Junior B Hurling Championship – Aghada 0-9 v Youghal 5-16

The 1st round of this year’s East Cork JB hurling championship was a very one sided affair in Shanagarry on Friday last the 13th of July. Youghal had a number of players that might go on and play on their first team later this year, while Aghada are probably closer to the C grading with this group. The result therefore was inevitable, and Youghal wasted little time in hammering home their obvious superiority. Their 1st two scores were green flags and they had a point from play on 10 mins before Mark McCarthy opened the Aghada account with a pointed free on 13 minutes. From the 15th to the 20 minute, Youghal rattled off 5 points. Mark, after being fouled himself, hit Aghada’s second on 17 minutes. Mark, Mathew Leahy, Luke O’Connell and Aiden O’Connell were trying hardest for Aghada, and the two O’Connells combined to create a goal chance for Luke which was well saved by the ‘keeper. Had we scored however, the goal would only have cancelled out the 3rd goal Youghal had just scored in the 22nd minute. They had a 4th goal on 26 minutes and a 5th on the stroke at halftime, which left the halftime score 5-11 v 0-3. Again it was Mark with Aghada’s 3rd point, this time a fine score from play.

Aghada turned to play with the wind in the second half, and to their great credit, they refused to lie down and continued to give every honest effort for the second half. Early in the half Aaron Berry met his man with a very hefty shoulder, and it seemed to be the signal for Aghada to draw a line under the hammering they took in the 1st half. Tommy Dobbyn, Ciaran Galligan and Craig Hogan did well when introduced, with Luke Foley and Ger Lynch on top for the 2nd period. Aiden O’Connell continued to impress as did namesake Luke, who would draw 3 more excellent saves from the Youghal keeper. All 3 of these saves ultimately led to 3 points from placed balls from Mark McCarthy who also continued his fine showing from the 1st half. Corner forward Alan Walsh also chipped in with a point from play in the 5th minute after the restart, and Luke pointed from play from the resulting puck out. When all was said and done Aghada won the 2nd half 6 points to Youghal’s 5, and while overall that might be scant consolation, under the circumstances huge huge credit is due to the Aghada team for standing their ground in that second half.

Aghada will now play Watergrasshill, in the back door of this competition.

Aghada Team and scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Richie Condon(capt), Aaron Butler, Luke Foley, Ger Lynch, Shane Wall, Declan Foley, Aiden O’Connell, Kyle O’Shea, Mathew Leahy, Luke O’Connell(0-1), Aaron Berry, Alan Walsh(0-1), Marcus Leahy, Mark McCarthy(0-7, 4f,2’65). Subs Used – Tommy Dobbyn, Ciaran Galligan, Craig Hogan, Michael Desmond, Vince Rohan, Ger O’Brien.