Brian Roche: League titles show hard work is paying off for Bride Rovers but championship is the real test

Brian Roche insists Bride Rovers won’t be getting carried away after adding the Red FM Division 2 Hurling League title to last year’s growing list of achievements.

The Rathcormac club produced an impressive display to defeat Erin’s Own 1-21 to 0-14 in the league decider, with Roche contributing five points and leading by example with a tireless work-rate throughout.

The victory continues a remarkable run for Bride Rovers, who captured the Co-op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship and Red FM Division Three league title last season before securing promotion and another trophy this year.

While delighted to see the club’s hard work rewarded, Roche says the focus quickly turns to a much bigger challenge.

“It’s brilliant and credit to all the players,” Roche said afterwards. “The last couple of years just show all the work we’ve been doing. 

Winning the league and championship last year and then it would have been easy to rest on our laurels coming into this year, but we drove on.

“The work the boys have done is unbelievable. We had a few brilliant matches in the league and there were a few ups and downs as well. We had a few poor results recently but today we were on it from the start, and we just drove on from there.”

An early goal from Louie Roche gave Bride Rovers the perfect platform and proved a major turning point in the contest.

“It was a brilliant way to start the game,” Roche said.

“We really focused on getting a good start and a good first five or 10 minutes. When Louie gets into those positions, he’s always capable of finishing them and he showed again that he can take scores from anywhere.”

Lochlann Ryan, aged four,  joins Bride Rovers co-captains Conleith Ryan and (left) goalkeeper Cian Hogan as they are presented with the cup by Daniel Lane, operations manager, Cork County Board. Picture: Larry Cummins

The win provides valuable momentum heading into Bride Rovers’ eagerly-awaited return to the Premier Senior Hurling Championship, where they face Newcestown on August 1.

However, Roche stressed that championship success remains the real target.

“It’s a great win three weeks out and a great way to prepare for a big game like that,” he said. “But we know we won’t be judged at the end of the year on this. It’s in three weeks when the big game is on and that’s when our real championship starts.”

Driving on

Bride Rovers will also compete in Division 1  next season following their promotion, another sign of the club’s progress.

“We all believe that’s where we should be,” Roche added. “In Division 1 you’re not getting any easy games. There are brilliant teams in Division 2 as well, but it’s great to be up there and testing ourselves against the best teams.”

Conleith Ryan with partner Clodagh McHugh and children Fauna and Lochlann after the win over Erin’s Own. Picture: Larry Cummins

Despite sweltering conditions for the final, Roche felt Bride Rovers’ preparation allowed them to maintain their intensity throughout.

“It was roasting,” he laughed.

“But Alan Fitzgerald had us well prepared with plenty of water, fluids and everything we needed. We know we’ve the work done and that we’d be able to keep going for 60 minutes regardless of the conditions. We just kept driving on right until the end.”