RedFM Hurling League: Division 3 final win sets Bride Rovers up for group of death

Below Division 1 of the RedFM Hurling League and the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League, the finals might be said to be almost superfluous.

Regardless of the outcome, both sides will be promoted for the following year and so the motivation to win may be lacking. However, given that the leagues finish just a few weeks before the championships begin, the deciders serve as valuable tune-ups for the important business ahead.

In the upcoming Co-op SuperStores SAHC, Bride Rovers will face the side beaten in the last two finals, Blarney, and the side defeated in the decider before that, Courcey Rovers. Then there is a joust with the side just up from premier intermediate – their neighbours, Watergrasshill.

To that end, Rovers coach Stephen Glasgow feels that the Rathcormac/Bartlemy outfit should only benefit from the Division 3 decider against Newcestown on Saturday night, which they won after extra time.

“Both of us were promoted before the game but it was a great competitive game to get going into championship,” he said.

“That’s only three weeks away and so, after this, it's a kind of a challenge game here and there.

“To get a competitive game and to get 80 minutes of a competitive game, right to the final whistle, was s an added bonus.”

By the end of extra time at Riverstown on Saturday, Bride Rovers were seven points ahead, 1-29 to 3-16, as they took advantage of the fact that Newcestown had incurred a red card late in normal time.

Prior to the second period of the additional 20 minutes, though, they had been put to the pin of their collars.

“At the start of the year, we put out our stall that we want to bounce straight back up to Division 2,” Glasgow said.

“We got that a couple of weeks ago and then this is a bonus, anything after that is a bonus.

“To get to a final and play in a pitch like Sars, it's immaculate in fairness to them.

“To have won it in 60 minutes would have been a lot better, but we lost it nearly three times. We fell four or five points behind on three different occasions but lads stuck in there and at the end, no matter what you say in the sideline, it’s the players on the pitch that get you the result.”

And now they move on with the confidence that comes from beating a premier senior side. While Newcestown were missing some key players, Rovers too expect bodies back.

“To be fair to Newcestown, we've met them a couple of times,” Glasgow said, “U21 over the years and senior A, they beat us out in Blarney a few years ago.

“We knew what they'd bring to the table and it showed there when it went all the way to the wire to win.

“We've a few injuries, there was a few long-term injuries, unfortunately, but hopefully we'll have them back for Blarney.

“It’s touch and go – it might be Courceys, it might even be Watergrasshill.”