Aghada Gaa Juvenile News

Hi Folks, a very important date for your diary Saturday October 9th the Masters fundraising game for our clubman and friend Seán Kenny who in his determined and brave battle is receiving ongoing treatment. Seán arrived to the parish from Tarbert County Kerry in the late 90s to work in the ESB power station in Whitegate and signed up straight away with Aghada GAA club, it was obvious from the start that Seán was blessed with great speed and skill and went on to play many games in his favourite right half back position for our junior and senior football teams, while also and more importantly he fitted right in and soon became one of the lads even heading off on a few famous foreign holidays with the boys in green brigade “in the off season of course” where the craic was legendary and as they say what goes on tour stays on tour. While retirement comes to all of us, Seán is now back as a very active member of the club, married to the delightful Bríd who plays football, camogie and coaches in the club, and their 3 wonderful children Darragh, Caoimhe and Méabh who play on our underage teams, Seán took on the coaching bib with his infectious enthusiasm energy and commitment, his refusal to shy away from the challenge he is faced with marks him out as an exceptional human being and we are delighted to call him one of our own. The old boots have been resurrected and the shorts taken out from the back of the press for the masters game “lets hope they fit” that starts at 1:30pm, this game is preceded by the Mother and Others at 12pm and at half time in these games underage camogie and football games take place, it goes without saying your support would be greatly appreciated and the entertainment value will be high with a Born + Bred selection taking on the Blow ins, where the bragging rights will be king, the Mothers and Others have graced Croke Park recently so there is no fear of them and as for the lads, they were training last Wednesday night and as they say class is permanent.

This week we found ourselves on the end of two narrow defeats in hurling finals, although down at the moment when we have time to reflect on it we will realise the great achievement of getting to these finals in the first place and the experience learned will stand to our young lads for the future years ahead. We did come out on top in u17 and u13 hurling and many thanks to Eric Walsh for the u13 match report.

U17 hurling V Mayfield 1-21 to 1-11. Our u17 hurlers produced a fantastic brand of fast open hurling to dismantle Mayfield at the forest pitch on a sunny Saturday afternoon . Mayfield started like they meant business scoring 1-1 without reply in the first couple of minutes and it looked like we were going to be in for a tough battle but once centre forward Ronan Murphy split the posts for a fine individual score it was the catalyst for a supreme team performance, with Noah Devoy hurling majestically at left half back we struck over a series of well taken points, left half forward John Walsh and right corner forward Cian O’ Shea with a brace each, as Noah also found the range and Ronan M added to his tally to leave us 2 points ahead at the first water break 0-7 to 1-2. The confidence levels were soaring through the team as Ronan M crashed the ball to the net for a well taken goal on the resumption and with James Hurley soundness personified between the sticks and varying his puckouts well, we were in the ascendancy. Full back Cian Hegarty and left half back Aaron Kearns were teak tough in defence and Ronan Walsh showing well up front as more scores flowed 2 from the industrious Oscar Slye and a fabulous Tommi Oosthuizen effort, with Cian clearing the crossbar and the trees in the wood as we pulled clear 1-13 to 1-2 at the short whistle. Mayfield to their credit never gave up and posed us a few more problems in the second half with some well taken points but in truth our lads had a bit more in reserve with Ronan M, John W, midfielder Aaron Atkinson and sub Samuel O’ Driscoll all pointing in this impressive victory that will please the management no end especially scoring 1-20 from play with John Walsh having a 100% record from our solitary free, a special mention for midfielder Pete White playing a captains part playing through the pain barrier with a dislocated finger, tough as nails. Final score 1-21 to 1-11 Team & scorers James Hurley, Seán Santos O’ Sullivan, Cian Hegarty, David Wallace, Aaron Kearns, Fionn O’ Callaghan, Noah Devoy 0-1, Pete White, Aaron Atkinson 0-1, Oscar Slye 0-3, Ronan Murphy 1-4, John Walsh 0-7 0-1f, Cian O’ Shea 0-3, Tommi Oosthuizen 0-1, Ronan Walsh subs used Diarmuid Cotter, James Motherway, Samuel O Drisscoll 0-1, Calum Roberts.

U13 hurling Aghada v St Colemans – Venue : Shanagarry 3rd October 2021 report by Eric Walsh. Aghada U13 togged off to play St Colemans in the Division 1 east cork U13 semi final. Winners to progress through to play St Catherines. Aghada had a number of selection issues before the game as 6 of the team had been sick in the run up to the game, and some were not available on the day. The game started at a blistering pace and with Aghada first attack full forward Jack Dorney plucking the ball out of the sky and scored a great goal. Cillian Burke followed up with another goal in the next attack. St Colemans had a number of attacks but wayward shooting let Aghada off. St Coleman had a number of goal chances but some fabulous defending with Eoghan Walsh in the Corner and Cillian Byrne in the other holding up St Coleman corner forwards. Sam Douglas was brilliant in full back. John Dorney pulled off a number of saves and kept Aghada in the game. As the game headed towards half time Jackson Kearns got on the end of a long ball and scored a great goal. Halftime score Aghada 3-07 to St Colemans 0-6 points. St Colemans started the 2nd half like men possessed and registered 2-01 to put a goal between the teams. Aghada made some positional changes Cian Moore to centre back and Sam Douglas and Adam Lewis wing backs . This stemmed the tide and Aghada registered 2 goals , first up Cillian Scanlon and Alex Buckley to put some daylight between the teams . Aghada’s half forward line of Ollie Killeen and Richie Kelly stormed into the game and registered a point each with Alan O’ Reilly carrying a lot of ball. St Colemans register a few points heading towards the second water break. Cormac Crowley came in to steady the defence and Jackson Kearns moved to centre back to replace the injured Cian Moore. Josh McCarthy, Sam McAllister and Tom Walsh did trojan work in the middle of the field. As the clock headed towards full time Marty O Donoghue and Austin Schoeman came onto the field to help the Aghada forward line. Final score Aghada 6-15 to St Colemans 2-10. It was a tremendous team performance on the day with 9 different scorers. Scorers: Jack Dorney 2-04, Tom Walsh 0-08, Alex Buckley 1-0, Cillian Scanlon 1-0, Cillian Burke 1-0, Jackson Kearns 1-0, Richie Kelly 0-1, Ollie Killeen 0-01,Sam McAllister 0-01.

U12 Hurling final Aghada 2-2 Cobh 1-6 Immense disappointment for our U12 hurlers who lost out by one point in a thrilling shield final played on our forest pitch on Sunday afternoon. Great credit to both sides who went at it hammer and thongs from the get go, very evenly matched teams and there was not much in it all through as can be seen by the final scoreline. While the management will be delighted with the application and endeavour of our lads they will be disappointed with a host of missed chances that could have made a real difference on another day. Our seaside neighbours opened the brighter and had 1-1 on the board before we opened our account when electric midfielder David Murphy was fouled after a wild pull and Robbie Oosthuizen stepped up to fire over the bar. Scores were at a premium as Robbie struck another point to leave it 0-2 to 1-1 at the first water break, defences were almost certainly on top with full back and captain Rossa White a tower of strength and behind him net minder Rian O’ Brien Higgins was his usual composed self with his assured handling a feature of the game. The next quarter was our best creating many chances and when a high ball was gathered by full forward Shay Rooney, his shot was half blocked as the inrushing Cathal Lowney made absolutely sure booting the ball to the net for our first green flag. Cobh hit over a few fine points and Robbie replied with another white flag as Rian superbly tipped over a piledriver to leave the game finely poised at half time 1-2 to 1-4 in Cobh’s favour. The second half was again a ding dong battle with both sides finding scores hard to come by, Cobh knocked over 2 brilliant points from distance and way out near the sideline to take the lead by 4 as Robbie crashed home a scorching free to the bottom corner to put one between the teams entering the final straight. In a welter of excitement and try as we might we could not find the equaliser as it was Cobh who prevailed by the slenderest of margins. Team & scorers Rian O Brien Higgins, Eoin O’ Donoghue, Rossa White, Cormac Cashman, Finbar Alcock, Jake Morrissey, Matthew Condon, David Murphy, Eoghan O’ Shea, Cathal Lowney 1-0, Donncha Walsh, Kaylan Cunningham, Robbie Oosthuizen 1-2, Shay Rooney, Dara O Brien subs used Jack Kelleher, Eoin Kirrane

U15 Hurling final Aghada 1-18 Ballinora 1-21 after extra-time Extra time heartbreak for our u15 hurling second string who came up just short after a fantastic year where they stormed through to the final only to record their first loss at the final hurdle. This team mainly comprising of u14s can be very proud of the way they developed all year putting in a string of eye catching performances and ran a very strong Ballinora outfit all the way, as this final went right down to the wire. We played with the wind at our backs in the first half and it was obvious from early on that this was going to be a close encounter. Full forward Isaac Oosthuizen collected a fine Conor Bakx sideline ball to fire over our first point of the day, then dynamic midfielder Jack Linehan who was excellent all through struck a great score and our magnificent centre back Colm O’ Donoghue went on a mazy run into the heart of the Ballinora defence and pointing with a brilliant piece of individual skill as the sides were deadlocked 0-3 each at the first water break. The next quarter was tense, tough and close in nature with defences on top James O’ Donnell was solid between the posts, outside him the full back line of Cillian Falvey, Evan Crowley and Colm White coping admirably with everything thrown at them as Andrew Murphy and Seán O’ Brien stood tall and disrupted many promising Ballinora attacks, the half time score was 5 points apiece Jack and Isaac our point scorers. The game opened up in the second half and Jude Devoy in particular sprung to life grabbing a goal showing great determination to come out of a ruck with the ball and blasting to the net, he also found the range with 3 quality points as we headed to the water break 1-10 to 0-9 in front and in a good position. Ballinora did not read the script and produced a scintillating next quarter hitting the side netting and firing over 7 points as they looked to wrestle control, our boys dug deep and were rewarded with a brace of Jude points and another from Jack to bring the game to extra time 1-13 to 0-16. We won the toss and elected to play with the wind hoping to get a good start in the first ten minutes of added time, but it was our opponents who made the early breakthrough with a well worked goal and despite some good teamwork, by our lads and points by Isaac and Jack 2 we trailed 0-3 to 1-1 after the first ten. We tried manfully to claw our way back into the game and met great resistance by a resolute Ballinora defence, points by Jack and Isaac had us within a goal and some goalmouth scrambles failed to yield the equalising goal we so badly needed. The final whistle sounded and brought the curtain down on a year where all concerned can certainly hold their heads up high. Team & scorers James O Donnell, Cillian Falvey, Evan Crowley, Colm White, Andrew Murphy, Colm O’ Donoghue 0-1, Seán O Brien, Conor Bakx, Jack Linehan 0-7 0-5f, Jude Devoy 1-5, Eoin Daly, Seán Corkery, Nathanael O’ Driscoll, Isaac Oosthuizen 0-5 0-1f, Cormac Walsh subs used Mattie O’ Leary, Pierce Noonan, Joe Connolly, Emmet O’ Keeffe.

The parish leagues continued over the weekend in both hurling and football and we are now into the finals with a Friday night lights extravaganza, next Friday night 8th October at 6pm will see our football finals take place with the following Friday the hurling night so why not come along and support our stars of the future in what promises to be Friday night light nights to remember.

Congratulations to all the children from our 3 schools in the parish who made their First Holy Communion and Confirmation over the last few weekends.

Our u8s welcomed Kiltha Óg to Rostellan last Saturday morning for a hurling challenge, a really enjoyable mornings hurling for our young camáns, well done to mentors David Hartnett, Martin Ryan, Conal Rabbitt and Eoin O’ Donovan for the excellent organisation.

FIXTURES: Wed 6th Oct Rebel Óg East U17 Div2 Hurling Championship V Whitechurch 19:45 Rostellan Sun 10th Oct Rebel Óg U15 Div5 Football Championship V O Donovan Rossa 13:30 Brinny

Slán go fóill BE SEEN WEAR THE GREEN