Aghada GAA Juvenile News

Hi folks, hope this newsletter finds you well, it is never too early for some county final action even if it’s off the pitch and this Saturday in Ovens in the Eire Óg GAA Pavilion, Whitegate and Aghada schools go in search of county glory in the Scór na bPaistí competition. Participating and dancing for Whitegate in Rince Foirne are Méabh H, Jessica, Méabh M, Niamh, Alannah and Soleil while Aghada have made it to the quiz final and will be represented by Eolann Deane, Isabelle O’ Connor, Fionn Musgrave, Seán Day and Aishling Callanan and the very best of luck to all involved. When it comes to a quiz there is no magic to anything once you know it, hindsight is a wonderful thing, looking back the answer is always obvious. Once upon a time we thought the world was flat. Question. What will happen when we get to the edge. Answer. The world is round. Impossible as it may seem. There has to be an answer. There always is.

U14 football Aghada 1-3 Kiltha Og 5-5 No joy for our u14 second string football team, made up of mostly u13s as the Dungourney/ Castlemartyr combination proved too strong in Rostellan on Saturday afternoon. Robbie Oosthuizen topped scored with 1-1 and further points from David Murphy and Conor Fleming kept us in contention in a battling performance. Aiden Johnston, Colin Whyte, and Jamie Sweeney drove us on from defence with Dara O’ Brien busy at midfield getting on a world of ball. Tim O’ Hanlon, Marcus O’ Loughlin and Captain for the day Rian O’ Brien Higgins gave their all-up front but the away side took the chances on offer giving goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne no chance to run out deserving winners in the end.

U18 Football League Carrigtwohill 1-6 Aghada 0-17 An accomplished team performance full of energy and composure with some wonderful attacking play saw us run out comfortable winners away to Carrigtwohill last Saturday afternoon. We were quick out of the blocks and especially the magical John Walsh who kicked a trio of points from play with James Motherway also pointing. Despite the early setback of losing Cian Hegarty and Conor Geary to injury we still dominated the first half as their replacements Hugh Mulcahy and Conor Baxx went on to have fine games and we led at the short whistle by 8 points to 4. Carrig looked like they might mount a comeback as they goaled on the resumption, but those fears were quickly extinguished as we went on to score an array of wonderful points. David Wallace controlled matters from midfield with Robert Dean the main fulcrum of our attack with his pace and work rate causing endless problems for the overworked home defence. James Hurley and Joshua Halpin hit some lovely scores as Diarmuid Cotter was unlucky not to goal being denied by a last ditch tackle. It was great to see the return of Fionn O’ Callaghan to the full back line as the all-round panel performance will please the management in this eye-catching display.

U14 football league Division 1 Aghada 3-13 Castlelyons 2-12 The half time switch of Jake Morrissey to centre forward and Shay Rooney to centre back proved to be a masterstroke as we went on to dominate the second half and overrun Castlelyons at a windy Rostellan on Sunday morning. We started brightly with a well worked point from play from full forward Eoghan O’ Shea and another from centre forward Shay Rooney but after that the scores dried up and we missed a host of chances and handed the initiative to Castlelyons, who made full use of their possession to kick some excellent scores, ten in all with our solitary reply coming from the boot of Matthew Condon. We then turned the game on its head just before half time with 2 excellent and well taken goals from Eoghan and Shay to leave the score at the break 2-3 to 0-10. Then the switch from the selectors paid immediate dividends as Jake Morrissey ghosted in behind the defence to crack home goal number 3 and with Shay a forceful figure at number 6 and still managing to get forward to join the attack and kick some fine scores we were in the ascendancy. We went on to hit some lovely scores with Conor Padden and Evan Courtney to the fore while in defence Ciaran and Cormac Cashman were dominating. Our dependable goalkeeper Cathal Lowney showed his true worth once again with some excellent saves and the introduction of some fresh legs from the substitute bench had the desired effect to see us over the line as they all went on to play their part and make sure the league points on offer were staying in Rostellan. Team & scorers Cathal Lowney, Cormac Cashman, Ciaran Cashman, Rossa White, Jamie Sweeney, Jake Morrissey 1-4, Aiden Johnston, Evan Coutney, Hugh Ó Loingsigh, Matthew Condon 0-1, Shay Rooney 1- 6, Conor Padden, Conor Sweeney, Eoghan O’ Shea 1- 2, Robbie Oosthuizen Subs Used Donncha Walsh, Darragh Crowley, Finbarr Alcock, Harry Burgoyne.

U15 Football League Aghada 1-6 Killeagh 3-13 The early indications in this game certainly did not suggest what was to follow. We were quickly out of the blocks and dominating proceedings. We had 3 quickfire points from the boot of Cian Moore and another from Adam Lewis and when Jack Dorney took a fast free kick to Tom Walsh, Tom made no mistake with an emphatic finish to the back of the net and put us 1-4 to 0-2 up after ten minutes played. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got as Killeagh took a stranglehold on the game and led 1-6 to 1-4 at the short whistle and it could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for brilliant goalkeeping from Jago Evans who managed to stop a certain goal with a point blank save that was deflected over for a point. The away side opened the second half in determined fashion and almost immediately conjured up a goal while more Jago heroics kept them at bay.  Ronan Musgrave held his own in defence, while Max Daly put in a great shift around midfield. More points from Cian Moore and a great effort from substitute Eoghan O’ Shea kept the scoreboard ticking over for us before the lively Jack Mulcahy bagged a well taken consolation goal, but we had to give second best to a well drilled Killeagh side who deservedly took the honours.

Our clubman and one of our greatest former dual players Ronan Dwane coach to the Ballygiblin intermediate hurling side, brings the All-Ireland junior champions to Rostellan on this Thursday evening to take on his home club. Mixed emotions for a few from North Cork domiciled in the parish, and a few others domiciled in North cork! I suppose we will find out soon enough where the true colours lie!

A great win for the Cork minor hurlers last Tuesday evening winning against Waterford on a scoreline of 3-19 v 0-15 in the first championship game of the year and a debut for our own Seán O’ Callaghan. A proud night for Seán, the club and his family, Dad Simon, mother Georgina, sister Emily and extended family. They are out again next Tuesday evening in Paírc Uí Chaoimh against Tipperary, and we wish Seán and his colleagues all the best once again.

Fixtures

Friday 31st March U14 Hurling league Div2 Aghada V Lisgoold 18:30 Rostellan                                                                                 

Sunday 2nd April U16 Hurling League Prem 2 Mallow V Aghada 11:00 Mallow

Monday 3rd April U12 Football League G6 Douglas V Aghada 18:30 Douglas                                                    

Monday 3rd April U12 Football League G2 Youghal V Aghada 18:30 Youghal Top Field