Aghada Juvenile GAA News
Hi folks, the excitement has been building all week and I am not talking about Westlife in Cork or jumping off the pier in lower Aghada but the bus trip to Croke Park for our u12 football team! Yes folks, most kids dream of playing in the biggest sporting arena in Ireland and running out on the famous hallowed turf and our u12 team will do it this Wednesday when they will play 3 games at headquarters, get a stadium tour and visit the museum. The Aghada bus will leave Rostellan on Wednesday morning at 7am and we will provide updates on social media platforms Facebook and twitter of this exciting journey on a day the children will never forget. The last time an Aghada juvenile team played in Croke Park was in 2011 and our adult PRO Vince Rohan was part of the team and according to chief mentors on the day Richie Condon Junior and Tommy Foley by all accounts he picked up a deserved yellow card, you will have to ask Vincie himself about that but as he says himself it was a very memorable day and definitely a career highlight to date!
U15 football championship
A blistering start from our seaside neighbours Youghal put them in total control in the blazing sunshine of Costa del Sol Rostellan last Wednesday evening. We never got close enough on the scoreboard to unduly trouble our opponents although if we had taken the many goal chances, we created then perhaps it might have put a different reflection on the outcome. This was the polar opposite for the Youghal boys who were clinical in front of goal, and it could have been a lot worse were it not for the heroic goalkeeping of our excellent net minder Cormac Crowley, as well as the brave defending from Eoghan Walsh, Andrew Murphy, Josh McCarthy and the excellent Dara O’ Conchubhair- when he was moved to full back in the second half to curtail the visitors danger man. We managed to put 4 points on the board by half time, Cian Moore with 2 and others from Tom Walsh and Cormac Walsh, but in truth we will be disappointed with our return as a few majors went abegging. The second half was much of the same with the visitors attacks reaping dividends and in Sam McAllister we had one of the hardest working players on the field always carrying the fight to our opponents. Jude Devoy now in a roving role put over 2 excellent points but alas it was the Youghal boys who ran out thoroughly deserving winners. We are still in this competition and will know a far better performance will be needed the next time out. Team captain Andrew Murphy picked up an injury late on and we wish him a speedy recovery. Team & scorers Cormac Crowley, Pierce McLoughlin, Colm O’ Donoghue, Eoghan Walsh, Andrew Murphy captain, Seán O’ Brien, Josh McCarthy, Sam McAllister, Dara O’ Conchubhair, Isaac Oosthuizen, Jude Devoy 0-2, Tom Walsh 0-1, Fionn O’ Sullivan, Cian Moore 0-2, Cormac Walsh 0-1.
U17 minor football championship Aghada 0-8 Fermoy 2-9 The concession of early goals at the very start of each half, coupled with our inability to trouble the scoreboard when in very good positions proved to be our downfall in a very competitive minor football championship match played in Rostellan in glorious sunshine last Friday evening. Straight from the throw in Fermoy attacked with intent and it looked like our lads heads were still in the dressing room as the net was billowed within the first 30 seconds. In fairness to our boys once they settled, they went on to play some exciting football and outscored our opponents seven points to five up to the short whistle. The first point came from the boot of the influential Cian Hego Hegarty, and others quickly followed from Samuel O’ Driscoll, James Hurley, and Hugh Mulcahy and with the full back line of Conor Geary, Seán Santos O’ Sullivan and Evan Crowley starting to dominate we were beginning to play on the front foot. The half back trio of Noah Devoy, Seán O’ Callaghan and David Wallace thundered into the game with Ronan Devoy a colossus at midfield all through. More points followed when Ronan blazed over and a lovely brace from the stylish James Motherway to leave us one point in arrears at half-time 0-7 to 1-5 and all to play for. The second half started with nearly a mirror image of the opening exchanges, but this time goalkeeper John Walsh was equal to the task with a fine stop, but in the next attack we were not as lucky as again Fermoy found the net to put us on the back foot. Once again, we awoke from our slumber to go on and dominate possession and our opponents kickouts with Tomás Condon and Robert Dean reading the play well to set up numerous attacks but to the frustration of supporters and management alike we forgot our shooting boots and floundered in front of the posts from play and frees. We only had a solitary score from Hego near the end of the half to show for all our efforts and there in tells the story of a game, we will be disappointed not to have got something out of, still this is a fine side and hopefully they can finish out the year strongly in what would be the least their talents deserve. Team & scorers John Walsh, Conor Geary, Seán Santos O’ Sullivan, Evan Crowley, Noah Devoy, Seán O’ Callaghan, David Wallace, Hugh Mulcahy 0-1, Ronan Devoy 0-1, Tomás Condon, James Motherway 0-2, Cian Hegarty 0-2, Robert Dean, James Hurley 0-1, Samuel O’ Driscoll 0-1 sub used Joshua Halpin.
U13 football League Aghada 2-11 Kiltha Og 2-7 We travelled to Dungourney last Saturday morning in what must be said were extreme hot weather conditions not to mind the difficulty in getting to the venue with the iron man road closures, however we overcame these obstacles with a masterclass in preparation by the management team. The old saying fail to prepare, prepare to fail did not apply here as the players were so well looked after someone said if this management team were in Saipan Roy Keane would have never left the world cup! Wet cold face cloths, ice packs and water spray bottles applied generously and expertly by Aileen and Laura Rooney and Dara Kelleher, even the opposition were coming over to avail of their services and they were only too happy to oblige. Back to the game and the players certainly responded to their management’s efforts with a monumental effort of their own, from the very start they carried the game to their opponents. We raced into a 4 point to 1 lead by the first water break with 3 excellent scores from centre forward Shay Rooney and a magnificent Matthew Condon effort. We further embellished our lead in the next quarter with a well taken Eoghan O’ Shea goal and more points from Shay, Robbie Oosthuizen and Matthew to leave the half time score 1-7 to 0-3 in our favour. The rotation policy was in full flow due to the intense heat with everyone on the panel playing their part in a top performance. Goalkeeper Cathal Lowney once again showed his cat like reflexes with some top class saves as Kiltha piled on the pressure in the second half to make it a nervy finish for our boys, but we had enough in the tank with Marcus O’ Loughlin scoring a fine point and Shay finding the net just after the last water break with a sublime strike after a free-flowing team move to put this game to bed. Final score 2-11 to 2-7 well done to all, ye did the club proud. Panel & scorers Cathal Lowney, Sam Morgan, Ciarán Cashman, Rossa White, Aiden Johnston, Jake Morrisey, Conor Padden, Hugh O’ Lionsiagh, Evan Courtney, Matthew Condon 0-3, Shay Rooney 1-5, Peter Mulcahy, Eoghan O’ Shea 1-1, Robbie Oosthuizen 0-1, Donncha Walsh, Jamie Sweeney, David Murphy, Marcus O’ Loughlin 0-1, Cormac Cashman.
Well done to Sam McAllister, Tom Walsh and Cian Moore who played for Rebel Óg U14 footballers against Kerry last Saturday in Mallow and to Eanna Crowley half back and Andrew Murphy injured who were part of the cork U15 football set up who lost out to Laois in a final last weekend.
Well done to all from the club who competed in either the full or some part of the Iron man triathlon held in Youghal over the weekend a massive achievement of resilience, determination and will power. Congratulations to all.
Can you spare a few hours to help out the club this Saturday morning? If so, your help would be greatly appreciated as the club are having a workday from 8am to 2pm in our club grounds. This will just involve general housekeeping and painting work and as the saying goes every little bit helps and in the words of JFK changed slightly “not ask what your club can do for you but what you can do for your club!”
FIXTURES: Wed 17th Rebel Óg U15 P2 Hurling Championship Shandrum V Aghada 19:30 Shandrum Fri 19th Rebel Óg U17 P2 Hurling Championship Aghada V Ballinhassig 19:00 Rostellan Mon 22nd Rebel Óg U12 G2 Football League Aghada V St. Finbarrs 19:00 Rostellan
Slán go Fóill. BE SEEN WEAR THE GREEN