Aghada Gaa

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Senior football Division 4 League Final – Aghada 2-10 v St. Vincents 0-11; Mayfield 4/11/18

Our senior footballers ended a tough year on a high when they won their league final last Sunday last against a fine St. Vincent’s football side. Played in Mayfield, this game was a very slow burner in the 1st half. No scores, or chances of any note in the 1st 7 minutes, until our veteran bull Pearse O’Neill grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. First up he took a pass from Danny Creedon and kicked a fine point. 2 minutes later he set Mathew O’Connor through, and the rampaging wing back doubled Aghada’s tally. In between Vincents kicked their opening point. So 3 scores in 3 minutes, but still the flow of the game stalled; along with the scoreboard. Another scoring burst game from the 15th to 18th minutes, when the sides both pointed twice. Pearse intercepted a Vincent’s kickout to score his second, and O’Connor up from wing back again for his second were Aghada’s two scorers. The next score came on the 26th minute and it was a huge score in the context of the game. Aaron Berry won possession around 40 yards from goal, and played a sublime pass perfectly into the run of corner forward Shane Bennett. Bennett gathered well and finished calmly past former Cork ‘keeper Paddy O’Shea in the Vincent’s goal. 1-4 v 0-3 as we hit the 30 minute mark, but in stoppage time, Vincents would have a purple patch. Dominating possession, they kicked 3 points in as many injury time minutes, two from play and one free to leave only a point between the sides at the short whistle. Aghada were unlucky not to score another goal just before the whistle, when Berry put O’Connor through on goals. This time the impressive wing back rattled the crossbar with his goal attempt and the ball rebounded all the way out over the sideline to safety.

The second half was a better affair, with at least Aghada working the scoreboard on a more regular basis. But before this the Northside club levelled matters with a point from the throw in. With goalkeeper Andy O’Donoghue, along with Timmy Hartnett and David Rice, all solid at the back, Aghada kicked on. Substitute Kyle O’Shea intercepted a Vincent’s attack and set Berry off, with the lively corner forward eventually drawing a free. Danny Creedon, who impressed throughout, kicked a fine free. O’Neill, this time a huge kick off his left leg, hit Aghada’s 6th point. On 17 minutes, Ronan Kennedy caught a wayward highball, before skipping past his man and firing over. Then Cian Fleming kicked an outrageous score from out on the left wing after taking a pass from Marcus Leahy. Creedon pointed his 2nd free after Leahy was fouled, for what was Aghada’s 5th unanswered point. 1-9 v 0-7 and 10 minutes to play, Vincents needed to rally, and they did just that. 2 points in 2 minutes dented the lead. Aghada responded well though, when a move that started with a good Andy O’Donoghue kickout was worked the length of the field, and the excellent Fleming set up Bennett who pointed smartly. A point from a free for Vincents was quickly added to, when the city club pounced on the resulting kickout and made it a dangerous 2 point game with only 2 minutes of normal time to play. The Aghada fans thought Berry had made it 3 again, but his fine kick was wrongly ruled wide. It mattered little however, as Aghada won the resulting kickout and Conor O’Driscoll made a searing run into the Vincent’s danger area, before being pulled down for a certain penalty. Up stepped captain Fleming, who buried the spot kick to the top right corner, to seal a great win for Aghada. So promotion to Division 3 as champions is the outcome, and after a poor year championship wise, it was great to see players and management with a trophy to show for their year’s hard work. Well done to all involved.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Andy O’Donoghue, Tim Hartnett, Tommy O’Donoghue, David Rice, Jordan Tynan, Josh O’Shea, Mathew O’Connor (0-2), Tom O’Neill, Marcus Leahy, Daniel Creedon (0-2, 2f), Pearse O’Neill (0-3), Cian Fleming (1-0, peno), Aaron Berry, Ronan Kennedy (0-1), Shane Bennett (1-1). Subs Used – Conor O’Driscoll, Kyle O’Shea, Kevin O’Hanlon and Aiden O’Connell.

Junior C Football Championship – Aghada 2-13 v Glenville – 0-7; 31/10/2018 in Glenville.

Aghada’s 3rd football team made the long trek to Glenville for their opening game in the East Cork Junior C championship last Wednesday night week. 18 players togged on the night and if that was a good start, things got even better just after the throw in. 2 very quick goals from Callum Fletcher and Vince Rohan settled the team into their stride. With Mark Healy, Ronnie Power and Mike Morrissey excelling at the back, Aghada took an early grip on proceedings. Darren Malone and Aaron Stafford also won the midfield battle and both kicked two fine points. Upfront Jack Hayes was proving himself to be a very effective target man at full forward and with Sean Morrissey kicking two points also, this helped Aghada to a 2-7 v 0-3 interval lead.

The home side were much improved on the restart, and laid siege to the Aghada goal at the beginning of the second half. Contrary to some scurrilous reports on social media, the returning Jack Farmer in goals for Aghada did not concede 3 goals from 2 shots. In fact Aghada were grateful to Farmer for a fine stop early in the 2nd period to deny Glenville any real momentum on the scoreboard. With Morrissey, Stafford and Malone all adding their 3rd points, Aghada lifted the siege somewhat. 2nd half subs Aiden Kelleher, Jack McDonald and Declan Morrissey all made an impact and with Mark Healy surging forward to kick a fine score from centre back, Aghada remained in control. Kelleher ( who earlier that day, had pleaded for an old, less tight set of jerseys to be used) almost popped his shoulder in a tackle and Farmer was blown clean out over the sideline by a Glenville shoulder, but other than that, Aghada were winning most of the physical battles. Late points from William Guiry and Jack Hayes sealed a good win. Best on the night were Jack Hayes, Jack Farmer, Darren Malone, Sean Morrissey and Aaron Stafford.

Aghada Team and Scorers - Jack Farmer, Richie Condon, Robert Whelan, Alan Walsh, Ronan Power, Mark Healy(0-1),Michael Morrissey, Darren Malone(0-3), Aaron Stafford(0-3), Conor Moloney, William Guiry(0-1), Sean Morrissey(0-3), Vincent Rohan (1-1), Jack Hayes(0-1), Calum Fletcher (1-0).Subs Used Jack McDonnell, Aidan Kelleher and Deccie Morrissey

More All Stars for the parish

An enormous congratulations to Hannah Looney who won an All Star award in the right half back position for her performances on Corks journey to the senior camoige All-Ireland title in 2018. What an achievement and Hannah and the Looney family can be so proud. Hannah joins Conor Counihan and Pearse O’Neill on the list of Gaa stars to bring an All-Star into the parish!

Senior Hurling Champions come to visit

County Senior hurling champions Imokilly are in town so to speak next Friday the 9th of November. The victorious team and panel will visit the 3 schools of the parish that day, and then will stay around for a reception and a "few sociable’s" in the Long Point Whitegate from 7pm that night. So go along a meet the heroes at some point.

2018 Agm

Our Agm is Tuesday the 4th of the December, so put that date into the calendar. The juvenile AGM is Thursday the 8th of November at 8:30pm.

The Best of luck

On behalf of Aghada Gaa club - Best of luck and wishes to both Frank Murphy (outgoing secretary) and Kevin O'Donovan (new incoming Cork County Board Secretary) on their future endeavours. Corcaigh abú!

Lotto

The Lotto jackpot for Thursday the 8th of November is €6,750. No Jackpot winner last week. Numbers Drawn – 8,9,11,25. Congrats to Mary Cowman, Liam O’Connor, Olly Morgan, Josie Power, and Mick Morrisson who each won a €30 lucky dip.