Prem Inter Hurling Championship – Aghada 0-17 v Ballinhassig 3-24; Shanbally 12/9/21

Not to be for our hurlers in our opening championship game, as we came second best to an impressive Ballinhassig outfit last Sunday. They opened the scoring in the 1st minute. Next Pearse plucked a puck out from the sky and was fouled for Willie to equalise. However Ballinhassig quickly pointed again and from here to the end would always hold the lead in the game. It was 8-4 at the 1st water break, Pearse involved in 3 of the scores, with Darragh Ryan, Tim Hartnett and John Looney all playing their part in setting up these scores that would ultimately be converted by Will Leahy. Leahy finished with an incredible 16 points out of Aghada’s total. The 1st score after the waterbreak was a fine goal from our opponents and now there was significant daylight between the teams. The sides exchanged 4 points each from here to the short whistle including our only non Will score, when Cian Fleming took on his man and hit a fine score on the run. Halftime scoreline read Aghada 0-8 v Ballinhassig 1-12.

Another restart and another blow for Aghada as ‘Hassig powered in for their 2nd goal 3 minutes into the 2nd half. They also hit 3 points in the opening 7 minutes and the result was beyond doubt from here. Aghada kept plugging away as best they could. Leahy kept adding to Aghada’s tally from play and frees aswell as a brilliant sideline. Fleming continued to win frees with his strong running as did Kyle O Shea who kept looking for the ball right to the end. Aghada did leave a number of points behind them with some wayward shooting, but never really threatened the Cork ‘Keeper Patrick Collins in the Ballinhassig goal. Jack Colbert and Donagh Collins were introduced late on, with Colbert helping to set up Leahy for his and Aghada’s last score of the day. By then we had conceded a third goal and Ballinhassig were fully deserving winners of the spoils. So we just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and go again next weekend in our 2nd hurling game, this time against Kilworth. Aswell as Colbert and Collins, Dan Leahy at corner back was also making his 1st appearance for the club with our top team and he had a very good game at corner back. The same story with young Darragh Ryan at wing forward who again had a good game in difficult circumstances. Management will also be happy that a number of players returning from long term injuries came through unscathed and will take these positives and build on them for next Saturday. The Kilworth game is at either 2 or 3pm in Castlelyons. Keep eye out for final details of fixture.

Aghada Team and scorers – Ciaran O Shea, Dan Leahy, Jack McDonnell, Tim Hartnett, Michael Russell, Mark McCarthy, Daniel Creedon, Aiden O’Connell, Jake O Donoghue, Cian Fleming (0-1), Will Leahy (0-16, 11f,1 s/line), Darragh Ryan, John Looney, Pearse O Neill, Kyle O Shea. Subs Used Jamie O Hanlon, Donagh Collins, Jack Colbert.

Jb Hurling Championship – Aghada 0-17 v Bride Rovers 1-16; Dungourney 12/9/21

A few hours later our 2nd adult hurling team were in championship action against Bride Rovers second string. Again we scored 17 points, again we were on the wrong side of the result, again we had a half forward do nearly all the scoring, but this game had a nail biting finale with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. Trailing by 7 points five minutes into the second half, Aghada, led by the outstanding Aaron Stafford, slowly but surely started to peg back our opponents. In the next ten minutes Aghada hit 5 unanswered points. Staff hit 4. Kevin O Hanlon, was also influential, scoring the other on the run up the left wing. He was also fouled for another of these scores. Super Veteran Veteran, Lar Collins was introduced at full forward in the 10th minute of the second half and he went on to cause confusion, consternation and a bit of controversy in the Rovers defence. It all helped the Aghada comeback as Staff punished all fouls from the resulting placed balls. Bride Rovers had a few very tasty forwards and they kept their own tally moving with some fine points from play. Another run up the left wing, this time by Jordan Tynan saw Staff hit Aghada’s 16th point, By now things had really heated up! The game had it all to be fair – high standard of hurling, high fitness levels (from most anyway!), lots of goalmouth excitement (Trigger never disappoints here!), and we also had a bit of shemozzling to boot! By the time another Stafford free had tied the game on 27 minutes, Bride Rovers were down to 13 men. Probably for the 1st time all night Aghada were now in pole position to go on and win the game. Credit to the Rathcormack outfit in true Bride Rovers fashion they refused to wilt. They retook the lead on 30 minutes and defended resolutely against the Aghada attacks. Then on 34 minutes they moved two points clear leaving Aghada in search of a goal. Right at the death, Lar earned another free about 30 metres out. Trigger came up ala Anthony Nash, but his free was blocked on the line. Twice in the goal mouth scramble that ensued, Aghada had great chances to whip the sliothar to the back of the net, but Rovers held firm and had a dramatic victory as the final whistle sounded when the ball was scrambled out over the endline.

Rovers had been the better team in the 1st half, racing into a 4 pts to 1 lead before Aghada got a chance to settle. Trigger was busy and very solid in goals as was Luke O Connell who impressed in a new role at full back and young Jack Norris at wing back scrapped for, and won, a lot of important dirty ball. Ben Stafford scored a fine opening point for Aghada, before Aaron Stafford converted a number of frees. On 22 minutes we had a bit of a Reeling in the Years moment when a few of our more, shall we say, experienced players combined for our 4th point. First John Connolly plucked a fine catch out of the skies. He offloaded to Stephen O Keeffe and he in turn fired the ball down the line to Alan Creedon at corner forward. Alan turned smartly and split the posts from right out on the sideline. Bride Rovers struck a good goal on 24 minutes and this helped them to a 1-9 v 0-7 halftime lead. Then came the eventful second half with the Aghada comeback just coming up short. With a wide tally in the double figures it was definitely a game we could of won, but credit the lads who gave it their all on the night.

Aghada Team and Scorers – Trevor O’Keeffe, Richie Condon, Luke O Connell, Alan Walsh, Jordan Tynan, Mark Healy, Jack Norris, Stephen O’Keeffe, Ben Stafford, Kevin O’Hanlon (0-1), Mathew Leahy, Aaron Stafford (0-14, 11f), Alan Creedon (0-1), John Connolly, Craig Hogan. Subs Used David Rice, Eoin Motherway, Lar Collins, Sean Og O Keeffe, Scott Whyte.