons point, before our lads secured another goal to come away with the win. Final score Castlelyons 0-06 Bride Rovers 3-8. Harry O’Keeffe captained the lads.
Scorers: 1-5 Noah Collins, Kai Roddis 0-1, Patrick O’Regan 0-1, 1-1 Jack Fitzgerald, 1-0 Thomas Hegarty.
GOOD WIN FOR CORK U20S
Two outta two ain’t bad and the Cork under 20s are motoring well. Having defeated Waterford away on a woeful night, weather was a bit kinder last week at home to Clare. The Banner got the best start firing over great points. Cork gradually came into the game and went on to win well. With games against Tipp and Limerick to come, one more win would make certain of a semi-final spot. Congrats to Denis, Cillian and Ronan - great to see them wear the red and white of Cork.
WELL DONE ABBY
Congrats to Abby Hicks who won Munster camogie and ladies football medals with her two Cork teams last weekend.
CONDOLENCES
The club extends sympathy to former inter-county referee, Jim Joe Landers of Cappoquin, on the death of his sister, Eily Mason of Barrack St. Jim Joe refereed many matches for us over the years. nd
WEEKLY LOTTO RESULTS
The lotto results for Tuesday, 9th April - numbers drawn were 9, 13, 14 and 22. There was no winner. Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Joseph Finn, Rathcormac; Ava and Clodagh Barry, Scartbarry; James Carey, Monanig; Ella Rose Cuffe, Mondaniel; Olive Feeney, Ballyduff Upper. This week's jackpot was an incredible €17,200 on Tuesday, April 16th. If your ticket has expired we would appreciate if you would enter again via https:// bit.ly/BrideRoversweeklyfundraiser. Thank you again for all your support.
CAR BOOT SALE
Next Sunday, April 21st is Parish Car Boot Sale day. Help is always needed both to prepare on Saturday morning and from 7am onwards on Sunday. If you have an hour to spare and would like to volunteer on Sunday just contact Mossy O’Sullivan, Tom Kearney or Billy Finnegan - many hands make light work.
1974 - 50 YEARS AGO
Having contested the 1972 and 1973 East Cork Junior A hurling finals, hopes were high in 1974. Once more our ‘bogey team’ back then, Cloyne, proved our undoing when they defeated us in the semi-final. They met the Hill in the final and Gerald Herlihy’s team proved worthy winners and went on to win out the county JAHC, beating Charleville in the final in Castletownroche.
1974, BELIEVE IT OR NOT
In the All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final on August 4th Kilkenny beat Galway by 2-32 to 3-17, the first time that more than 30 points had been scored in an inter-county senior championship game!
WOULDN’T HAPPEN TODAY!
In 1974 the GAA invited the Soviet Ambassador as a guest to the Limerick v Kilkenny All-Ireland senior hurling final!
JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100 NOW
A few years back as we began planning for our club’s centenary in 2028 - the Club 100 concept was put in place. It’s a method whereby supporters and benefactors can commit to heling the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major club developments in recent years. Now, with a massive 3 pitch development project in Ballybrowney well under way, we will need huge funds over the next decade. There’s no doubt we won’t have much change out of €1M when everything is completed. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this one gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus, 2 Rebels’ Bounty draw tickets and family membership of the club.
The Silver costs €360 and gives 2 lotto and 1 Rebel’s Bounty and membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children).
The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings 1 Annual Club Lotto ticket plus 1 Rebels’ Bounty and individual membership. Many people make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ at this time of year - why not consider joining our Club 100? Full details from any club officer. At the end of each year the Bride Rovers Club holds a special draw confined the Club 100 members with substantial prizes.
BARTLEMY SCHOOL 6K RUN
A reminder that the Bartlemy School Parents’ Association 6k Annual Run/Walk is on Sunday week, April 28th. A great course and a great day guaranteed for all.
U11 HURLING
Our under 11 boys kicked off their Go Games season with a fantastic match against Kilworth on the juvenile pitch which was in great condition after all the recent rain. It was a very even match with Kilworth having some fine hurlers, but our boys displayed huge hunger for blocking, tackling and winning ground ball which was combined with a high level of skill.
We are playing Aghada and Lisgoold this Saturday morning in Go Games football. Well done to all the players in action – Killian Donegan, Joey Allen, Oisin Barry Sheehan, Dara Murphy, John Keating, Kayden Freeman, Theo Skillington, Dave Fitzpatrick, Hugh Clerkin, Darragh Feeney, Fionn Purcell, Harry Fitzpatrick and Eoin Burke.
FIXTURES
Our second junior hurling team were in league action against Cobh last night Wednesday, 17th April, at 7pm in Rathcormac in a JHL Div 2 match.
Our senior hurlers are in Red FM SH League action against Courcey Rovers on Sat, 20th April, at 7pm in Ballinspittle.
Our junior hurlers are in Div 4 JH League action against Castlelyons on Tues., 23rd April, at 7.30pm in Castlelyons.
JUVENILE FIXTURES
Sunday 21st under 12 G4 1 Bride Rovers v Carrigtwohill, home 10am. Under 15 FL v Bishopstown away at 11am. Under 13 HL v Na Piarsaigh 11am, away. Under 15 FL v Eire Og, home 12.15. Monday 22nd Under 16 FL, Lisgoold away at 6pm. Wed 23rd Fé 18 FL v Killavullen, home 7pm.
CLUB SPONSORS
Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print and Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia.