Aghada Gaa Main Sponsor – Irving Oil Premier Intermediate Football Div 3 Lge – Aghada 5-09 v Rockchapel 0-6; Rostellan, 17/2/2019

Aghada picked up their 3rd league victory in a row on Sunday with a win against Rockchapel on a score line of 5-9 to 0-6 in the County League. Playing with the aid of a very strong wind, the home side got off to the perfect start with a goal inside the first minute by Shane Bennett, following a well worked move from midfield. Three more points between the 5th and 8th minute were followed by a neat finish from Pearse O’Neill on the 8th minute to have us 2-3 to no score ahead.

Good attacking and support play, led to scores from Cian Fleming and Mattie O’Connor, before Aghada found the net for the 3rd time inside 25 minutes when Shane Bennett gave the keeper no chance to leave us in a commanding position. Rockchapel continued to battle against the wind and despite tight defending by the backs, they registered points in the 26th and 29th minute respectively. Another white flag from Pearse looked to be the last score of the half, but Aaron Berry capped a strong first half performance by adding the 4th goal of the game on the stroke of halftime to leave Aghada 4-7 to 0-2 ahead.

Now facing the wind, Aghada needed to be strong in defence and did so, keeping Rockchapel scoreless until the 43rd minute. Good play from Tom O’Neill and Marcus Leahy in curbing many of the Rockchapel attacks, in addition to strong defensive play by the 2 Shanes, Wall and Dorney, meant the Aghada keeper was rarely troubled. However, midway through the second half, Rockchapel did breakthrough the defence only to be thwarted by a great save from Ray Savage to turn the ball round the post. As the game wore on, Aghada worked the spaces well, with good play from Kyle O’Shea and Danny Creedon, and we were rewarded in the last 5 minutes with a fine point from Aaron and a goal from Pearse to ensure victory.

So this leaves us joint top with Dohenys, as focus now turns to our hurlers and a league meeting with Midleton on Sunday 24th in Rostellan, throw in time is midday.

Aghada Team - Ray Savage, Kyle O’Shea, Shane Wall, Jake O’Donoghue, Shane Dorney, Jordan Tynan, Mattie O’Connor, Marcus Leahy, Tom O’Neill, Cian Fleming, Pearse O’Neill, Shane Bennett, Aaron Berry, Danny Creedon, Tim Hartnett. Subs Used Aidan O Connell, Kevin O’Hanlon, Aaron Stafford, Charlie Terry, Ronan Kennedy, Ciaran O’Shea.

Junior Football Div 2 – Aghada 3-5 v Glenville 2-13; Rostellan 15/2/19

Its nought for 2 for our 2nd football team after defeat was our lot against Glenville in Rostellan on Friday last. The visitors played with a strong gale in the 1st half and made full use of it to lead 1-9 to only 3 points at half time. Things got worse at the start of the second half, when Aghada conceded a soft goal. However Aghada struck back quickly when Ciaran Galligan and Tim O’Regan set up Stephen O’Keeffe for a well struck goal. Charlie Terry came more into the game and pointed 2 minutes later. A scoring lull ensued before Aghada’s next score came from the penalty spot on 20 minutes when Jordan Ryan buried a penalty earned by O’Regan. Terry kicked a super point and scored a great goal in the closing minutes, but Glenville had been keeping the scoreboard ticking over themselves to make sure the result was never really in doubt. Best for Aghada were Richie Condon, Ben Stafford, Charlie Terry and Tim O’Regan.

Aghada Team and scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Richie Condon, Rob Whelan, Mathew Leahy, David Rice Mark Healy, Ben Stafford, John Connolly(01-1f), Charlie Terry (1-3), Ciaran Galligan, Stephen O’Keefe (1-1, 0-1f) James Gilroy, Alan Walsh, Tim O’Regan, Jordan Ryan (1-0). Subs Used Vince Rohan, Luke O’Connell, Conor Maloney, Oisin Counihan

Junior Football Div 4 - Aghada 3-9 v Lisgoold 3-5, Rostellan, 18/2/2019

The 2018 East Cork champions got their 2019 campaign off to a winning start in an entertaining game with Lisgoold last Monday night. It was a close contest throughout with the result in doubt right down to the wire. At half time Aghada led by a point on a 2-3 v 2-2 scoreline. Ciaran Galligan started and finished the move that led to Aghada’s first goal, with James Gilroy also influential in the build-up. Gilroy had a hand in the second goal aswell soon after, when Tim O’Regan barrelled through to raise the second green flag. Rob Whelan provided one of the assists for a Lisgoold goal! while Vincey Rohan and Jack Norris impressed in the opening period. Upfront it was heard said that Oisin Counihan and Trevor O’Keeffe were like Ronan Clarke and Stevie McDonnell in the corner forward positions. However it was the two players themselves that were heard making the comparison. Counihan did point 2 important scores in the 1st half when Aghada were somewhat under the cosh. A remarkable recovery by Counihan really when you consider it’s only a few weeks since he was ran over by his father!

In the second half as the game headed into the clutch, manager Mattie O’Connor turned to his bench for pace. All he saw however was the 2 Brians – Wall and Morrissey. None the less, on they came, with the jerseys looking tighter than usual. At this point Pat O’Connell was seen being led away from the grounds crying – “My pitch!, My Pitch!”. Brian Mor did show his undoubted class when a jinky run by the veteran saw him score a fine goal to give Aghada some breathing space. Gilroy and Mark Healy continued to drive forward and take the game to Lisgoold. A crucial goal block by Luke Foley in the dying minutes, saw Aghada counter attack up the field for Mark Healy to score the insurance point, and Aghada held on for the win. So a good start to the league, and despite calls from some quarters of social media for O’Connor to be removed as manager, his position must surely be secure for another week or 2. Next up is Cobh in Rostellan next Sunday at 5pm. Best on the night in an overall great team performance, were Gilroy, Malone, Counihan and Rohan.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Rob Whelan, Alan Walsh, Jack Norris, Vince Rohan, John Connolly, Mark Healy (0-1), Cal Bawden, Darren Malone (0-1), Ciaran Galligan (1-0), James Gilroy, Conor Maloney, Will Guiry, Trevor O’Keeffe (0-4, 2f), Tim O’Regan (1-0), Oisin Counihan (0-2). Subs Used Aaron Butler, Brian Morrissey (1-0), Brian wall, Luke Foley.

Fixtures

Prem Hurling Div 4 – Aghada v Midleton 12pm Sunday the 24th of Feb in Rostellan.

Prem Hurling Div 4 – Aghada v Barryroe 12:30pm Sunday the 3rd of March in Barryroe.

Jun Foot Div 4 – Aghada v Cobh, 5pm, Sunday 24th of Feb in Rostellan.

Congrats

Congratulations to Midleton CBS on winning the Dr Harty Cup last Saturday. A brilliant achievement, well done to all. Congrats especially to Aghada’s Jamie O’Hanlon who was a member of the panel.

Lotto

The current Lotto jackpot is €2,750 and the draw will take place in An Puc car Buile on Feb 21st. Congrats to Teresa O’Brien, Ger Stafford, Paul Aspinall, Robert Stafford and Michael Russell who each won €30 in last week’s draw.