JUNIORS GET JUST REWARDS

On Sunday last in a well prepared pitch at Mallow GAA Complex Bride Rovers Junior Ladies Footballers claimed the Division 3 County League Final when they overcame a fancied Boherbue side.  It was a splendid victory and fine team performance by this group of girls who the weekend previous had suffered the heartbreak of losing the County Final by a mere 3 points.  The magnitude of this victory on Sunday last should not go unrecognised.  At the beginning of 2007 they contested the Division 4 league and won it and now in 2009 they will contest the Division 2 league.  This is most definitely a step in the right direction for both the club and this bunch of players.  All the senior teams contest the Division 1 league so to be just one step behind them is thrilling.  Bride Rovers were unbeaten in the league campaign with wins over Glanmire, Dromina, Boherbue, Mallow and Watergrashill in the group stages and then Inch B in the semi final.  Boherbue had to beat Kinsale, who finished top in the other group, to reach the final.  Once the whistle was thrown in on Sunday afternoon these girls put behind them the events of the previous week and took the game to Boherbue.  It was a dogged affair throughout but Bride Rovers were always in control.  Boherbue notched up four points in the opening exchanges.  Grace Kearney was superb throughout the game contributing 1.7 to the Rovers tally.  Sinead Walsh was excellent from both placed balls and open play contributing 5 points overall.  While the veteran tag has often been associated with Noddy she proved she still has a spring in her step with a classic point from play and a lovely goal in the dying minutes to seal the victory.  Bride Rovers recorded a very high score – one that any team in any discipline would be proud of.  2.18 is fantastic scoring and with 7 people getting on the score sheet it shows what a complete team performance it was.  Boherbue’s attack was one that was always threatening but the defending on the day was first class.  Arlene lorded the full back line and no matter what changes the Boherbue side line made she could not be beaten.  Catherine McHugh and Bridget Forde were in great form throughout keeping  tight reigns in the corners.  Marie O’ Regan and Catherine Power both worked tirelessly on either wing of the defence. Caroline played a real captains role at centre back and allowed little through her defence.  Niamh Barry and Eleanor Aherne continue to be the engine of the team as they cover ever blade of grass and both contributed lovely scores from play.  Colette Hogan and Caitriona Vaughan were involved in many of the Rovers attacks. Irene used her experience in goal to ensure she was in the right place at the right time on occasions during the game.   Elaine Dee showed what a versatile player she is starting the game at corner forward when she was in the backline all year.  This did not daunt the talented youngster in any way as she slotted over 2 points from play. At half time Bride Rovers were ahead on a scoreline of 1.7 to 3 points.  Both Caitriona Vaughan and Marie O Regan were sidelined for the second half due to injury.  (We wish them both a very speedy recovery.)   Michelle McAteer came into the back line and Imelda Dorgan to the forward line.  Both are well used to these positions and settled into the game straight away.  Imelda was unlucky not to register a score while Michelle was well able account for herself in the backline.  Catherine Power and Elaine Dee swapped places during the second half and Catherine Power too showed no position on the field is beyond her scoring a fantastic point.

There was a deep sense of satisfaction and relief at the final whistle.  The defeat of the previous week had been buried and now this team while knocked down for such a short time showed they are well capable of getting up again!  Words of congratulations and praise for this bunch of players and their management team were echoed for the evening.  Tom Luddy- County Board Chairperson spoke highly of the panel, mentors and club as a whole.  Captain Caroline Broderick gave a comprehensive speech thanking all those that have helped out during the 2008 season with this team and with all the other teams in the club.  To reiterate what Caroline said we would like to thank all those that contributed financially to the club in the run up to these finals, to all our supporters who travel in such huge numbers to our games and to our main sponsors O Coileain’s for their constant support of the Junior Ladies Football team.

A special word of thanks and gratitude must go to our two mentors who during their two years in charge have lead us to 5 finals.  In 2007 we were only beaten once in a competitive game and that was in the East Cork Semi final where we lost by 1 point to eventual winners Inch Rovers.  We won both the County league and championship that year and went up a grade in both for 2008.  This was only seen as an extra challenge by both Nicholas and Nora.  They prepared us in such a professional manner for all these games and yet again we were unbeaten all year in competitive games until the County final and again one score only separated us from the opposition.  These two will never know the esteem in which they are held by each and every member of the Junior panel.  The belief they had in us from day 1 started to filter through into our performances.  It was only fitting on Sunday last that we played one of our best games of football in the closing stages of our season.  We thank them most sincerely for their hard work and dedication over the last two years and we wish them well in their future endeavours.  Applications will be taken shortly for filling the post of Bride Rovers Junior Ladies football team management for 2009!! 

Panel and scorers: I.Hogan, B Forde, A O Callaghan, C McHugh, C Power (0-1), C Broderick (Capt), M O Regan, E Ahern (0-1), N Barry (0-1), C Hogan, G Kearney (1-7), S Walsh(0-5), C Vaughan, S O Driscoll(1-1), E Dee(0-2), Y Horne, I Dorgan, M McAteer, D O Carroll, M Barry, S Broderick, L Finnegan, L Foley, Am Carey, S Barry, C Hartnett, A Crowley, K Kelleher.