Aghada GAA Juvenile News
Hi folks, the hottest tickets in town were snapped up in around 5 minutes last Monday and we are not talking about the hurling match between Cork and Limerick or the summer concert by Elton John in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, I have my tickets with over a year and it’s still not sold out, but rather our own Cúl camp - as with only 150 places on offer due to the limitations put in place by GAA headquarters that stipulates coaches must be 18 years and over and a 10 kids to 1 coach ratio, as you can imagine the people who come into this category are either working or taking up summer jobs. So, we as a club are not in control of the booking system and when Croke Park opened the online system this leads to a kind of feeding frenzy that undoubtedly led to some very disappointed club members. Of course, if we manage to get more coaches signed up and we can then make more places available we will let people know as soon as possible through our club mentor groups. How do we cope with the challenges we face in life, we don’t give up, a few days after you thought there was no way out you wonder why you worried at all, so if things look bleak now just hold on after all we never know what’s just around the corner?
Our first game of the week was in the U17 premier 2 football league at home to Kilshannig. We scored the opening goal of the game around the 20-minute mark a fine team move involving Tomás Condon, Fionn O’ Connor and James Motherway ended with Samuel O’ Driscoll blasting a ferocious shot to the net as we lead at half time 1-4 to 1-2. John Walsh was commanding between the sticks and we had great workrate throughout the team as they put the disappointing result the last day against Carrigaline behind them. With James M hitting some good points and especially clinical from the placed ball, Cian Hegarty hitting a monster from distance and superb displays from Fionn O’ Connor and Conor Geary we deservedly held out for the win despite our opponents hitting a late goal and the crossbar to make it a nervy ending 1-10 to 2-5.
The third game of the campaign for our U13 footballers proved to be a fruitful one against the amalgamation that is St Colemans of Cloyne and Russell Rovers. The lads continued their upward trend after putting up a high score in the last game out against another amalgamation St Colmcille’s. There were outstanding performances all over the pitch with Ciarán Cashman and Rossa White powerful in the full back line and Sam Morgan pivotal at centre back after he had to deputise for the unlucky Kaylan Cunningham who was forced off after only 5 minutes. Flying wing back Matthew Condon also had to be replaced at half time and his replacement Donncha Walsh also fitted in seamlessly. Aidan Johnston and Peter Mulcahy worked their socks off with Evan Courtney a shining light at midfield with his tireless running and intelligent link up play. His partner Hugh O’ Lionsiagh showed his versatility when moved to full back and performing admirably with Shay Rooney a real thorn in the St. Colemans defence and proving to be an assist king setting up Eoghan O’ Shea who helped himself to a very impressive tally of 4 goals and a point. Jake Hegarty was our opening Goalscorer with Robbie Oosthuizen also raising a green flag and got the score of the game when being surrounded by players he somehow managed to do an overhead kick that landed over the bar. Final score Aghada 6-15 St Colemans 4-7 as our lads avenged last years Billy Ahern final loss to the same opposition.
Our U17 second string travelled to Togher to take on St Finbarr’s in the C-3 football league, unfortunately we were missing a few and succumbed to a strong Barr’s team. The first half was decent enough for the boys in green and they more than held their own for long periods as the home side struck for 2 slick well worked goals to repel the Aghada challenge. We also brought the best out of the Barrs keeper just before the break as he produced an excellent save to leave the half time score 2-5 to 0-4. The second half was mostly backs to the wall stuff with Ronan Walsh, Evan Crowley, Joshua Halpin and Robert Dean all making big impressions as they battled bravely to the end. Final score 3-13 to 0-7
The U14 footballers made the journey to Mahon to take on St Michaels last Sunday in what was a difficult day for football with a strong wind blowing down the pitch, we won the toss and elected to play with it in the first half and it set us up nicely to put some early scores on the board and in a comfortable position at half time, it was a different story in the second half with the home side coming at us at every opportunity but our lads were set up well defensively with Eoin Walsh, Jackson Kearns, Ronan Musgrave and goalkeeper Jago Evans performing heroically and standing firm we worked the ball well out of defence to keep them at bay and run out winners on a score line of 3-5 to 6-5.
Late drama ensued as we took on Watergrasshill in the U13 hurling league in Rostellan on Monday evening. In a cracking game the pendulum swung one way and the other right up to the end and down to the wire as both teams gave it everything. The score was 1-1 each after the first ten minutes both our scores coming from the energetic and skilful centre forward David Murphy. We pounced for goal number two when left half forward Sam Ahern connected brilliantly with a fine delivery from hard working midfielder Cathal Lowney to leave the half time score 2-1 to 1-3 in our favour. The second half was much of the same with both teams evenly matched we spurned some good opportunities and defensively we were working very hard and it was the hill who found themselves a point up heading into added time, then cometh the hour cometh the man as Harry Burgoyne ghosted in behind the hill defence and with virtually the last puck of the game struck an unstoppable shot to the back of the net to send the Aghada crowd wild as we won out 3-5 to 1-9 in an absorbing contest.
Well done to our juvenile players who played in the recent Celtic challenge U17 hurling group match against Kilkenny Black, for Cork East Oscar Slyle, Noah Devoy, Aaron Kearns and Fionn O’ Connor as they won 4-19 to 1-13 and to juvenile representatives Andrew Murphy and Eanna Crowley who played on the Rebel Óg U15 football team away in Meath recently.
Congratulations to our former star juvenile player Danny McCarthy who has attained international status being called up to the Ireland rugby U19 squad for the upcoming double game against France. Well done Danny a great honour for you and your family and the best of luck from all in Aghada GAA club.
Many thanks to Óisin Counihan who stepped into the breach as referee in our recent U17 P2 football game when there was a ref no show. Óisin put in a commanding performance and maybe he could follow in his grandfathers footsteps our esteemed president John T Motherway who had a long and distinguished career with the whistle.
FIXTURES:
Wed 13th Rebel Óg East U15 P2 Hurling League Aghada V Youghal 18:30 Rostellan Thur 14th Rebel Óg U17 C3 Hurling League Aghada V Ballincollig 19:00 Rostellan Mon 18th Rebel Óg East U12 Group 3 Football League Mayfield V Aghada 19:00 Mayfield
Slán go fóill BE SEEN WEAR THE GREEN
