Our hurlers travelled west last Sunday for the 1st round of this year’s league. Short a good number of regulars we lost out narrowly in what was an entertaining game of hurling. Kilbrittain were full value for the win, and while Aghada never seemed to get fully into their stride at any point, the game was there to be won right up to the final whistle. It was Danny Creedon driving forward from wing back that opened Aghada’s account. (He would repeat the feat again in the 2nd quarter). Lively wing forward Rory O’Connell had Aghada’s second and after 5 minutes the sides were level on 2 points each. From here to the water break it was pretty much the home side on top. They hit 4 unanswered scores, a brace of pointed frees, and 1-1 from play, with Aghada struggling to make any in roads. The water break did the trick however and we were much improved in the 2nd quarter. Will Leahy got motoring on the 40 hitting 5 points in this period, with Pearse O Neill and Danny also splitting the posts in a much more even contest. The hosts had 4 points in this period and at half time the score was Aghada 0-9 v Kilbrittain 1-9.

Aghada would have the wind for the second half, such as it was, but still we never fully got up a head of steam. Despite a Leahy free opening the scoring, the wind was taken out of our sails with the concession of a sloppy 2nd goal. Like the 1st half, this opening quarter would belong to the home side. They added 5 points to the green flag while in response we had 2 more from Leahy and one from Aaron Berry after a good run. On 15 mins O’Connell set up Leahy for a well struck goal from play and soon after O’Connell was fouled for Leahy to point again. Aghada were once again back in the match, but again Kilbrittain steadied and tagged on 3 unanswered points to lead by 2-17 to 1-14 heading into the final 5 minutes. Credit to a young Aghada team, they never gave up and rallied once again coming down the home straight. Points from Aghada’s 2 best forwards on the day – Leahy and O Connell, along with one each from Aaron Stafford and Jamie O Hanlon got Aghada back to within striking distance. However striking distance was as close as we got and Kilbrittain held on for a deserved victory. All in all a good work out for Aghada with lots of new blood on view to give plenty hope for the year ahead.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Ciaran O’Shea, Dan Leahy, Jake O Donoghue, Aiden O Connell, Darragh Ryan, Michael Russell, Daniel Creedon(0-2), Jordan Tynan, Rory Slye, Aaron Berry(0-1), Will Leahy(1-10,6f), Rory O Connell(0-2), Aaron Stafford(0-1), Pearse O Neill(0-1), Jamie O Hanlon(0-1). Subs Used Charlie Terry, Kyle O Shea, Conor O Keeffe, Mark Healy, Kane Looney, David Rice, Donagh Collins.