Tráthnóna maith daoibh, 

Let’s start with the Lotto today. As of last night we have completed a full year of draws since the relaunch of our new Lotto. Could it be the most generous local lotto of all time!!?? 249 (to be exact) winners in that time might agree. Especially the 4 jackpot winners – jackpots of €12,750 (twice!), €12,250 and €10,750. Between the jackpot winners, the lucky dip winners and the Christmas bonus prize winners, we have given out just over €55,000 in prize money. Congratulations to all our winners and here is hoping the rest of our loyal supporters get lucky in the coming year. (I mean in the Lotto!!) 

For those who see the importance of the Lotto as much about supporting the club as the bonus of taking down prize money (I think that’s all of us), the incredible support for the Lotto has raised much needed funds for the maintenance and upkeep of our fantastic facilities in Rostellan. This would not be possible without the backing of all the clubs using Pairc Liam Ui Riain. Thanks to the finance committee for all the hard work on this front. This committee is made up of a cross club combination of hard working volunteers from Aghada ladies football club, Aghada Camogie Club and Aghada GAA club. All working together for the benefit and promotion of Gaelic games in our parish and community.  

There was no winner of last night’s jackpot. And €8,750 will be up for grabs next week. See full results below –  

Speaking of resources, you won’t find many clubs in Cork that can match our own club when it comes to playing facilities. But this comes at a cost as we all know. Some rough examples of a sample of recent and currently happening jobs and their costs would include the following  

• verti draining, sanding and fertilising of our 3 fields - €12,500 
• Service of our match standard floodlights - €2700 
• Dugouts purchase and installation - €9500 
• Security improvements for our grounds incl cameras and gym door coded access - €3700

The good news is we get Pat and Johnty for free!!! We also have a couple of very helpful electricians within the club that do a lot of unseen work. One of whom came to the rescue last Friday morning in an emergency to sort out our floodlights for that evening. So thanks to those lads aswell. I'm not alllowed to name them as they fear they'd have 6,000 foxer requests by next week! Good men are hard to find!

Speaking of dugouts, a shout went out last week for volunteers with very last minute notice but still nearly 20 people showed up at 9am on a Tuesday morning to help with the installation of the new dugouts at the forest field. And you know this is also what being part of a GAA club is all about. Yes the games and all the matches, coaching and training that go with them is massive; but important also are members coming together as volunteers to fundraise, to help host matches and tournaments, to stand side by side in guard of honours for fellow members, to administrate, to shout support, to strim driveways, to take ownership of our grounds and yes to go out of their way to install dugouts on a random morning in September. And those there really enjoyed being part of it. There was I’m told, just about, more craic than work going on!!. Thanks to all for their help. Special thanks to Aiden Kelleher, who as usual, led from the front! The only way he knows how. Some pictures from the morning below ( we had some late comers after the group pic aswell) –  

Ok back to the massive stuff ! –  

Our hurlers gave there all last Saturday in Castlelyons against Kilworth but ultimately came up short on the day. We can now no longer qualify out of this group and our last game v Ballincollig will be all about avoiding relegation battles. That's a couple of weeks away yet as we switch back to football this weekend again. Well done to our JB hurlers who had a fine championship last Saturday against Sarsfields.

As just mentioned our Premier Intermediate footballers are in action in Dunmanway at 4pm tomorrow against Castletownbere. A well earned draw the last day out against Newmarket, we will be hoping to go one better this time out to give us the best chance of progressing from the group. The very best of luck to all involved. The link for adults attending the match to get tickets is here - Castletownbere V Aghada Bon Secours Football Championship - Events - Universe

So over the last 40 years what has survived wars, troubles, recessions, fuel crises, pandemics, and more? Yes of course it is the Comórtas Liam Ui Riain. This year marks the 40th year of our hosting of the prestigious Willie Ryan U12 hurling tournament. The longest running club orgainised tournament in Cork, it is held in the highest regard near and far. This year and last has been curtailed somewhat by covid but none the less 4 teams will battle it out on Saturday to take home the precious trophy. Action gets under way in Rostellan at 10 am and will run until the very early afternoon. Best of luck to all involved here also. 

Staying with juveniles and huge congrats to the U15 hurlers who fought like tigers to win the Premier 1 shield last Saturday away against Inniscarra. Well done lads. We have a few more shield finals coming up soon and we still have a number of teams still in the hunt for championships outright so keep an eye on the website for all these fixtures. There are even competitions for some age groups yet to start apparently. Remember the days we would be at the start of year end wind down by now? Well not anymore! 

So best of luck to all as the games continue to come thick and fast. 

The above news is emailed to an Aghada GAA mailing list on a weekly basis. If you would like to be included on this mail list please email - pro.aghada.cork@gaa.ie