Premier Intermediate hurling league Div 2 – Aghada 0-12 v Ballincollig 1-10;Rostellan 26/8/2018

The night after the U21 success, it was straight back out with the hurleys again, as Aghada faced Ballincollig in this year’s league. Ballincollig with the aid of the wind, were the better outfit in the 1st half. Leading 3 points to one, as the game entered the 10th minute, they struck for what would prove to be the decisive score. Their full forward made a good catch and did a neat offload, but the shot from the Ballincollig forward took a huge deflection to pass Trevor O’Keeffe in the Aghada goal. It didn’t look good for Aghada as apart at all from the wind, the visitors were on top in nearly all sectors of the field. With 5 minutes to the break, they led 1-7 v 0-2. Aghada had yet to score from play, with both points coming from Cian Fleming frees. On 26 minutes Aghada did create a goal chance of their own, but corner forward Kevin O’Hanlon blazed just over the bar. With the last puck of the half Ballincollig made it a 1-8 v 0-3 halftime score.

Unfortunately for Aghada, the wind seemed to die somewhat at the start of the second period. But it didn’t matter all that much as a much improved Aghada would go on to dominate most of the 2nd period. With Tim Hartnett, Jake O’Donoghue and Stephen O’Keeffe in fine form at the back, Aghada would limit Ballincollig to only 2 points in this half, and the visitors wouldn’t score at all after the 7th minute. Upfront Pearse O’Neill was the most effective forward Aghada had, but with the game becoming very stop and start, Aghada never really got fully into their stride. Cian Fleming kept the scoreboard ticking over with frees. Frees mostly won by O’Neill at full forward. Ronan Kennedy did have a nice point from play on 10 minutes after picking up a good Timmy Hartnett clearance. And Fleming also hit a fine score from play as he pointed on the run from out on the left hand sideline.  On 27 minutes a good run from Kennedy set up O’Neill for a point from play and at that stage there was only a point between the sides. Aghada had two chances to draw the game in those closing stages, but Fleming was unable to convert 2 frees from a long way out, and Ballincollig held on for the win. Aghada could feel very unlucky to not have gotten at least a draw, but the visitors could also point to a number of missed frees themselves in that second half.

Aghada Team and scorers – Trevor O’Keeffe, David Rice, Jake O’Donoghue, Tim Hartnett, Billy Hennessy, Stephen O’Keeffe, Jordan Tynan, Aiden O’Connell, Aaron Stafford, Brian Morrissey, Ronan Kennedy(0-1), Charlie Terry, Kevin O’Hanlon(0-1), Pearse O’Neill(0-1), Cian Fleming (0-9, 8f’s). Subs Used – Kalen O’Donoghue, Mark McCarthy.