Aghada GAA Juvenile News - By Juvenile PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks, hope this newsletter finds you well and you are enjoying this Indian summer, written in the stars you may say but we will take it and enjoy it while it lasts. Practice makes perfect, well so says Aghada National school teacher Phillip O’ Neill who plays in goal for the Killeagh senior hurling team. His side needed at least a draw in their last game to progress to the knockout stages in the Cork senior A hurling championship last weekend. They found themselves a goal down with time almost up and most teams would lob the ball into the square and hope for someone to get a touch on it but not this Killeagh team who under their coach had practiced continuously for such a situation. As the situation developed in front of Phillips eyes, he was convinced they would score as they put their plan into place a scenario, he had seen play out many a time in training and so it happened the full back had drifted up the field to receive the ball after the intricate move straight from the coach’s manual to blast the ball to the net. In the words of Colonel Hannibal Smith from the A team “I love it when a plan comes together” why is it we all strive, why is sufficient not enough? Could it be we just like the taste? Success is sweet.

U13 hurling Championship St Colmcilles 5-10 Aghada 4-8

A trip to Whitechurch last Friday evening brought no joy as we lost out to the Whitescross and Carrignavar amalgamation in a cracking game of hurling. We were full value for our 3-5 to 3-4 half time lead as we hurled with authority and only for the concession of 2 soft goals we would have been in a much stronger position at the short whistle. David Murphy was our scorer in chief in that first half with a very impressive 3-4 of our total, with midfielder Jack Kelleher also getting on the scoresheet. Our first goal came when center forward Dara O’ Brien sent a sweet pass into David, and he made no mistake to rifle home, his second major came after a strong run through the middle from center back Cormac Cashman and the third was struck from distance to the net. We were playing some fine hurling all over the pitch and looked the better team for long periods with Donncha Walsh and Marcus O’ Loughlin clearing a world of ball from defense and birthday boy and captain for the day Sam Ahern working hard in the half forward line but great credit to the home side who came out all guns blazing in the second half to punish us with some fine scores to take control of the game. We did rally late on with Leon O’ Connor bringing the best out of the keeper who deflected his goal bound shot over the bar for a point. Leon was not to be denied later on when he followed up a shot from David that was saved, and he struck home a goal with a clever finish. That was as close as we got but all is not lost as we have one more game in the group at home to St Vincents where a win here could still see us qualify, where we will also hope to welcome back a trio of injured players from the treatment table. Team & scorers Dara Kelleher, Bobby O’ Riordan, Dylan Kearns, Eoin Kirrane, Donncha Walsh, Cormac Cashman, Marcus O’ Loughlin, Jack Kelleher 0-1, Leon O Connor 1-1, Sam Ahern (captain), Dara O’ Brien, Jake O Sullivan, Maidhc Collins, Rían O’ Brien, David Murphy 3-6 0-4f sub used Leon Joyce.

U15 football Shield cup final Aghada 2-6 Midleton 2-9

The u15 football season came to an end in Watergrasshill last Monday evening in the Shield final against neighbours Midleton. We started in impressive fashion with two early goals from the tenacious Will O’ Mahony and a net bursting thunderbolt from the lively Josh McCarthy that gave us an early lead. We had our gander up and went in search of more green flags when the better option would have been to keep the scoreboard ticking over, that would come back to haunt us later on. We did raise some white flags from Josh, Cian Moore and Tom Walsh to lead at the break 2-3 to 0-4. The second half started with Midleton playing more on the front foot to score an early goal and they were starting to gain more possession around the field adding to the tension as every score was now

taking on a higher degree of importance. The game was level midway through the half when the sucker punch arrived a second goal gave the boys in black and white the lead for the first time. We applied the pressure on the Midleton goal again and were unlucky to see a goal bound shot from Jack Mulcahy clip the bar and go over. Jago Evans proved his worth again with a commanding display between the sticks, while Sam Douglas and Kaylan Cunningham did all they could to drive us on. The industrious Cormac Crowley reduced the gap further with a well worked point, but the gap was still 3 points with the clock ticking into the red. We tried to get the equalizing goal, but it unfortunately proved elusive, and it was the boys from the town who emerged victorious. Team Jago Evans, Cormac Crowley, Sam Douglas, Ronan Musgrave, Eoghan Walsh, Cillian Scanlon, Kaylan Cunningham, Tom Walsh, Josh McCarthy, Sam McAllister, Cian Moore, Jack Dorney, Cillian Burke, Jack Mulcahy, Will O’ Mahony. Subs used Adam Lewis, Shay Rooney, Jake Morrissey, Matthew Condon, Aesa Murphy, Eoghan O’ Shea, Ciarán Cashman, Hugh O’ Lionsigh.

U17 football championship Aghada 0-18 Erins own 1-1

A must win match for our minor footballers that started rather unconvincingly and ended like a stroll in the park on a fine summers evening put us into the final as word filtered through after the game that one of our nearest challengers St Colmcille’s were beaten and instead of facing the prospect of 3 teams finishing on equal points, we were straight into the decider, where we will meet Mahon side St Michaels. On a beautiful night in Rostellan we attacked straight from the throw in the influential David Wallace setting up fellow midfielder Samuel O’ Driscoll to split the posts for a fine score. What followed was far from inspiring as both teams gave away a lot of cheap ball and looked nervous in possession with neither team able to capitalize to leave the score deadlocked at a point apiece after 15 minutes played. Eventually some fine build up play yielded a score from the impressive Robert Dean and James Motherway also found the range to make it 3 points to 1 at half time in a low and uninspiring half of football. Whatever was said during the break certainly worked the oracle as we came out a totally different unit in the second half, we once again scored straight from the throw in this time from the lively Seán O’ Callaghan and started to put some lovely attacking moves together as we began to find the target with a host of different scorers. We powered ahead with Colm O’ Donoghue showing a nice range of passing, David lording midfield and Finn Berry getting on a lot of ball up front as our opponents had no answer when we moved the ball at pace. We did leave Erins Own in for a late goal that we will be disappointed with as the opposing center back waltzed through without us laying a glove on him, but in truth the game was well out of sight at that stage as we dominated the second half. A big win in the end and a final to look forward to in a couple of weeks with a chance of silverware, sure there is room for improvement but when the opportunity arises it is critical to seize the day. Team & scorers Seán Corkery, Colm White, Ronan Devoy, Evan Crowley, Colm O’ Donoghue, Tomás Condon, Dara O’ Conchubhair, David Wallace, Samuel O’ Driscoll 0-3, James Motherway 0-6 0-3f, Conor Bakx, James O’ Donnell, James Hurley 0-2 0-1f, Andrew Murphy 0-1, Robert Dean 0-3. subs used Seán O’ Callaghan 0-3, Finn Berry, Cormac Walsh, Cillian Falvey, Cian Murphy.

Disappointment for our intermediate hurlers who bowed out of the championship at the weekend. They played well and won the game easy enough but unfortunately the other game in the group did not go our way. As the time in both games was coming to an end, we anxiously hoped for our Gary MacKay moment, it never transpired and we were left to rue previous results where once again we will view it as a missed opportunity to make a big impact in this championship. The footballers go into another must win game on Saturday 6.30pm in Glenville against Kilshannig and we wish the management and players here the very best of luck. Your support would be greatly appreciated as the lads will be going all out to extend our season.

The Thomas Kent commemoration is on this Saturday in Rostellan 2.30pm where founding member of Aghada GAA club Denis Kelly will be remembered during the wreath laying ceremony once again, please come along if you can.

Sideline Café is part of the Midleton fEast festival again this year. Call down this Sunday morning between 10am- 12pm for a “Coffee & a Canter”. Enjoy a tea/coffee and a muffin for only €4 and some free fruit/treats for the kids and a juice & treat offer for only €2. So pop down and join family and friends and get your morning coffee & walk in!

The club will be holding a hurling coaching day for our u10, u12 and u14 teams on Saturday 16th September 10am to 12pm with expert tuition from Declan Dalton, Donal O’ Rourke and Ciaran Joyce and all are welcome to attend in what should be a fantastic morning of hurling skills in Rostellan.

Fixtures.

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

Sat 9th U15 C-3 football league Aghada v Mallow 13:00 Rostellan.

Mon 12th U12 hurling league Castlelyons v Aghada 19:00 Castlelyons.

Slán go fóill.

Be seen wear the Green.

Ár nDícheall Go Deo.