Junior A Football League

Aghada 5-6 Erins Own 2-9

Our Junior A footballers got their defence of their league title of to a flying start on Friday night in Rostellan against Erin’s Own’s first team where our lads seized control of the tie from the get-go. The team under new management with Mattie O’Connor at the helm this year had a youthful look to it with Richie Condon and Rob Whelan the elder statesmen on show.

With less than a minute on the clock, Neil Cunningham received the ball on the 21-metre line and a sharp turn, left Neil through on goal with only the keeper to beat. The young forward made no mistake, burying the ball to the back of the net. This score finished with a cutting edge set the tone of the night for the home side. Erin’s Own replied with a pointed free but in truth Aghada were very much in control of possession. Luke O’Connell was the second scorer for Aghada with a very well taken point after a lovely pass from Cein O’Driscoll. A couple of minutes later Alan Hogan looked to have finished a sweeping move to the back of the net when his shot seemed to strike the back bar of the Erin’s own goal. Referee Jim Hennessy however didn’t agree, and the game continued with Aidan O’Connell reminding his teammates to play to the whistle to the amusement of the Aghada supporters. The ball was recovered immediately and amazingly Aidan fed Alan again and this time there was no doubt about the outcome with a brilliant low shot to the bottom corner of the net. Aghada were in full flow at this stage and kept their foot on the pedal with Max Ahern next to add his name to the scoresheet with a lovely taken point after a hard-fought turnover from Aaron Stafford in his own half with Luke transitioning the ball to Max with lightning speed. Aghada backs were working ferociously hard and earning very valuable turnovers for the team. Jack Norris, Darragh Ryan and Richie Condon powering forward and disposing players on many occasions. Ed Leahy with one of these turnovers, where he fed Cein O’Driscoll who in turn fed Jamie O’Hanlon with a lovely well timed kick pass. Jamie turned the afterburners on and chipped over a lovely minor to leave Aghada two clear goals clear halfway through the first half. In fact, Aghada had limited Erin’s Own to just three pointed frees in this quarter. Mattie O’Connor’s bow as manager was about to get better a few minutes later. Jamie O’Hanlon seemed to be bottled up with three Erin’s Own players around him on the 65-metre line but somehow spinned beautifully and unleashed a lovely hand pass off to the ever-industrious Aidan O’Connell who fed Luke O’Connell whose eyes lit up with 20 yards of space in front of him. Luke charged forward and with everyone in attendance expecting Luke to tap over a point, Luke riffled an unsavable shot to bottom right corner of the Erin’s Own net from 20 metres out. Aghada were then dealt a blow with the dangerous Alan Hogan leaving the field of play with injury with Eoin Motherway replacing him. The next score certainly warmed everyone in attendance up with nearly every forward contributing to a great team goal, which had patience, intensity and most importantly accuracy on show. Cein O’Driscoll making no mistake slotting the ball away in the top corner of the opposition net. With half time on its way it looked like that was the scoring done for the half but when Eoin Motherway, Max Ahern, Dan Leahy and Luke O’Connell worked hard which eventually led to a turnover in the Erin’s Own half the ball fell to Neil Cunningham who ambitiously lobbed the Erin’s Own keeper from 35 metres out. (Someone will have to ask Neil if he meant it or not!). Half time soon followed with Aghada leading 5-3 to 0-3 at the short whistle.

Mattie O’Connor introduced a few subs or finishers as they are called these days to the fray during the interval. On came Sean Byrne, Kane Looney and most notably Ronan Murphy who was making his debut in adult football. As you’d expect Aghada were hit by an early onslaught from Erin’s Own early in the second half. The opposition notching 1-4 without reply in the opening 12 minutes of the half. Ronan Murphy also got a welcome to adult football when he received a boot to the face in this period. Amazingly, it took Aghada 16 minutes to register a score in the second half and this came from the boot of Neil Cunningham from a free that was well engineered by Jack Farmer. It certainly steadied the ship and led to one of the scores of the game shortly after. Sean Byrne received possession from debutant Pete White and confidently strode up the side-line and cut in before kicking a lovely score that received a great reaction from the Aghada support on the night. Eoin Motherway was then unlucky not to register a goal of his own shortly after when his goal bound shot was smothered on the line after great work by another debutant at this grade Aaron Atkinson. Our final score of the game came from a lovely executed 45 metre kick by Neil Cunningham. Erin’s Own finished the stronger of the teams with a closing goal and a couple of points with it but it would matter little as Aghada ran out 5-6 to 2-9 winners on the night.

Overall, Aghada will be very happy with the performance and will be delighted to be up and running for the year. Keeper Rob Whelan was excellent on the night with some lovely executed kickouts and great composure in goals. A special shoutout to Ronan Murphy, Aaron Atkinson and Pete White who made their debuts on the adult stage on the night.

Well done lads and hopefully there is a long successful year ahead for ye!

Best of Luck also to Mattie and his management team which includes Aidan Berry, Shane Wall and John Wall. A very strong management who will hopefully lead the team to some glory this year!

Aghada Panel on the night: Rob Whelan, Jack Corkery, Jack Norris, Richie Condon, Darragh Ryan, Ed Leahy, Aaron Stafford, Aidan O’Connell, Dan Leahy, Max Ahern, Luke O’Connell, Cein O’Driscoll, Alan Hogan, Neil Cunningham, Jamie O’Hanlon, Ronan Murphy, Kane Looney, Craig Healy, Sean Byrne, Jack Farmer, Pete White, Eoin Motherway, Aaron Atkinson, Oisin Counihan, Cian O’Shea.