We had plenty of action last weekend with all four of our teams in championship action performing very well. Well done to all involved in each team. Read all about each fixture below.

East Cork Junior C Football Championship Semi Final
Castlelyons 5-8 Aghada 4-8

Aghada bowed out of this year’s East Cork Junior C football championship at the Semi Final stages when our gallant 3rd string lost out narrowly to Castlelyons 1st team on Friday night last.

Played under the lights in Castlelyons, both teams served up an end to end thriller, with nine goals scored in total. In the end, one goal separated the sides as the home team advanced to the final on a 5-8 v 4-8 scoreline. A large crowd watched the match, and to say they were exuberant would be an understatement. Whatever about Friday night lights, there might have been a case of Friday night pints as the atmosphere at times resembled a mix of World Championship darts and the Ryder Cup 1st Tee box. Mattie O’Connor in the Aghada goal seemed to get them all going, stealing a yard or two with each kickout. And the more they roared the further out he came with the Tee!! That he eventually wound up the nearest player to the Castlelyons goalkeeper for their kickouts only stoked the atmosphere more.

 

In a game of goals, Aghada struck 1st. A move that started with both corner backs – Alan Walsh and Colm White combining to bring the ball out of our danger area, finished with Jordan Ryan burying to the roof of the Castleyons net at the other end. Castleyons started slower but when they got going they were devastating upfront. They scored three first half goals, and while Mattie lost the flight of one of them in the moonlight, only for him and some last ditch defending, Castlelyons could have doubled that total. Aghada kept battling away, with young Finn Crowley adding a second major for Aghada with a clever lob of the ‘keeper after spotting him off his line.

Aghada trailed by 5 at the break 3-4 v 2-2. With James O Donnell and Pete White getting to grips with the home team’s best forwards, Aghada got a better grip of the game in the second half. Aidan O’Connell, on the weekend of his 36th birthday, was everywhere on the pitch with Seán O’Callaghan and Ray Savage getting plenty of Aghada’s attacking play going. Still Castlelyons thirst for goals wasn’t satisfied and they struck for two more majors in that half. Aghada never once let the heads drop and Jordan Ryan scored another excellent goal to keep us in the game. With 10 to go, Lachlan McRae was fouled going through and when Ray Savage buried the resulting penalty, Aghada were back in the hunt again. With the gap at three points and time running out Aghada threw everything at Castlelyons. By now we were playing without a ‘keeper as Mattie had now positioned himself covertly in the opposition half. Despite a flurry of attacks and balls floated into the Castlelyons square, we couldn’t find the goal that would have forced the game to extra time. In the end Castlelyons were deserving winners. Aghada for their part can be proud of their championship run this year and well done to manager Richie Condon and all involved on a great year at this level.

 

Team: Matthew O’Connor, Alan Walsh, Pete White, Colm White, Finn Crowley,  Richie Condon, James O’Donnell, Aidan O’Connell, Sean Corkery (Capt), Jordan Ryan, Ray Savage, Josh Halpin, Lachlan McRae, Oisin Counihan, Sean O’Callaghan.

Subs Used: Hugh Mulcahy, Cormac Walsh.

Last Saturday evening, our Premier Intermediate Footballers travelled to Lisgoold for a mouth-watering quarter-final clash against last year’s Intermediate A champions, Glanmire. Firstly, huge credit must go to Lisgoold GAA for hosting the fixture – their facilities were top class, and the pitch was in immaculate condition for championship football in late September.

From the off, our lads knew the challenge ahead, but they settled into the contest quickly. Jamie O’Hanlon opened the scoring with a well-taken free after great work from Séamus Moloney. Glanmire responded with a two-point free, but soon after Aghada enjoyed a purple patch. Seán Morrissey slotted over his first of the evening, before Diarmuid Byrne raised a trademark long range two-point score from play.

The game’s first goal arrived shortly after, and it came for Aghada. A clever pass from Seán Morrissey found Jamie O’Hanlon, who burst through on goal and clinically dispatched to the net. This left us ahead on a scoreline of 1-4 to 0-2. Glanmire, to their credit, responded well, tagging on four points before half-time. However, crucial scores from Seán Morrissey and Cian Hegarty gave us a 1-6 to 0-6 advantage at the break.

Defensively, the first half effort from Ronan Murphy, Kyle O’Shea and Jack Colbert was immense – time and again they snuffed out Glanmire’s attacks and set up the platform for Aghada going forward.

Our lads half-time team talk worked wonders, as Aghada exploded into life in the third quarter. Points from Jordan Tynan, Cian Hegarty (free), and Jamie O’Hanlon stretched the lead, before a massive turning point arrived. From the resulting kickout after Jamie’s point, Tim Hartnett intercepted brilliantly, drove forward, and rifled the ball into the top corner of the net. Suddenly, Aghada were nine points clear, 2-9 to 0-6, with 18 minutes to play.

At this stage, the likes of Ed Leahy and Jake O’Donoghue really shone, dominating their duels and giving the forwards a strong platform. As expected, Glanmire rallied with four unanswered points, but a steadying score from Diarmuid Phelan kept daylight between the teams. After a nervy scoreless spell, it was Phelan again who stepped up with another fine effort, after superb fielding from Pearse O’Neill in midfield.

Glanmire pressed hard in the closing minutes and looked destined for a late goal, only for goalkeeper Cian O’Shea to pull off a magnificent save at point-blank range. From there, Aghada finished strongly, with substitutes Jack Norris, David Wallace, Scott Whyte, Joe McKenna, and Conor O’Driscoll all making big impacts. Fittingly, it was Tim Hartnett who capped off his fine performance with the last score of the game.

When the final whistle blew, Aghada had secured a fantastic 2-12 to 0-10 victory which was greeted with a big roar from the large Aghada support. Best on the day for Aghada were Jake O’Donoghue and Ed Leahy, though this was very much an all round team performance.

Huge credit goes to all the players, manager Mick Kiely and his management team. Our lads now look forward to a County Semi Final clash with Uibh Laoire on Saturday, October 11th at 2:30pm in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Before that, however, attention turns to hurling – with our Intermediate A hurlers in semi-final action against Aghabullogue this Saturday at 4pm in Ballyanly (Inniscarra GAA).

Team: Cian O’Shea, Ronan Murphy, Jack Colbert, Kyle O’Shea, Jordan Tynan (0-1), Ed Leahy, Jake O’Donoghue, Diarmuid Phelan, Cian Hegarty (0-2), Diarmuid Byrne (0-2), Tim Hartnett (1-1), Séamus Moloney, Seán Morrissey (0-2), Jamie O’Hanlon (1-2), Pearse O’Neill.

Subs used: David Wallace, Jack Norris, Conor O’Driscoll, Scott Whyte, Joe McKenna.

Last Sunday afternoon brought a huge occasion to Rostellan as our Senior Ladies Footballers hosted Mourneabbey in the County Semi Final of the Cork Credit Unions Senior Championship. Having topped their group, Aghada earned the right to a home semi-final, and the large crowd that filled the grounds reflected the sense of occasion. The car park was packed, the atmosphere was electric, and everyone knew we were in for a battle against one of the most consistent and decorated sides of the last decade in Cork ladies football.

From the throw-in, our girls showed real intent, matching Mourneabbey in every area and taking their chances when they came. Aghada’s attack was ruthless when opportunities presented themselves, and the goals proved to be the difference on the day. Roisín Phelan was clinical in front of goal, finishing with two majors, while Mary Leahy and Kaitlin Smith also raised green flags with well-taken efforts.

Right across the pitch, Aghada delivered a performance full of work rate and defensively, the girls stood tall against sustained Mourneabbey pressure, while in midfield and attack, the link play was impressive. By the final whistle, Aghada had won out on a scoreline of 4-10 to 1-09.

This win now sets up a mouth-watering County Final against Éire Óg on Sunday, October 5th at 4pm in MTU Cork – a repeat of last year’s final which promises to be another enthralling contest.

Well done to all our players, manager Eric Smith and his management team on reaching the final again this year. 

Another huge day now awaits – roll on the County Final!

Our Junior A Footballers bowed out of the East Cork Championship last weekend after a narrow one-point defeat to Erin’s Own in Dungourney. As always is the case in Dungourney, the pitch was in immaculate condition, and it provided the perfect setting for what turned out to be a tense, low-scoring championship battle.

Having qualified for the quarter final after fine wins over Dungourney and Glenbower Rovers, our lads started brightly and raced into an early three-point lead. Scores from Eoin Motherway, James Motherway and Dan Leahy had Aghada well on top, with the lively Donagh Collins instrumental in setting up all three with his movement and clever distribution in the full forward line.

The opening burst proved to be crucial, as scores were hard to come by thereafter. Erin’s Own gradually grew into the game and levelled the contest with three points of their own after 22 minutes. Strong defending from Conor Geary and Dara Ó’Conchubhair along with good goalkeeping from Ray Savage, kept Aghada in it, and just before the break Dan Leahy added his second of the evening, following patient build-up involving Max Ahern, John Walsh and Andrew Murphy. At half time, Aghada led 0-4 to 0-3.

The second half began perfectly for our lads, with James Hurley clipping over a fine point inside the first 30 seconds. But, true to the pattern of the match, scores again proved scarce. Erin’s Own reduced the gap with a point of their own after 10 minutes, before the game swung against us in dramatic fashion. Two black cards in quick succession left Aghada down to 13 men, and although Jack Corkery and Conor Bakx defended heroically, the numerical advantage eventually told. Erin’s Own edged ahead with two late points – crucially, the first time they led in the game.

Aghada introduced Seán Óg O’Keeffe, Samuel O’Driscoll and Seán O’Callaghan, whose fresh legs injected much-needed energy into the attack. Seán O’Callaghan halved the deficit to a single point on 60 minutes with a well taken score. The lads battled superbly and pressed hard for an equaliser in stoppage time. With the ball worked into the Erin’s Own 21m line and Aghada on the front foot, the referee sounded the final whistle to the surprise of both teams. With one minute of stoppage time played, the game was over, and our championship journey ended on a frustrating note.

While it was a tough defeat to take, the lads can hold their heads high after a battling display and a very positive year. Best on the day for Aghada were Conall Rooney, James Hurley and Marcus Leahy.

Well done to all the players involved with our Junior A team this season and to manager John O’Connor and his management team. This campaign has been hugely beneficial, with many players gaining their first taste of adult championship football – a promising sign for the future. 

Team: Ray Savage, Conor Geary, Jack Corkery, Dara O’Conchubhair, Andrew Murphy, Conall Rooney, Conor Bakx, Marcus Leahy, Dan Leahy (0-2), John Walsh, Donagh Collins, Eoin Motherway (0-1), James Hurley (0-1), James Motherway (0-1), Max Ahern.

Subs used: Seán Óg O’Keeffe, Samuel O’Driscoll, Seán O’Callaghan (0-1).