Aghada Juvenile GAA News

Hi folks, the glorious sunshine of the last few weeks made way for biblical like rainfall that had spectators searching for umbrellas as players were tested in monsoon weather like conditions. Our first team out were the U18 footballers who travelled to Mahon to take on St Michaels with a strong swirling wind from the city side heading out towards the harbour and Little Island making life difficult for the players and in particular the free takers with some uncharacteristic misses on both sides. The home side were quickly out of the blocks and earned a penalty in the first minute that Aghada custodian Cian O’ Shea was unlucky not to reach diving low and getting his fingertips to a well struck shot that nestled in the bottom corner. Aghada played with a third midfielder as Fionn O’ Connor moved out from corner forward roaming to good effect with midfielders Seán O’ Callaghan playing a deep lying role and Donagh Collins showing all his athleticism that would not be out of place at the Olympics to cover every blade of grass, this in turn allowed forwards Diarmuid Byrne, Conall Rooney and Ronan Murphy to punch holes in the St Michael defence with clever runs from deep. The two man inside full forward line of Eoin Motherway and Stevie O’ Shea were showing well, with Eoin producing Aghada’s only green flag of the game in a match that was always close in nature. The Mahon side scored a late second half goal to gain parity and then went ahead on the stroke of full time with a rather dubious free, but there was one last kick in this fiercely competitive Aghada side as Eoin Motherway was coolness personified to kick over the equaliser that was the least they deserved in a titanic battle for supremacy that left the final score St Michaels 2-4 Aghada 1-7. Aghada team Cian O’ Shea, Aaron Atkinson, Jack Colbert, Aaron Kearns, Pete White, Lachlan Greig, Olivier Jordan, Donagh Collins, Seán O’ Callaghan, Diarmuid Byrne, Conall Rooney, Ronan Murphy, Fionn O’ Connor, Stephen O’ Shea, Eoin Motherway. Subs Scott Whyte, Jack Corkery, Tommi Oosthuizen, John Walsh, Issac Mirner, Jack Dunne, Conor Geary, Eric Cunningham, Cian Hegarty, Fionn O’ Callaghan, Michael Corkery, Diarmuid Murphy, Joshua

U15 Div 1 Football Championship Aghada V Cobh report by Óisín Counihan

Our U15s continued their good start to their football campaign with a hard fought victory over Cobh in the Quarry pitch on Thursday night. The end scoreline did not reflect the quality of this Cobh side who began with a fast start scoring the first 3 points. Aghada slowing began clawing their way back into the tie with James Hurley leading the way upfront and the two Sean's, Corkery and Santos O Sullivan doing likewise at the back as we fought back to level the game at the water break. In the 2nd quarter Cobh grabbed the first goal of the night. However, we kept our heads and good play in defence from Colm White, Conor Baxx and Tomas Condon alongside good kickouts and work from keeper Jack Buckely gave us a good attacking platform. Good work from Callum Roberts and James Motherway in the forwards helped us grab 2 points before half time which meant we went in at halftime behind by the smallest of margins. The 3rd quarter of the game is often said to be the most important nowadays and Aghada showed this as the game was won in this 15 minute period with a majorly improved performance after half time. The forwards began to run riot with James Hurley, Samuel O Driscoll and Eoin Daly in particular coming to the fore. Goals from those 3 gave Aghada a large lead which they never looked like relinquishing. However to only give forwards credit for the 3:10 to 1:04 scoreline at the waterbreak would not paint the full picture. The midfield duo of Robert Deane and David Wallace dominated the kickouts and the midfield battle in this period and anything that did pass them was quickly dealt with by Hugh Mulcahy, Roger Mcgrath and man of the match on the night Sean Santos O Sullivan. With the large lead now secure we saw out the fixture with relative ease with Finn Berry, Cian Murphy and Evan Crowley all digging in for the last 15 to help us pull out the win on a final scoreline 3:12 to 1:05. Full credit to Cobh who were closer to us then the scoreline suggests and gave us a good test. Team: Jack Buckley, Colm White, Sean Santos O Sullivan, Sean Corkery, Conor Baxx, Hugh Mulcahy, Tomas Condon, David Wallace, Robert Deane, Callum Roberts, Samuel O Driscoll, Evan Crowley, Finn Berry, James Hurley, James Motherway Subs Used: Eoin Daly, Roger Mcgrath, Cian Murphy

U13 Football League Aghada V Kiltha Óg Phase 2 of the U-13 League got underway on Friday night last in Rostellan where we hosted Kiltha Òg. Kiltha Òg had dropped down from Premier 2 for phase 2 of the league so this was going to be a tough test for the lads. Kilta started very well and had 1-1 on the board very early on. Our lads settled into the game and started to move the ball with more ease and thundered into the game with 1-5 to a single point to Kilta to leave the halftime score Aghada 1-5 Kilta 1-2. Again Kilta were fast out of the traps at the start of the second half and got in for two quick goals. Aghada got a point back, but again Kilta rattled the back of our net. The lads never gave up and kept at it, but unfortunately, we couldn’t close the gap and Kiltha Óg won in the end on a score line of Aghada 3-7 Kiltha Òg 4-10. Aghada Panel, C Crowley, Z Schoeman, S Douglas, J Kearns, M Daly, S Mc Allister, A Lewis, J Mc Carthy, O Killeen, C Burke, T Walsh, C Byrne, J Mulcahy, C Moore, R Kelly, A Schoeman, N Tynan, D Meaney, A Buckley, D Winter.

The Go Games got a weekend off but that did not stop some of our teams going on the challenge circuit, our U9 hurlers played away to Fr O’ Neills in Aghavine on a night that would be more suited to the rowing in Skibbereen there was so much water! Our U10’s played away against Watergrasshill, with our U8’s due to play Midleton shortly. Well done to all involved.

Well done once again to our own Fergal Rasper Condon and the Cork U20 hurlers who had a thrilling muster final victory over Limerick and now go on to another All Ireland final in as many months where they will face Galway next weekend, the best of luck Rasper the Rebel tide is rising. Cork U20 footballers whittled a nine point deficit down to two as Offaly struck a goal in the final moments to book a place in this years All Ireland football decider, our own Diarmuid Phelan played his heart out and can be proud of his contribution along with fellow clubman and backroom member Brian Walsh to this excellent Cork team and set up. Diarmuid had an excellent championship and while disappointing for the Rebels its great to see Offaly back in the big time, you would always admire good players from other counties and as a young kid growing up Matt O’ Connor from Offaly was one of my favourite players, as new heroes emerge for this generation.

The club was highly involved in the Thomas Kent annual commemoration in Rostellan last Saturday with great contributions from club legend Tommy Foley and vice president and trustee of the club Anthony Cashman along with juvenile chairman PJ Hurley laying a wreath in memory of Aghada GAA clubs founding president and fenian Denis Kelly, all in all a very enjoyable afternoon was had by the large attendance and well done to the local Thomas Kent committee for the excellent organisation of the occasion.

Fixtures: Mon 2nd Rebel Óg East U12 Div3 Hurling League Aghada V Grenagh 19:00 Rostellan Mon 2nd Rebel Óg U15 Div5 Football Championship Aghada V Erins Own 19:30 Rostellan Wed 4th Rebel Óg East U18 Div1 Hurling League Cobh V Aghada 19:45 Cobh Fri 6th Rebel Óg East U13 Div1 Hurling League Aghada V Passage 19:00 Rostellan Sat 7th Rebel Óg U15 Prem1 Hurling Championship Glen Rovers V Aghada 13:00 Glen Field Sat 7th Rebel Óg U16 Group2 Hurling League Cobh V Aghada 18:00 Cobh

Slán go foil. BE SEEN WEAR THE GREEN.