Bride Rovers GAA Club notes & news round-up for the week.

Great Win for Junior C Team.

In 2008 at the Annual General Meeting of the Club it was decided to enter a third adult hurling team in East Cork competitions. It’s never easy to field a team when you have twenty players played at Senior level and maybe another twenty at Junior A level, this means you have forty players used before you try and pick a Third fifteen. Back in Fr Edmond Barrys time in the 1880’s a third team was fielded – one day after coming back from a funeral in Castlelyons Fr. Barry enquired about how the ‘third string’ had got on in some game they played ‘ Do you know what Father’ answered someone that had seen the team in action ‘ they are a great team, downright Holy Terrors altogether’ ! Well the name stuck and the Holy Terrors played for a few years. Since 2008 we have had our twenty first century version of that era. Our third team has competed in East Cork League and Championship. In 2008 at Junior B they were defeated by Cobh’s second team. The following year at Junior B they lost to Erins Own. In 2010 a ‘back door’ was introduced at Junior B level in East Cork – we lost to Youghal and subsequently to Carrignavar. Last year our third XV took part in the Junior C Grade Championship but lost out to Russell Rovers by 2  13 to 17 points.

Having used forty two players in Senior and Junior A Championship so far this year it was with a sense of nervousness that our third team travelled to Lisgoold last Saturday evening to take on Castlemartyr’s second string. In fairness to our panel of twenty one players they had a team meeting in our own pitch after the St. Catherines/ Castlelyons game before setting off for Lisgoold. Team mentors Shane O Connor and Barry Johnson deserve great credit for the spirit they engendered in the team.  It was mighty to see Mike Hogan and John O Dowd line out with this team – both have given close to twenty five years playing at adult level for  Bride Rovers. W e got a perfect start when Daniel Lane raised the green flag from a free.  Gavin Quill and Mike Hogan had two points before the Reds opened their account with a white flag. With Pa lording it at centre back the two O Learys and the two Collins very solid in defence with Brian Lahive outstanding at wing back we really took control of the game. Gavin O Flynn had two points either side of a beauty of a sideline cut sent over by John O Dowd.  Castlemartyr rallied briefly and scored two points before we got a crucial score. A ball out of defence was added to by Daniel Lane and the two Hogans James and Niall before a great passage of play saw Kieran Woulfe score our second goal. Incidentally this was our sixth championship game since 2008 with our third team and Brian Lahive and Niall Hogan have played in all six games. A Maurice Dooley puckout was whipped on by Brian Lahive, sliotar ended up with John O Dowd – point, to leave us 2 6 to 0  5 ahead at the break. We had the aid of the breeze in the second half but it was Castlemartyr who dominated the first ten minutes. They had several promising attacks but our backs were in great form and repelled all comers.  Mike Hogan,  Daniel Lane (free) and John O Dowd struck three points to stretch our lead to 2  9 to 0 5. The Reds had two points before trying for a goal from a close in free. The shot was saved and Pa’s clearance eventually found John O Dowd after good work by Pat Cotter and we had our third goal. Gavin O Flynn and Daniel Lane finished our scoring with a brace of points and we ended up winning by 3  11 to   07. It was a great win for a great bunch of lads. ‘How oft this great team by long odds got defeated but still their hearts were not dimmed in the fray’ – yes it’s great to see a team go out and give of their  very best for the jersey, when a team does that the result doesn’t really matter, simply playing the game as it should be played. Well done to all concerned and now that the team is in the semi final they will be training away as we move from September into October. Midleton play Lisgoold in the quarter final and we play the winners of that game.

Team & scorers; Maurice Dooley, Wm. O Leary, Brian Collins, Barry Collins, Stephen O Leary, Pa O Driscoll, Brian Lahive, Daniel Lane, Gavin O Flynn, Gavin Quill, James Hogan, Mike Hogan, Kieran Woulfe, John O Dowd, Niall Hogan. Subs Liam O Leary & Pat Cotter, also on the panel Enda Collins, Jamie Buckley, Jack Kearney, David Quinn.

Scorers. John O Dowd 1  3 (0 1 sideline cut), Daniel Lane  1  2 ( 0  1  free), Kieran Woulfe 1  0,  Gavin O Flynn 0  3,  Mike Hogan  0 2, Gavin Quill 0 1.

Senior Hurling League.

 Bride Rovers 2-17 Sarsfields 1-12

The Bride Rovers Senior Hurlers travelled to Riverstown on Friday night last for their penultimate game in the Red FM sponsored Cork County Senior Hurling League. The game was played under lights.
The Rovers started brightly and had the first three points on the scoreboard before Sars replied, points coming from the experienced duo of Terry Broderick(2) & Pat Walsh. A second point from Sars was quickly followed by five more from the Rovers, scored by Mike Kearney, Barry Johnson (3) and our goal hero from the relegation play off, Dave Burke. Leading 0-8 to 0-2 the Rovers further extended their lead with a well taken goal from full forward Brennie O’Driscoll, however Sars replied with a goal of their own. This goal seemed to give Sars a lift and they added three further points but a sublime point from Daniel Dooley off his stick and another from Terry Broderick had the Rovers in front at half time by 1-10 to 1-05.
On the changeover Barry Johnson pointed two frees before a sweeping movement up the field was finished to the Sars net by the impressive Terry Broderick, who would finish the game with 1-05 from play. From here to the end points were swapped. The Rovers defence were playing well and most notable was the amount of times Liam Forde, Brian Murphy and Shane Kearney broke from defence with the ball. Pat Walsh was having a right battle with Sars forward Gary Grey on the 40. Barry Murphy and Aidan Collins kept things tight inside while Fergus Collins when introduced worked hard. Frank Hogan looked very assured in goals, this following his excellent outing with St Colmans in the Harty Cup. Midfield duo of Mike Kearney and James Murphy played very well on the night too. The last 5 points for the Rovers were scored by Sean Ryan (2), Terry Broderick (2) and Barry Johnson, with his 6th point of the game.
Final score: Bride Rovers 2-17 Sarsfields 1-12
Team & Scorers:
F.Hogan, A.Collins, B.Murphy, S.Kearney, L.Forde, B. Murphy, P.Walsh (0-1), M.Kearney (0-01), J.Murphy, B.Johnson (0-06), D.Burke (0-01), D.Dooley (0-01), S.Ryan (0-02), B.O’Driscoll (1-0), T.Broderick (1-05). Sub Used F.Collins.
Our last game in the league is against St. Finbarrs and is fixed for Saturday week 6th Oct at 3pm in Rathcormac. We currently have 12 points but this will not be enough to finish in the ‘Top 6’  play off places.

There is a great selection of photographs from the Cloyne game on the website www.briderovers.ie where the Radio commentary on the final fifteen minutes of the game can also be heard.

CLUB LOTTO DRAW.

There was no jackpot winner.

The winners of this week’s five €30 ‘Lucky Dips’ were;

·         Moloney Kids c/o Una Moloney

·         Paddy Mannix, Bartlemy

·         Ava Barry, Rathcormac

·         O’Driscoll Family, Shanowen

·         John O’Donovan, Whitescross.

Next week’s draw takes place in O’Coileán’s Bar, Rathcormac for a jackpot of €6,400. Tickets at €2 each are available from Club members, in local business outlets and online at locallotto.ie

COUNTY SEMI FINAL.

On next Saturday September the 29th Pairc na Bride will host the County Semi Final of the 2012 Premier Intermediate Football Championship. Mallow play St. Michaels at 4 pm. The winners of this contest will play St. Vincents in the County Final, interestingly all three remaining teams in the hunt for PIFC honours were competing in the Senior grade in recent years but all three were relegated. Any Club Member who is available is asked to be at the pitch at 2.30 to help with the arrangements.

LADIES FINAL.

The Cork V Kerry All Ireland Ladies Football final which was due to be played next Sunday has been put back a week because of the replay of the Senior Hurling Final. Grace Kearney, Eleanor Ahern and Jennifer Barry are in the Cork panel and we wish them all the best in their preparations. A Bus to the game has been organised – full details from any officer of the Ladies Club.

Cork GAA Members Draw 2012/2013.

The Cork GAA Members draw for the next twelve months will commence at the end of October. The Cost of the Ticket for the Draw is €100 a year and approx 40% of that comes directly to the club. There are fantastic prizes on offer including cars, holidays and cash prizes. Full details from Club Members.

CAR BOOT SALE.

The next Car Boot Sale is on Sunday October the 14th. We are constantly seeking new volunteers top help on the day so if you can give even just one hour  please contact any club officer.