Well Done Cork!
After a twenty year gap the Cork Senior Football team has reached Number 1 Spot in the Rankings again. Cork are proud All Ireland Football Champions for the year 2010. Over the last few seasons there was a great sense of expectation around this team but successive defeats had dented the confidence of both players and supporters. All that was changed in Croke Park last Sunday afternoon when Down were defeated by 0 16 to 0 15. At the end it was tight and close but a win is a win. Cork manager Conor Counihan had always said that ’twas the result that mattered -in ten years time no one will talk about the good or thee bad football only which time got their name on thee cup! After two Final defeats to Kerry in ’07 and again last year this was a badly needed win. There was a lot of pressure on the Cork panel and management last Sunday. From the start of the year Cork were favourites to win the title but the match must still be played and in fairness the mantle of favouritism didn’t upset Cork. Some of the Cork players are involved with a decade and now at last they have won their All Ireland medal. Players like team captain Graham Canty, Derek Kavanagh, Nicholas Murphy and Anthony Lynch have been great servants to Cork football and it was fantastic to see the reception given to them in Cork on Monday night. It’s a real team effort nowadays and all the panel members as well as the backroom staff are vital components. The Bride Rovers Club are very proud of the huge role played by our own Gerard Lane. In his position as PRO of the Cork County Board Gerard has been the Liaison Officer for the Cork Senior Footballers with the last two years. It’s a huge task but Ger has taken it in his stride while all the time undertaking the onerous task of Public Relations Officer for the largest County in Ireland. Daniel Lane was also a member of the backroom team and played a valued role throughout the year. As well as winning the National Football League Division 1 Title last May Cork had a huge Championship campaign. Last Sundays encounter with Down was Cork’s eight game en route to the All Ireland crown. Cork played Kerry twice, then Cavan, Wexford, Limerick, Roscommon and Dublin to get to the Final.
In 1890 when Cork(Midleton) won their first football title Dick Kelleher was on the team. He married into a farm at Mellifontstown, Bartlemy -his two sons Johnny and Dick were well known characters. In 1945 Cork defeated Cavan to win their third Football title and Ballingeary native Paddy Cronin N.T. was on the team. Paddy later taught in Bartlemy N.S. and was founding secretary of Bartlemy GAA Club in 1950. A selector on the 1945 team was Andy Scannell -his wife and his brother Donal with taught in Bartlemy N.S. Andy himself won an East Cork Junior Hurling medal with Bride Rovers in the 1930’s. In 1973 Billy Morgan captained Cork to SF success and Derry Gowen was a selector for that side. A long serving North Cork and Cork County Officer, Derry was present in Bartlemy Hall in November 1964 when the Bride Rovers Club was re-founded. Gerard and Daniel Lane are therefore continuing a proud tradition of local links with the Cork Senior Football team. Well done to all concerned in Cork’s latest win, the seventh in total. Hopefully the Sam Maguire Cup will be in the parish before too long! A special word of thanks to Gerard for organising the visit of Conor Counihan, Graham Canty et al with ‘Sam’ to Denis Barry in the Mater hospital on Monday, Denis was absolutely delighted.
Minor Football League.
We travelled to Lisgoold on Friday night last to play the home side in the Minor Football League. We had plenty possession in the first half our wides tally was greater than our score of five points to Lisgoold’s three. The second half got off to a great start with goals from Owen Murphy and Jason Mannix. Two further green flags were raised by Stephen O Leary as we got well on top. We finished winners by 4 9 to 0 5.
Team. Brian Hogan, Barry Collins, Liam O Leary, Jason Pratt (0 2), Adrian Buckley, Ryan O Connor, Damian Buckley(0 1), Jason Mannix(1 4), Owen Murphy (1 2), Stephen O Leary(2 0), Paul Dee, Kieran Cahill. Subs; Maurice Dooley & Jamie Buckley. We may have the ‘return’ game in this 2 team League this weekend, players will be notified.
Junior B Grade Football Championship.
We are billed to play Cloyne in the East Cork JBFC in Dungourney at 5pm on next Saturday September 25th. With some players unavailable we tried to get the game off but I seems likely to go ahead. We won this c.ship last year but 8 of that team played A grade football this season and we used close on 30 players in the A grade c.ship. With our u12’s also possibly playing their County Final on Saturday we had hoped to get this fixture off but there is no definite news on this.
Under 12 County Final.
Our u12 hurlers are to face Diarmuid O Mathunas from the Carbery Division in the County Final this weekend. We’ve beaten Passage and Kilmichael to reach the decider. Our opponents beat favourites Clyda Rovers last weekend in their semi final. Best of luck to the team and selectors.
Club Shop.
Orders for Christmas are now being taken for a full range of Club Gear. Ring 086 3807784 or 08 61540902 to place your order.
