Aghada GAA Juvenile News - By Juvenile PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks, hope all is well as the mature leaves of summer turn colour and begin to fall. It’s picnic time once again, Electric picnic time in Stradbally, Co. Laois, that also heralds the start of the new school season and for those of you who are of a certain vintage, like me who would be more interested in Rick Astley than Billie Eilish who are both playing there, time really does fly the older you get. Hard to believe it’s almost the end of summer as the weather for July and August was pretty dire in most parts of the country, this summer hasn’t really felt much like summer as we cling on to the hope of some warm sunshine in the weeks ahead. Going into school for a tiny tot or a teenager can be daunting, meeting a new teacher, a new classroom, reuniting with classmates, navigating the schoolyard, building friendships, you are never too old to make new friends, and this is all part of the journey, managing change is a part of life. For those involved in the Juvenile academy, you would think the summer months are those when you are at your busiest, but not so, as holidays and summer camps mean our numbers would be at there smallest and when school starts those numbers reach their highest once again and you will notice the next number of weeks will be busier on the playing fields of Rostellan ,before the light starts to fade and we wait in anticipation for the coming of spring. The best of luck to all the children, students, parents and teachers for the new school year and remember “ No matter how difficult a day, finding the positive builds resilience”

U17 P1 Hurling Championship Midleton 2-16 Aghada 1-17

An absorbing contest from start to finish in Clonmult memorial park between two very committed teams, went the way of the home side, after a terrific battle for supremacy that showed exactly what our team is capable of, as they produced their best performance of the year and left the field disappointed that they did not secure the win. We had star performers all over the field and especially in our full back and half forward lines who showed great leadership with their impressive performances. We can feel a little aggrieved with a big call in the game as Isaac Oosthuizen was fouled out by the sideline, the play continued and Midleton scored their second goal with about six minutes to go, the referee was then alerted by the linesman who booked the offender, but the goal still stood. We opened the scoring with a fine effort from half forward Samuel O’ Driscoll who was a tower of strength, all through he was undoubtably the best player on view scoring five points from play and fouled for many more as midfielder James Hurley punished the indiscretions from the placed ball. Hugh Mulcahy was awesome at center forward mixing the silk with the steel while the third of the half forward trio James Motherway was also winning his duel showing ferocious work rate while also weighing in with some important scores. Our first half goal came when corner forward Jude Devoy made a searing run along the left endline and crossed to James Motherway who made no mistake with an emphatic finish. The magpies scored a well worked goal of their own and when the half time whistle went, we were ahead 1-9 to 1-7 after a breathtaking half of hurling, our lead was helped greatly by the fine defending of our full back line with Seán Santos O’ Sullivan, Ronan Devoy and Evan Crowley masters of all they surveyed. The second half showed no sign of a drop off in intensity as the pendulum swung from one team to the other and when the home side took the lead for the first time in the match entering the final ten minutes, they then increased it to four points with their second goal of the game. Our character was now tested to the full and we responded in style as points from Samuel, James H with 2 frees and a spectacular Jude effort drew us level but alas it was not to be as Midleton found the range to edge the contest after a hugely entertaining game of hurling. No doubt we will be disappointed while also proud of our lads who gave it everything and are on the right track when it comes to hurling development. Team & scorers James O’ Donnell, Seán O’ Sullivan, Ronan Devoy, Evan Crowley, David Wallace, Seán O’ Callaghan, Robert Dean, James Hurley 0-9 0-8f, Colm O’ Donoghue, James Motherway 1-1, Hugh Mulcahy 0-1,

Samuel O’ Driscoll 0-5, Jude Devoy 0-1, Callum Roberts, Tomás Condon. Subs used Isaac Oosthuizen, Conor Bakx.

U15 c-3 football league Mitchelstown 2-11 Aghada 1-7

We travelled to Mitchelstown last Sunday afternoon with our second u15 team and came up against a strong home side who made good use of the wind in the second half to finally extinguish the brave challenge from our lads. The first half was a low scoring affair and we found ourselves a point behind at the break 5 points to 4 with Jake Morrissey and Eoghan O’ Shea getting good scores for us with Seán O’ Reilly playing well in the backline. We turned to face the elements in the second half playing into the wind and rain and when Matthew Condon scored a cracking goal after being set up by Jake, we were still in touching distance coming down the home straight, but a late town goal put the game beyond us and a bigger deficit on the scoreboard. The game was notable for the inclusion of our president John Motherway’s grandson Xavier on the opposing team and while sentiment was put to one side during the game, afterwards it was all smiles as he posed for a photograph with the team from the land of his father.

U13 football League St Colmans 1-4 Aghada 2-12

We travelled to Shanagarry last Friday evening and the first thing that caught the eye was their fabulous new Astro turf facility in front of the main pitch and well done to the Russell Rovers club on this brand-new acquisition. A strong wind blew down the field from the car park side and it was our lads who played against it for the first half. We managed the game very well playing a nice brand of controlled football and only found ourselves one point in arrears at the short whistle. Lively and skillful corner forward Ben Duggan landed a hat trick of points from play while ace midfielder Jack Kelleher struck another 3 points from frees as the half time score read 1-4 to 0-6 and amazingly the home side would not score again as our backs closed up shop and the team used the wind advantage intelligently in the second half. The introduction of Rían O’ Brien as a target man at full forward worked the oracle and he went on to have a big influence on the game scoring 2 well worked goals to put us in the ascendency. Jack Kelleher was prominent all through kicking over some lovely points ably assisted by all those around him and this is what will please the management most as the work rate and overall commitment shown by the group gave the team a significant edge in this encounter. Team & scorers Harry Burgoyne, Dylan Kearns, Finbarr Alcock, Eoin Kirrane, Dara O’ Brien, Donncha Walsh, Darragh Crowley, Jack Kelleher 0-8 0-5f, Lorcan Evans, Mike McCrae, Cormac Cashman, Colin White, Sam Ahern, Marcus O’ Loughlin, Ben Duggan subs used Rían O’ Brien, Leon O’ Connor, Darragh Callanan, Bobby O’ Riordan.

U12 Hurling League Aghada (2) 2-2 Youghal (2) 8-8

A tough day at the office for our u12 second team that is mainly made up of players from the u11 group and they came up against a very strong Youghal side. We were also down a fair few players due to a camping trip that was on over the weekend. We still had some good performances, and the players gave it their all with Bobby Creedon, Eoghan Condon and Dara Kelleher getting on the scoresheet and the hope is that these stiff tests will only stand to the team going forward.

U12 Hurling League Aghada 5-7 St Colmcilles 1-4

A commanding performance from first whistle to last as our boys showed a hunger and appetite to overwhelm our opponents playing a fast and direct game of hurling. Cormac Byrne was a tower of strength at full back while Conor O’ Neill at full forward was giving his direct marker a torrid time hitting the net for 2 goals of the highest quality. Darragh Callanan, Jack Kelleher and Leon O’ Connor

got on a lot of ball and drove the team forward at every opportunity. Team Darragh Kelleher, Leon Joyce, Cormac Byrne, Maidhc Collins, Finn Larkin, Seán Day, Darragh Callanan, Jack Kelleher, Jake O’ Sullivan, James Irwin, Bobby O’ Riordan, Leon O’ Connor, James Kenny, Conor O’ Neill, Conor O’ Reilly. Subs used MJ Duggan, Cormac O’ Brien.

We had players on Cork development squads last Saturday in national competitions Isaac Oosthuizen and Jude Devoy were in the Wexford center of excellence in Ferns and took on Kilkenny and Wexford in the Michael Foley cup while Colm O’ Donoghue was in Kilworth to take on Galway and Waterford. Sam McAllister played in goals for the Cork u15 footballers against Waterford and well done to all who represented the club in those competitions.

The Thomas Kent annual 1916 commemoration will be held on Saturday 9th September 2pm in Thomas Kent Park Rostellan, with the club well represented again on the day, with stories of the past and remembrance of historical significance, along with music and song by local musicians and singers with of course the annual visit from the Castlelyons pipe band. One for the diary where your support would be greatly appreciated.

The best of luck to all walking in the 24hour relay for life this weekend in the CBS grounds, and thanks to all who supported this fantastic cause.

A huge game for the club in the intermediate hurling championship against Youghal this Saturday in Aghavine 2pm it’s a must win game, proper championship fare and a big Aghada support will be needed to get us over the line. The best of luck to the players and management, drive it on lads.

Fixtures.

Friday 1st Sept U13 hurling League Whitechurch v Aghada 19:00 Whitechurch.

Mon 4th U15 Div 1 Football Shield final Aghada v Midleton 18:30 Watergrasshill.

Mon 4th U12 football league Aghada v Bride Rovers 19:00 Rostellan.

Tues 5th U13 football league Aghada v St Vincents 19:00 Rostellan.

Wed 6th U17 football championship Aghada v Erins Own 19:00 Rostellan.

Fri 8th U13 football league Aghada v Killeagh 19:00 Rostellan.

Slán go fóill

Be seen wear the Green.

Ár nDícheall Go Deo.