Aghada Gaa

Main Sponsor – Irving Oil

East Cork Junior A football Championship - Aghada 2-10 v Castlelyons 3-13

Don’t be fooled by the final score line, this was far from a great game that the high scoring might suggest. In fact for most of the game it was a very one-sided contest. Played in near perfect conditions on a splendid Lisgoold surface, a stronger, fitter and faster Castlelyons team, had way too much for Aghada’s second team. When Castleyons’ best forward Alan Fenton hit his 6th point of the evening, 6 minutes into the second half, the score board read 3-11 v 3pts and it gave Castlelyons a whopping 17 point lead. It was all about making the scoreboard look more respectable from here to the finish for Aghada, and to their credit they managed to achieve this thanks mainly to former Cork star Pearse O’Neill, who had missed Aghada’s opening senior game through injury.  6 points from the former All-Star, allied to goals from Stephen Daly and David Rice and a fine point from Luke O’Connell, meant Aghada outscored their opponents by 2-7 to 2 pts for the remainder of the half. That 1-2 of that tally came in injury time, tells you that the result was never in doubt at any stage, and Castlelyons were worthy winners from a long way out.

Beaten finalists in this competition 2 years ago, Castlelyons dominated proceedings from the get go, with 3 points in the opening 4 minutes. Michael Spillane and Fenton x 2 were the scorers. Aghada were living off scraps but still with 16 minutes gone there was only two points in it as the men from the north of the barony led 5 points to 3. From here to the interval however it was all one way traffic. Fenton kicked 2 frees and then on 25 minutes he struck powerfully to the back of the net to finish off a move that swept the entire length of the field. A minute later, crossbars, uprights and last ditch Aghada blocking prevented a second green flag going up. Eventually after the 4th rebounded attempt at goal, midfielder Thomas Carroll pointed from close range. Then as the clock ticked into the final seconds, full forward Jack Barry intercepted the Aghada ‘keepers kickout and he finished smartly giving Castlelyons their second goal with the last action of the half.

2-8 vs 0-3 at the halftime whistle and Aghada had a mountain to climb. 2 minutes after the restart, Jack Barry palmed a third goal, to remove any slight hope Aghada might have had of getting back into this game. So Castlelyons deservedly march on to the 3rd round, while Aghada must wait another year to tilt at this championship again.

Castlelyons Team and scorers – John Paul Murphy, Brian Carroll, Cian O’Leary, Shane Fenton, Liam Moroney, Aidan O’Sullivan, Eoin Maye, Shane Moroney, Thomas Carroll (0-1), Darragh Lawlor, Ciaran McGann(0-2), Michael Spillane (0-3), Alan Fenton (1-7, 4f’s), Jack Barry (2-0), Ronan Fenton(capt). Subs Used – Brian O’Donovan for Ronan Fenton 35m, Peter Roche for Darragh Lawlor 20m and Shane Flynn for Ciaran McGann 24m.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Shane Dorney, David Rice (capt)(1-0), Michael Gilroy, Tommy Dobbyn, Colm Power, Ben Stafford, Tom O’Neill(0-1), Pearse O’Neill (0-6,2f’s), Paul Daly, Jordan Ryan, Stephen Daly (1-0), Luke O’Connell (0-1), Brian Wall (0-1), Ray Savage (0-1f).

Referee Niall O’Neill Midleton.

Fixtures

Junior B Hurling Division 3 League - Aghada v Fr. O’Neills, Saturday June 2nd 2.30pm in Ahavine.

Junior B Hurling Division 3 league – Aghada v Killeagh, Tuesday June 5th 7.30pm, in Rostellan

Congrats

Well done to two of our young players who both got to taste action in Semple Stadium Thurles last weekend. May Collins was on the Cork Primary girls football team that played Tipp at half time in the senior football clash last Saturday night. Then on Sunday, Tomás Condon took on the home of his ancestors, when he lined out for the Primary hurling team at half time of the senior hurling clash between the two counties. Congrats to both players on a great day for themselves and their families.

Upcoming Events

Two upcoming events - Firstly the launch of the East Cork Harbour Marathon will take place in our grounds in Rostellan on Sunday June the 10th from 1pm to 2pm. There will be a Volcano Wood-fired Pizza oven dishing out food to everyone and Cork’s 96fm crew will also be in attendance. All who have generously volunteered helping out this great event over the last 2 years are especially invited down for the hour as a thank you for your help, hopefully ongoing help, with the Marathon and other races. Everyone is welcome on the day.

Secondly we need everyone to channel their inner Anna Geary, or Marty Whelan or even Dessie Cahill!!! As we are currently looking for members from across all 4 sections of the club who would you be interested in taking on a new Fun Filled challenge this autumn.

What Is It? - We need a minimum of 24 people who could commit to a couple of hours for classes on a Wednesday night from mid-September to mid-January to learn the finer points of dancing, all of this culminating with a  Grand Finale in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday 18th January 2018. So if you want to try something different, have some fun, and keep fit and toned for the Christmas parties!, than let any member of the committee know that you are interested.

Lotto

The current Lotto jackpot is €9,750 and will take place in The Long Point on May 31st. Congrats to Emer Stafford, Mattie O’Connor, Orla Melvin, Ann Walsh  and Willie Crowley who won €30 in last week’s draw.