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

Hurlers Stay Senior.

Was it Van Morrison had a hit a few years back with ‘They’ll be days like this’? well last Saturday at Pairc Uí Rinn was one of those days. There was no cup or trophy on offer, no League or Championship title to be won yet the excitement was only surpassed by 1998 and 2003 when we captured County Titles. Our one point victory over Cloyne was a brilliant ending as it looked as though victory had been snatched from us in the dying minutes of a very close game. We led for most of the game but Cloyne went a point up with just three minutes left on the clock, a minute later they doubled their lead and as we went into added time it seemed our nine year sojourn in the Senior Grade of cork Club Hurling was about to come to an end. But as our song says ‘when hot grew that fight those hearts grew more eager’ and after Dinny Fitzgerald’s shot for goal was blocked by a wall of defenders that doughty son of Boherlahan, David Burke finished the sliotar to the net for a dramatic win.

All the week there was an air of both nervousness and expectation in the parish in advance of the game. Not since 1984 had we defeated Cloyne at ‘first team’ level in hurling. In 1957,1972 and 1998 we beat their second team and in recent years our second team has had victories over Cloyne’s second string. This was the backdrop then to last Saturday’s Relegation Final, also variously named the Big Drop game and the Slan Leat Final.

Well over a thousand people gathered near the Boreenamanna road in the pitch named after Cloyne’s finest son. Incidentally Christy Ring won his first adult hurling medal with his native place when they defeated the Rovers in the 1938 East Cork Junior Hurling Final.  Barry Johnson and Padraig Murphy had two points on the board before Conor Cusack goaled for Cloyne with four minutes gone. They followed with two points to go three ahead. We were playing with a stiffish breeze in the first half so Michael Kearney and Barry at midfield had to play deep in defence to gain possession. It was notice able even at an early stage that both defences were on top with Brian Murphy marshalling our backline superbly. Two more white flags from Barry left us just a point in arrears 0 4 to 1 2 in the tenth minute Sean Ryan won a great ball and was bearing down on goal when fouled ‘in the square’. From the semi penalty spot Barry Johnson made no mistake.  Up now by 1 4 to 1 2 we moved up a gear and using the breeze well we edged three points ahead again thanks to Barrys accuracy from frees. Cloyne never left us pull away though and by half time we had a slender lead of just two points 1 7 to 1 5. Considering the breeze it was not a great lead but the game was tense and tight and it was obvious from early on that no team was going to win at their ease. If the first half was tense then the second period opened up as both teams realised that just half an hour remained to save their senior status. Cloyne were senior since 1997 and contested three in a row County finals from 2004  – 2006 sharing our fate of 2008 in not winning any. The Hurling in that second half was just brilliant. Whatever period of dominance we had enjoyed in the first half soon evaporated as the game turned into a ding-dong struggle. Aidan Collins made a vital interception, which prevented Conor Cusack netting his second goal.  On four occasions we went two points ahead but never got a three-point lead. Great scores from Michael Collins- who won great possession, Barry and Jerome saw us lead by 1 13 to 1 11 with just five minutes left. The tension on the field was only matched by the effort on the field as our lads fought might and main to close the game out. We could have caught Erins Own with a late goal in the first round in Carrig last May but the sliotar went over the bar rather than under. That defeat started us on the road of narrowly losing three games to get to this Final.  As time ticked away it seemed we’d hold our two point lead but then in the 57th minute disaster struck in the form of a Cloyne goal to put them a point up – leading for only the second time in the game. We won possession from the puckout but a wide ball was the result. Cloyne were in no hurry now but then Eoin O Sullivan got the sliotar and sent it straight between the posts. We were down two points now and the game had run its course. Was this it then? it looked all over for us but more drama was to come. From Dinnys puckout we worked the sliotar into the attack and were awarded a twenty-one yard free on the left of the goal at the covered stand side. If we were just a point down a simple tap over would ensure a draw and another day to settle the issue. Unfortunately a two points deficit meant there was only one option. Luckily the referee moved the sliotar top a more central position. Half the Cloyne team were on the line as Dinny blasted for goal. The wall of defenders stopped his shot. We were heartbroken in anticipation of the final whistle.  The sliotar was half cleared but it came out to the lurking Dave Burke who first timed it to the net via several boots and ankles. Unbelievably we were back in the lead by a point.  The reaction was wonderful – we were back from almost certain defeat and there was a mini pitch invasion. Dinny was flattened as he attempted to get back to his place in goals. Ashley Walsh pucked out the sliotar – by now we were in the fifth minute of added time, would Cloyne gain possession and win an equalising free? It was not to be and the final whistle went, we were winners by 2 13 to 2 12. Oh what a game and what a finish. It was truly the stuff of dreams and how our team and fans celebrated! One often hears the phrase that ‘Grown men cried’ – so it was in Pairc Uí Rinn on last Saturday evening and the tears were shed in joy and heartbreak. Our joy was only matched by the heartbreak of Cloyne. Every team goes out to win their game in whatever championship they play but no team likes to send another club down a grade but that’s the system that we have.

It was here in Pairc Uí Rinn on Saturday October the 10th 1998 that we staged our greatest ever comeback. That day we trailed Ballinascarthy by 1 9 to 0 4 in the County Junior Championship semi final. Like Saturday last we won that game by a single point and went on to greater things. The feelings of elation, joy and relief were all expressed on Saturday as players and supporters celebrated a mighty win. It was great to see Club stalwarts like Fr. Seanie, Fr. Fachtna and Fr. Gus on the pitch afterwards with our goalie for years Joseph O Brien. Jack Russell was a delighted man as were all the mentors and backroom team. In our three championship games to date this year we were just narrowly defeated on each occasion so Saturdays win was a vindication for the players and all associated with the team. Well done to Cloyne for such a great game. We wish them all the best for the future.

Team & scorers.

Dinny Fitzgerald, Alan Collins, Brendan Walsh, Shane Kearney, Barry Murphy, Brian Murphy, Liam Forde, Barry Johnson (1 9), Michael Kearney, Michael Collins(0 2), David Burke  (1 0), Padraig Murphy (0 1), Jerome O Driscoll (0 1), Daniel Dooley, Sean Ryan. Subs Jason Pratt & Jason Mannix.

After the game in all the excitement several people said ‘Tony would have loved this’ and of course Tony Walsh who was at our first round game in May was with us in spirit and would have been so proud of what the lads achieved. Great credit is due to Dave Burke. Since his marriage to Elaine O Regan of Terramount Dave has hurled with us. Plagued with a shoulder injury Dave underwent major surgery followed by four months of intensive rehabilitation to get back playing. Dave’s home club in Tipperary was Boherlahan-Dualla and the forerunner of that club was the famous Tubberadora who won All Irelands in the 1890’s.

Cloyne v Bride Rovers down the years.

1938 East Cork Final at Midleton, Cloyne  5 5 Bride Rovers 3 2. Gate Receipts £21.6.0

1942 East Cork JHC at Midleton Cloyne 7 6 Bride Rovers 1 4

1974 East cork JHC at Midleton Cloyne 3 10 Bride Rovers  2 8.

1976 East Cork JHC at Carrigtwohill Cloyne 2 11 Bride Rovers 2 9.

1978 East Cork JHC at Midleton Cloyne 3 10 Bride Rovers  2  8.

1984 East Cork JHC at Ballynoe Bride Rovers 4  12 Cloyne  2  6.

The team that defeated Cloyne  in 1984 was P. Hoskins, D. Kearney, L. Cahill, M. Kearney, T. Kearney, T. O Flynn, P. Collins, T. Mulcahy, M. Hazlewood,J. A Murphy, C. Johnson, J. Maye, D. Ahern, J. Johnson, S. Barry.

Thanks to those who rang and texted their congrats to us on the win. Amongst those who contacted the club was Pat Scannell whose father Andy won an East Cork JHC medal with the club in the 1930’s.

Senior Hurling League.

We are Co Finalists Sarsfields in the Red FM Senior Hurling League on this coming Friday Night September the 21st at 8pm in Riverstown- under lights. Our last remaining game in the SHL is against St. Finbarrs. 

LOTTO JACKPOT AT €6,200.