Barry Hazelwood: 'They way we played tonight won’t be good enough for Castlelyons, simple as'

There’s no chance, however, of Bride Rovers getting carried away, with solid men like Barry Hazelwood on the sideline.

Cork SAHC: Bride Rovers 2-29 Cloyne 0-12

They may have fallen at the penultimate hurdle last season, but Bride Rovers served notice in Killeagh on Saturday night that they will be contenders again this year after they dismissed the challenge of Cloyne in Group 2 of the Cork SAHC.

They hit 2-24 from play, had eleven different scorers while at the back, the Roche twins, Eoin and Brian, formed an imposing spine that Cloyne could not play through. They could even afford fifteen wides, as once Adam Walsh gave them the lead for the third time in the seventh minute, there was simply no catching them.

There’s no chance, however, of them getting carried away, with solid men like Barry Hazelwood on the sideline.

“Yeah, we’re delighted. Coming down here, we knew that Cloyne are always tough. They beat Fermoy last year, they’re always in the knockout stages, so we had to be coming down here with all guns blazing, no matter who it was. We’re trying to be as good as we can, prepare as well as we can. Things just worked out for us out there tonight, and it just didn’t happen for Cloyne.” 

Ashley Walsh and Conor Cahill tried to make it happen for Cloyne early on, and they trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 after ten minutes, but from there to the break Bride Rovers outscored them by 2-10 to 0-2.

Louie Roche’s goal may have been fortuitous, as his effort for a point dipped viciously into Dylan Costine’s net, but Ronan O’Connell’s finish was clinical while Brian Roche, Josh Ahern, Conleith Ryan, Patrick O’Flynn, O’Connell, Jamie Peters and Walsh all raised white flags. Points from Walshes Ashley and Brian were nowhere near enough for Cloyne in response.

Nor was their third quarter output of 0-3 because Bride Rovers were able to double it. Their cause was further hampered by Conor Cahill picking up his second yellow card as the game just slipped away from them. Ian and Noel Cahill did clip over a couple of nice scores, but Bride dominated the final quarter. Brian Roche hit two more from distance, O’Flynn did the same while O’Connell tapped over the final score of a game that was over long before Arthur Murphy called time.

Cloyne will have to beat Fermoy to get kickstart their season, while a fascinating local derby is Bride Rovers’ next assignment, and Hazelwood will be keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“We’ve Castlelyons next. They were absolutely awesome last night against Fermoy, to be honest. I watched them last year in the All-Ireland final. They’re a serious outfit, with a lot more Cork players in their side that what we have. They’re a bit longer around, too. We’re a fierce young team. They way we played tonight won’t be good enough for Castlelyons, simple as.” 

Scorers for Bride Rovers: R O’Connell (1-4), A Walsh (0-7, 0-5 frees), P O’Flynn (0-5), B Roche (0-4), L Roche (1-1), C Ryan and J Ahern (0-2 each) S O’Connor, D Cashman, D Barry and J Peters (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cloyne: A Walsh (0-7, all frees), B Walsh (0-2), C Cahill, N Cahill and I Cahill (0-1 each).

BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; D Cashman, E Roche, J Peters; C Hazelwood, B Roche, S O’Connor (JC); J Mannix, D Barry; C Ryan, J Ahern, P O'Flynn; R O'Connell, A Walsh, L Roche.

Subs: T O’Sullivan for Peters (48).

CLOYNE: D Costine; T O'Regan, Eoin Motherway, A Sherlock; D Byrne, C Motherway, J Sherlock; B Walsh, Éanna Motherway; C Cahil, L Sugrue, N Cahill; M Cahill, I Cahill, A Walsh.

Subs: B O’Shea for Sugrue (h/t), C Whyte for M Cahill (54).

Referee: Arthur Murphy (Killeagh).