Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship – Aghada 2-10 v Carrigaline 3-21

It started so well, but ultimately Aghada were a distance 2nd best to Carrigaline last Saturday in Round 3 of this year’s championship played in Riverstown. Carrigaline had played championship a week previous, whereas 4 months had passed since Aghada’s last championship outing. However there was no sign of any rust or lack of sharpness as Aghada tore into their opponents from the throw in. Pearse O’Neill set up Mark McCarthy for a long distance opening point, before both Will Leahy and Charlie Terry also added points as both players looked very dangerous in the full line. At the back Aghada looked comfortable, with Jack McDonald and Jake O’Donoghue prominent. On 9 minutes, Will won a great ball, rounded his man, but with just the ‘keeper to beat, the Carrigaline net minder got a block on the effort to send the sliothar out for a ’65. Leahy pointed the ’65 and it was 4 points to no score with 10 minutes gone, and Aghada looked on top in every sector. A scramble in the Aghada full back line, saw Carrig win possession and their 1st score was goal. So was their 2nd 3 minutes later, when a high free into the square was superbly doubled on to the Aghada net. Still Aghada were playing well and squandered a number of goal chances of their own by maybe taking a pass to many when through on goals. But slowly the tide was turning. Aghada’s forwards were looking less and less dangerous and the opposite was happening at the other end. 7 points to 2, Carrigaline outscored Aghada in the 2nd quarter and led at half time 2-7 v 0-6. The second half was virtually one way traffic. Tim Hartnett and David Rice battled hard for Aghada, but most of the individual battles were now going the way of the men from the South East division. They hit 5 points in the opening 10 minutes and another 1-4 in the 2nd 10 minute period. Aghada only managed 3 placed balls in response and were 16 points down with 10 minutes to play. To their credit they never gave up. Will buried a goal from a 21 metre free O Neill got a second on 60 minutes. In injury time Carrig went on another point scoring burst and hit 4 more fine scores in the 4 added on minutes to win by 14 at the end. A tough end to the year for our lads who gave a great effort and entertainment for the year.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Aiden O’Connell, David Rice, Jack McDonald, Tim Hartnett, Mark McCarthy(0-1), Jake O’Donoghue, Michael Russell, Aaron Stafford(0-1), Daniel Creedon, Pearse O’Neill(1-1), Aaron Berry, Tommy O’Donoghue, Will Leahy(1-6, 1-3 f,0-2 ’65)), Charlie Terry(0-1). Subs Used – Rory Slye, Kyle O’Shea

JB hurling championship quarter final Aghada 1-13 v Midleton 2-9

A day later we were back in the saddle as our JB hurlers took on Midleton in Killeagh. Aghada had the advantage of a strong wind in the 1st half and with Stevie Keeffe ruling the roost at midfield, started well to lead 4 points to a goal with 15 minutes played. Aghada had missed a number of scores as well, and this along with an improved showing from Midleton gave the town lads the advantage at half time on a 1-5 to 0-7 scoreline. The goal was soft from an Aghada point of view, while Luke O Connell, Jamie O’Hanlon, and John Connolly all joined Keeffie on the scoresheet with fine scores. Matt Leahy had Aghada’s last point of the half when his effort for goal went narrowly over the bar instead. With the aid of the strong wind Midleton pulled away in the 2nd half. A low scoring affair with lots of wides saw them out score Aghada 4 points to 2 to the opening 20 minutes. A second Midleton goal on 53 minutes gave them a 6 point lead with only 7 minutes to play and it looked all up for Aghada. Now came the rally. Ger Melvin who led the charge all through the second half, batted a great goal in an instance response. This was a crucial score and lifted the team. Subs Darren Malone, Marcus Leahy and Vincy Rohan all started to get involved and create scores. Mostly frees, pointed by Melvin. However as the clock ticked into injury time, we were still a point down. Melv pointed a great ’65 into the wind and it was all square with only seconds remaining. Aghada mounted one last attack. Keeffie getting loose and finding Brian Morrissey with a neat pass. (that’s a combination that has been working for 26 years since U10’s together!). Morrissey split the posts and Aghada led. The ref allowed a couple of more plays, but with Will Guiry, Richie Bull and Luke Foley in no mood to concede at this stage, Aghada held on to complete a remarkable comeback. Next up a semi-final against Killeagh on Sunday 22nd of September at 5:45pm.

Aghada Team and scorers – Ronan O’Connell, Richie Condon, Brian Morrissey, Luke Foley, Jack Norris, Tom O’Neill, Darragh Ryan, Ronan McConville, Stephen O’Keeffe (0-3, 1f), John Connolly(0-1), Ger Melvin(1-6), Ger Lynch, Jamie O’Hanlon, Luke O’Connell(0-1), Mathew Leahy(0-1). Subs Used – Marcus Leahy, Will Guiry, Craig Hogan, Darren Malone, Vincy Rohan.