Club Notes For The Week

Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday.

It’s 2009 Cork County Senior Hurling Championship time once again and this weekend a big programme of games are down for decision. In total seven first round games are to be played over the Bank Holiday weekend. Our first round game against Killeagh is part of a Championship double-header in Pairc Naomh Caitrionaig, Ballynoe on Sunday afternoon. This is our sixth season in Senior ranks and our first ever meeting with Killeagh at this level. We’ve met Midleton, Erins Own and Sarsfields over the last few years but Sunday next will be our first clash with the Glenbower side. Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s Bride Rovers and Killeagh met regularly in the East Cork Junior Championship with results fairly evenly divided. Having reached our first ever County Senior Final last year it has been very hard to rediscover that rich vein of form this season. We lost that County decider by a single point and the narrow margin of defeat has meant that trying to get back on the campaign trail again has not been easy. With players gone abroad, retirements and several long term injuries it will be a much changed team that takes the field next Sunday.

We had a few good games with ‘pre-season’ friendlies but when the Co SHL commenced we’ve fared very poorly with just one victory to date. We have always been regarded as a great championship team so hopefully this will again come to the fore next Sunday. Killeagh are a formidable side and their 2009 results prove that conclusively. We know that Killeagh will start as justifiable favourites based not only on their League results but also their record at underage and minor over the last five years. The curtain raiser next Sunday is Mallow v Youghal in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship at 2.30. The presence of Youghal will ensure that Killeagh will have a huge following so it’s vital that we get all our fans behind the team like they did last season. Make no mistake about it Sunday’s game will be a very formidable challenge for us but we can expect that each and every player will give of his very best for the Rovers jersey. Go for it lads, ’twon’t be easy but the parish and club are behind ye.

Our game is fixed for 4 o clock with the PIHC game at 2.30.

Junior Hurling League (Division 3)

We played our first game in the 2009 JHL Division 3 campaign against Carrignavar on Thursday night last. We lost by a margin of 6 points but this was a good pipe opener for our third team. Great to see Daniel Lane back after his recent injury and ending up as top scorer with 1- 4. The final score was Carrig 3-9, Bride Rovers 1-9.

Team and scorers; Donal Arnold, Mark O Connell, Alan Broderick, Niall Hogan, Brian Lahive, Gavin O Flynn, Jim O Connor, Jason Pratt, Padraig O Brien, James Bermingham, Tomas Kearney, John O Dowd (0-1), Daniel Lane (1-4), Kevin O Keeffe, Pat Cotter (0-4).

Subs used; Philip Butler, William O Leary, Billy Lynch, Sean O Brien.

Our next game in this league is on next Tuesday evening May 5^th when we are at home to Cloyne at 7.15. Two night later on Thursday May 7th we are away to Erins Own in the same competition in Caherlag at 7.30.

La na Scoil.

Last Friday April 24^th was designated as La na Scoil by the GAA nationally as part of the 125^th Anniversary Celebrations. This was to acknowledge the vital role that the local Schools play in the promotion of Gaelic Games. Club officers visited both Schools with Posters, Hurleys and other Club gear to be given out as raffle prizes amongst the young people. We salute the staffs of Scoil Bride Rathcormac and Scoil an t-Easpaig O Briain in Bartlemy. Both Schools have given the Bride Rovers Club many great players over the years including All Ireland winning hurlers in the last 5 years.

La na gClub.

Another major event in the GAA 125 Celebrations takes place on Sunday week may 10^th when La na gClub will take place. Their will be no Hurling or Football games played between clubs or counties on that day. Instead each of the GAA’s 2000 clubs are asked to hold activities within their own communities and in their own GAA club grounds. We will be having a Cub/Family Fun Day in the pitch on May 10^th. From 2 until 5 a range of mini-games, skills contests, entertainment, exhibitions and displays will be staged. A Club Museum will be open as well as a Club merchandise shop. The various stages of making a hurley will be shown. A slide show of old photographs will be running throughout the afternoon. The great news is that all activities will be free and refreshments will be served. La na gClub is being held to showcase the role of the GAA in general and the Bride Rovers club in particular and everyone in the community is very welcome to come along.

Best Wishes.

Three club players have recently moved from the parish and transferred to GAA Clubs in their new parishes. Raymond Hegarty has gone to Waterford, Nevin O Regan to Kildare and Oisin Casey to Limerick. We wish Raymond, Nevin and Oisin all the very best with their new clubs and we hope they will all stay in contact with Bride Rovers in the future.

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Club Notes For The Week