Our Intermediate A Hurlers travelled to Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday afternoon knowing that defeat would spell elimination from this year’s Co-Op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship. With that in mind, tension was high as throw-in approached on a windswept afternoon in the city venue.

Playing with the wind in the opening half, our lads made the perfect start. Inside three minutes, Noah Devoy clipped over a tidy point from play. Ballygiblin hit back quickly with a point of their own before striking the game’s first goal. It came in unfortunate fashion from an Aghada perspective: what looked like a brilliant hook on the Ballygiblin shot instead diverted the sliotar into the net. A huge score for the North Cork men against the elements.

But Aghada’s response was immediate. A booming puckout from John Walsh dropped on the Ballygiblin 21m line and was worked to Fionn O’Connor, who rifled to the net. Just seven minutes gone, and the sides were level again in what was already an enthralling contest.

Ballygiblin then enjoyed a strong spell, hitting three unanswered points, before William Leahy steadied Aghada with a score from play. Charlie Terry narrowed the gap further, but Ballygiblin tacked on another two to open a four-point lead after 21 minutes. Aghada needed a lift, and we got it. Centre back Tim Hartnett galloped forward to fire a superb long-range score, followed by points from Noah Devoy and Charlie Terry.

At the other end, the Aghada defence was beginning to take charge, with Jack McDonnell impressing in the full-back line and both Jordan Tynan and Michael Russell using their power to great effect. Ballygiblin managed another free, but Aghada’s corner forwards, Jamie O’Hanlon and Ronan Murphy, both struck fine points to level the match just before the break.

Then came a crucial moment: in stoppage time, William Leahy launched a long-range free from inside his own half. The ball dropped dangerously, somehow slipped into the net, and the half-time whistle sounded immediately after. From four down to three up, Aghada led 2-8 to 1-8 at the interval, though wasteful shooting meant the margin could have been greater.

The second half began perfectly. Within a minute, Leahy split the posts from a free, before Devoy added his third from play. Ballygiblin began to struggle with their shooting—pressured by intense defending from Jack Norris and Kyle O’Shea—while Aghada’s inside forwards struck again, Murphy and O’Hanlon landing quickfire points.

The introduction of John Looney at half-time gave Aghada further drive, and he was soon on the scoresheet after excellent link-up play from midfielders Rory O’Connell and Leahy. Veteran Pearse O’Neill then added a trademark point, stretching the lead to seven. Aghada were now in full flow and the tails were up.

With fresh legs from Samuel O’Driscoll, Seán O’Callaghan and Aaron Stafford injected into the team, the men in green pushed on. Murphy, and Leahy added further points, the latter outstanding throughout in both playmaking and free-taking. Pearse O’Neill also added another point which was greeted with a huge roar from the Aghada faithful along with a trademark fingerwag to the crowd! Goalkeeper John Walsh was also called upon to make a vital save late on, ensuring there was no way back for Ballygiblin.

Charlie Terry rounded off proceedings with a fine point from distance before the final whistle confirmed a brilliant 2-20 to 1-15 victory. Remarkably, all six starting forwards registered from play, contributing 1-13 between them.

The win not only sealed progression to the knockout stages but, with results elsewhere falling kindly, our lads secured a place in the County Semi-Final in early October.

Attention now switches codes for the lads with our Premier Intermediate Football Championship clash against Aghabullogue coming hot on the heels of this impressive win. Victory there would give Aghada an excellent chance of progressing from their group. Throw-in is at 6pm next Saturday in Ballincollig.

Well done to all involved in the hurling set up today, roll on the semi-final!

Aghada: John Walsh, Kyle O’Shea, Michale Russell, Jordan Tynan, Jack Norris, Tim Hartnett (0-1), Jack McDonnell, Rory O’Connell, William Leahy (1-4), Fionn O’Connor (1-0), Noah Devoy (0-3), Charlie Terry (0-3), Ronan Murphy (0-3), Pearse O’Neill (0-2), Jamie O’Hanlon (0-2). 

Subs used: John Looney (0-2), Aaron Stafford, Seán O’Callaghan, Samuel O’Driscoll.