East Cork 2020 Junior C Football final – Aghada 0-7 v Midleton 1-8; 16/6/21 in Dungourney

On a beautiful summer evening Aghada’s third football team travelled to Dungourney in the hope of winning a second East Cork title in 5 days for the club. Another of last year’s covid hit competitions, Midleton were the opponents and ultimately also the worthy winners. The magpies made a blistering start hitting 1-2 inside the opening 8 minutes to leave Aghada somewhat shell shocked. Aghada barely got out of their own half in this period as Midleton dominated all over. The game settled somewhat after that and Midleton only scored 1 more point before the 1st waterbreak and Aghada grew more and more into the match. A worrying trend was developing however as attack after attack was ending with poor shooting in front of goals. At the water break Aghada had yet to score and trailed 1-3 v 0-0. Aghada had the better of the next quarter but would continue to squander very kickable scores. Scores dried up as well for Midleton and a Seamus Moloney pointed free after Ronan Kennedy was fouled on the run was the only score either side managed before the short whistle. Considering the start and the fact that a breeze would favour Aghada in the 2nd period 1-3 v 0-1 didn’t look all that bad. However we would have to play the 2nd half with just 14 men.

Midleton however were 1st off the mark on resumption again with a fine point from play. Good work from David Rice saw Rob Stafford get a nice score from play for Aghada. Brian Wall next drew a foul and Seamus took the free to get his second and Aghada’s third. Aghada’s gander was up now and they quickly had another point on the board when Stephen Daly set up Ronan Kennedy for Aghada’s 4th point and now there was just a goal in it. Midleton steadied however and won a penalty soon after. They missed the spot kick but tagged on another point after Aghada goalie Rob Whelan had denied them another goal. At the other end Aghada’s hot streak in front of goal was over and the wayward shooting returned again. By the last water break Aghada were down to 13 men (1 black card) and were behind on a 1-5 v 0-4 scoreline. From here it was a difficult ask, but Aghada kept trying right to the end. Points from Stevie Keeffe and one from substitute John Connolly who blazed narrowly over the bar were matched by Midleton. And while we went back up to 14, as Midleton were reduced to 14, we still never really looked like pegging them back. Stephen Daly did point but significantly we also continued to miss some soft scores included a couple of close in frees. In the end Midleton who continued to create goal chances were the deserving winners on a 1-8 v 0-7 scoreline. Player manager Mattie O Connor will wonder what might have been if things had gone better in front of goals. But while 14 wides from Aghada to Midleton’s 6 does tell a story, we probably would still have finished second best regardless.

Well done to all for getting to the final and not long now for the 2021 season to start. Aghada Team and scorers –

Rob Whelan, Alan Walsh, David Rice, Sean Og O’Keeffe, Mathew O Connor, Dan Leahy, Shay Keane, Rory O Connell, Rob Stafford(0-1), Mark Stafford, Seamus Moloney(0-2,2f), Stephen Daly (0-1), Stephen O’Keeffe(0-1, 1f), Ronan Kennedy(0-1), Brian Wall. Subs Used Lar Collins, John Connolly (0-1), Callum Fletcher, Scott Coyle Garde.

Premier Intermediate Football League – Aghada 5-13 V Nemo Rangers 5-12; 20/6/21 – Rostellan

As the scoreline would suggest supporters were treated to a hugely entertaining game of football in Rostellan last Sunday morning. A shoot out in every sense of the word with goals flying in from all quarters. Shane Bennett and Aaron Berry had 2 goals each in the opening half. Bennett had a beauty when he lobbed the stranded Nemo ‘keeper, while Berry’s 2nd was worthy of any game in the Euros, a rocket left foot strike off the ground. Aghada led 4-8 v 3-5 at the half time whistle. The 2nd half followed along similar lines and a thrilling game went down to the wire. Aghada’s 5th goal is still being investigated by VAR and was either young Conall Rooney on his debut or Michael Russell lunging in at the far post. In the end when all was said and done, Aghada were winners by the slenderest of margins. Donagh Collins impressed in the full back line as did Charlie Terry and Kevin O Hanlon around the middle of the field and Pearse O Neill kicked an impressive 6 points to help Aghada over the line. Plenty more debuts handed out to an up and coming new group of young footballers so all in all a good day’s work for manager Philip Moore and his squad.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Diarmuid Byrne, Ed Leahy, Ronnie Power, Aaron Stafford, Shane Dorney, Jake O’Donoghue, Kyle O Shea(0-1), Pearse O Neill (0-6), Charlie Terry, Aiden O Connell, Kevin O’Hanlon(0-3), Aaron Berry(2-1), Danny Creedon(0-2,2f), Michael Russell(1-0), Shane Bennett(2-0). Subs Used Donagh Collins, Jack Colbert, Conall Rooney, Scott Whyte, Eoin Motherway, Fintan Cody.

2020 County Junior B football championship ¼ final – Aghada 2-6 v Kilmurry 1-3; Ballincollig 20/6/21

Our Jb footballer’s adventure into a county championship (2020 county championship) continues after we overcame the Kilmurry challenge last Sunday evening in Ballincollig. Alan Hogan got us off to a flyer with a great turn and point in the opening minute. Not a sign of things to come however. Kilmurry had a wide and then an equalizer before Max Ahern kicked a fine score from play after a surging run out of defence from Aghada captain Mark Healy. Kilmurry were right in it, but wayward shooting in front of goal was to cost them dearly. On 10 minutes, Alan Hogan was pulled down when through on goals and though he still managed to squeeze the ball to the back of the net, the penalty had all ready been awarded. It matter little, as Cein O Driscoll riffled an unstoppable peno to the roof of the Kilmurry net. Aghada huffed and puffed from here to the water break, but too often were focused on goal chances instead of keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Oisin Counihan did kick a fine score to leave the score at the 1st water break – 1-3 v 0-1 in Aghada’s favour. The next 10 minutes saw both sides missing an equal amount of chances. And a full 29 minutes were on the clock before we saw the next score. Jack Norris, who was doing a fine job at corner back on the Kilmurry dangerman, burst forward and released Counihan. He in turn set Hogan through on goals and the in form forward buried from close range. More wides followed from both sides before Kilmurry finished the 1st half scoring with a point in injury time. Halftime saw the scoreboard read 2-3 v 0-2 in Aghada’s favour. It had been a stop start 1st half performance and Aghada weren’t helped losing Sean Morrissey to injury early on in the half and Oisin Counihan at half time to illness. We would also lose Mark Healy early in 2nd half again to injury. Still we were firmly in the driving seat at this point.

The 3rd quarter was extremely low scoring as the intensity dipped. Kilmurry scored just after the restart but it was just before the 2nd water break before Max Ahern pointed a free to open Aghada’s second half account. It was 2-4 v 0-3 at this point and while not firing on all cylinders, Aghada looked comfortable. Aghada continued to try and create goal chances to no avail. Cein O Driscoll pointed to extend the lead and the Aghada defence, with Ben Stafford prominent, was standing firm. Jordan Tynan was outstanding for the hour and time and again broke up Kilmurry attacks and started counter moves for Aghada. It looked done and dusted, but then Kilmurry pounced for a goal on 29 minutes to make it a bit nervy again. However good work from Vincey Rohan at corner forward eventually led to a fine point from midfielder Dara Murphy and Aghada ran out deserving winners by double scores. Next up is a county semi final. Here we will face Mallow’s second team and the game is fixed for Watergrasshill on Sunday the 27th at 3pm.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Ciaran O Shea, Jack Norris, Kane Looney, Ben Stafford, Stephen Murphy, Mark Healy, Craig Healy, Dara Murphy(0-1), Jordan Tynan, Sean Morrissey, Cein O Driscoll(1-1,1-0f), Max Ahern(0-2, 1f), Oisin Counihan(0-1), Luke O Connell, Alan Hogan(1-1). Subs Used Conor Moloney, Seamus Moloney, Mathew O Connor, Vince Rohan, Sean Og O’Keeffe.