New year, new rules, new management and a good start from Colin Rooney’s charges as we won our 1st league encounter of the year. Played on the forest pitch in Rostellan, referee James Birmingham took time before the throw in to go over the new rules with both teams. From the throw in Aghada were quickest out of the blocks. They raced into a 4 points to no score lead at the end of the 1st quarter. Centre forward Danny Creedon had 3 of these scores, 2 from frees, while Pearse O’Neill, starting his 25th football league campaign for Aghada, kicked a fine score from play. Next Glanworth opened their account from play before Tim Hartnett ran the length of the pitch to fire over Aghada’s 5th. Hartnett, at corner back, had an exceptional game from start to finish, both in defence and attack. The sides quickly shared 4 points between them from the 20th to the 24th minute. Aghada’s scores were a super Danny free and an excellent Jamie O’Hanlon point finishing off yet another Hartnett marauding run up the right wing. Next came Aghada’s 1st green flag. Pearse plucked a kickout from the sky, played a pass to Charlie Terry who in turn put Jamie through on goal and the young forward rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home. Glanworth finished the half with a point from play to leave the half time score – Aghada 1-7 v Glanworth 0-5.

A point apiece in the opening 10 minutes maintained the status quo. Aaron Berry, who had a great game, set up Danny who was fouled going through and duly pointed the free. Aghada would only score 3 more times in the game. But they would be 3 goals. On 11 minutes a Shane Bennett run set up Hartnett, who in turn played in Berry and the wing forward buried low to the ‘keepers left. Glanworth responded well and hit the next 4 scores and had 10 points in total by the 20th minute. They were still in the game at this point, but would not score again in the contest. On 21 minutes Cian Fleming started a move that involved Hartnett and Berry and finished with Shane Bennett calmly tapping home a rebound off the ‘keeper. Bennett scored his 2nd and Aghada’s 4th goal on 29 minutes when a good run from Kevin O’Hanlon released him in on goals and he finished low to the back of the net to seal a fine win for Aghada. Another positive note for Aghada was the return of Ed Leahy from long term injury. Next up is Knocknagree on Sunday the 9th at 12:30pm in Knocknagree.

Aghada Team and scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Ronan McConville, Ronnie Power, Tim Hartnett (0-1), Tommy O’Donoghue, Shane Dorney, Jordan Tynan, Aiden O’Connell, Pearse O’Neill (0-1), Shane Bennett (2-0), Daniel Creedon (0-5, 4f), Aaron Berry (1-0), Kevin O’Hanlon, Charlie Terry, Jamie O Hanlon (1-1). Suns Used – Aaron Stafford, Cian Fleming, Ray Savage, Ed Leahy, Ben Stafford, Cian O’Driscoll, Mark Healy, David Rice.