Juniors Win Hurling League.
At the home pitch of the 2011 Cork County SH Champions, Carrigtwohill, on last Sunday we won the East Cork Junior Hurling League Division 2 Title. The game was fixed for Pairc Seamus de Barra for 12 noon and both teams were out on the pitch on time. Due to a mix up no referee appeared but eventually contact was made with local referee Brian Murphy and he agreed to come and ref the game. Our opponents St. Itas hadn’t lost a Junior Hurling league game since 2009. Last year they went through the Division 3 campaign unbeaten and won that Title thus gaining promotion to Division 2 for this season. They played 8 games to reach Sundays Final, winning 5 games and drawing 3. One of their victories was at our expense last May down by the sea in Pilmore. That evening we lost by 3 14 to 2 7.
Brian Murphy from the Carig Club arrived and threw in the sliotar just before half twelve. Gavin O Flynn and James Murphy at midfield were quickly involved and a fast ball into the forward line saw Pa O Driscoll open the scoring with a nice point. St. Itas had a strong wind to their backs and with Cork u21 Hurling Panelist Seamus Harnedy in scoring form the Gortroe side came into the game strongly. In a five minute spell Harnedy scored four points, one from a 65, two from frees and one from play to leave his side leading by 0 4 to 0 1. A piece of quick thinking in our forward division changed the game around in the twinkling of an eye! We were awarded a free about twenty five yards out. Pat Cotter stepped up to the sliotar as if to tap it over , but instead he deftly passed it to the in running Richie Cahill -bang, goal and the sides were level. It was a great move and gave the team a massive boost. From the puck out the sliotar went to Jim O Connor then to Mike Hogan and on to Pat Cotter who raised another white flag. Those two scores got our lads going really well. With Fergus Collins, Joe Delaney and Tomas Kearney defending superbly and Walshie lording it at centre back with Jim and Barry well on top in the wings we built up a good lead. Firstly Terry Broderick hit a super point reminiscent of a point he scored in the 1992 Co. Minor Hurling League final v Killavullen in Ballygiblin on the frosty day. A huge puck out from Gavin Quill was added to by the other Gavin and Owen Murphy won possession and rounded his man to score a super goal. A minute later Owen added a point and we were up by 2 4 to 5 points with 25 minutes gone. St. Itas scored two points to leave us ahead by a margin of three points, 2 4 to 0 7 at the break. We had the wind to help us in the second half but the wind alone never won anything for anyone. We started the second half in flying style. With our midfield and half back line really dominant our forwards got plenty ball and boy did they use it! Firstly Richie Cahill got his second goal. Then Terry scored 1 2 in three minutes. All these scores came after great passing movements started outfield. Within five minutes of the restart we were ahead by 4 6 to 0 7. Two more points from Terry and one from Richie were answered by two points for Itas to leave it 4 9 to 0 9. Then following an eighty metre run Gavin O Flynn hit over a sweet point. Awarded a twenty metre free the St. Itas goalie made no mistake in rising the green flag, 4 10 to 1 9. Alan O Keeffe and Stephen Pratt came on and were immediately prominent. From near the sideline Pat Cotter put over a free. St. Itas hit over two points before the last score of the game. Alan O Keeffe passed the sliotar to Owen, he sent it to Terry and Pat Cotter took the final pass and made our tally 4 12. The final whistle went and for the first time since 1993 we had won this Title. Back then it was known as the Junior B Hurling League. In Rostellan on Sunday December 12th 1993 we defeated Aghada by 2 15 to 0 5. Five of Sundays panel; Mike Hogan, John O Dowd, James Murphy, Pat Walsh and Terry Broderick were involved in 1993 and five other members of Sundays panel weren’t even born in 1993 !
After the game Jerome O Brien, on behalf of the East Cork Board presented the Mossy O Sullivan Memorial Cup to delighted team Captain Alan O Keeffe. Alan thanked all the players and especially Dan Quill and Alan Fitzgerald who were in charge of this team all year. He then asked for the customary three cheers for St. Itas.
Team: Gavin Quill, Fergus Collins, Joe Delaney, Tomas Kearney, Barry Collins, Pat Walsh, Jim O’Connor, Gavin O’Flynn, James Murphy, Patrick O’Driscoll, Terry Broderick, Pat Cotter, Owen Murphy, Richard Cahill, Michael Hogan.
Subs: Alan O’Keeffe(Captain) for Michael Hogan and Stephen Pratt for Tomas Kearney.
Rest of Panel: Frank Hogan, Ryan O’Connor, Sean O’Brien, Nevin O’Regan, John O’Dowd, Daniel Lane, Brian Lahive, Adrian Buckley.
Scorers: Richard Cahill 2-1, Terry Broderick1-5, Owen Murphy 1-1, Pat Cotter 0-3, Patrick O’Driscoll 0-1, Gavin O’Flynn 0-1.
Only 2 points from a tally of 4-12 came from Frees, this continues the trend all season where most of the scores came from Play.
This was a great win as a Club’s second team is always chopping and changing during the year. Bearing in mind that we used twenty two players at Senior Level winning this league is no mean achievement. There was great blend of youth and experience in the team. The win is very special for Mike Hogan as he has now won medals with Bride Rovers in four different decades. Mike’s first adult medal with the Club came in 1988 when he was on the panel that won the O Flynn Cup!
Back in 1975 we defeated St. Itas in Carrigtwohill in the Junior B grade Hurling Championship Final. Gavin O Flynn’s father Jerry was on that panel as was Pa O Driscoll’s uncle Fachtna.
The Cup presented to us on Sunday commemorates the great Kilcronat and St. Catherines Gael Mossy O Sullivan of Boulta, Ballynoe. Mossy served on the GPC of the East Cork Board for many years and for decades cycled to meetings in Midleton. He died in November of 1984 and is buried in Ballynoe Cemetery.
This year there is a new Inter Divisional League competition at all levels within the County. We are to play the Avondhu Div.2 Champions, Harbour Rovers with the winners going through to the County League Semi Final.
This game was scheduled to go ahead this weekend but is now fixed for Sunday week October 23rd in Ballyhooley probably at midday.
U 21 Hurling.
We may have our second game in the u21 Hurling Championship this weekend against Lisgoold but no details are available at the time of writing.
Ladies Munster Final.
Best of luck to our Ladies Football team who play St. Ailbhes of Caherconlish, \limerick in the Munster Club Intermediate Final on Sunday next October 16th.
Jerard Kenny Tournament.
The Annual Jerard Kenny Memorial Tournament for u11 hurling takes place this coming Saturday October 15th commencing at 11am.
U21 Selector.
Congrats to Liam Barry who has been picked as a Cork u21 Hurling Selector for 2012. Liam was previously a very successful Cork Intermediate Selector.
SCRAP COLLECTION.
The Scrap metal collection over the last seven weeks has been a great success. We are still taking all kinds of metal from clothes hangers to combine harvesters. If you can bring the scrap to our collection points all the better but if you need to have it be collected this can be arranged. Ring Terry 087 930000 or James at 086 8350741. People have asked if we take ‘small’ scrap like drink and food cans … once it is metal we’ll be glad of it!
Football Tournament on Astro-Turf
Bride Rovers Juvenile Club are organising a 5-A-Side Tournament for Mens & Ladies teams in October. Cost of entry is €50 per team. Seperate competition for both Men & Women. If interested contact Pat Walsh 086-8350177
Astro-Turf available to Hire
The astro-turf pitch at Bride Rovers is available for hire by contacting James Bermingham on 086 8350741. Pitch is suitable for 5 a side teams and costs €50 per hour with lights.
Cork GAA MEMBERS Draw 2011/2012.
Tickets for this draw are now on sale. The yearly Ticket costs €100 with literally hundreds of prizes. Tickets are available from Club Members.
Marymount Fundraiser.
On Friday October 28th a Special Fundraising event will be held at the Fota Island Hotel in aid of Marymount Hospice. On the night Carrig and Cork hurling stalwart Willlie John Daly will be inducted into the Vintage Gaels Hall of Fame. Tickets are €10 and are available from Club PRO John Arnold 087 9538077.
The Bride Rovers GAA Club Main Sponsor is The Rathcormac Inn/Conversation Piece.
