Aghada GAA Juvenile News - By Juvenile GAA PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks, hope this newsletter finds you well, a fellow local GAA club recently held a draw for a sports pass for tickets to the top ten sporting events around the world, but did they not hear about the Aghada GAA Cúl Camp, the hottest tickets in town, the camp sold out once again in record time around 20 minutes and congratulations to those parents who were quickly online and managed to make it through to get the kids booked in and unfortunately like the last few years commiserations to those who have been left disappointed. The clubs’ hands are tied on this as the amount of children allowed at the camp depends on the coach to children ratio of 1 to 10 and with the strict criteria to be an official coach you have to be over 18 and be garda vetted and child protected, this leaves the numbers limited, quite simple really the more coaches the more availability. The club has overseen a huge and fantastic increase in playing numbers at underage level over the last ten years. Clubs go on, continuity is understood. Tradition is upheld. Belief is maintained. The past is remembered and those lost are honoured. The present is safeguarded. The future is planned.

U18 hurling league. Aghada 1-17 Carrigtwohill 3-15

Carrigtwohill came to Rostellan on Good Friday night and survived the strong home challenge on our quarry pitch that was a little tricky after all the recent rain. This did not stop both sides from hitting some fine scores and the away side had a match winner in their corner forward who certainly knew where the net was. The first half was real end to end stuff and we were the ones who led at the interval 1-10 v 2-6. Early points from dynamic midfielder Oscar Slye and our strong running centre forward Noah Devoy along with impressive corner forward Calum Roberts kept us in the hunt as we answered Carrigs double goal blast. We then had a goal of our own when Samuel O’Driscoll found the net with a cracking strike after being nicely set up by James Motherway and we then hit the front on the stroke of half time as Cian Hego Hegarty who was excellent all through struck a fine point. Unfortunately, we didn’t kick on in the second half as it was the away side who threw down the gauntlet and took the lead with another opportunist goal. Despite strong play from Conor Geary and Aaron Kearns and some more quality points from Noah, Samuel, Oscar, James Hurley and a quality Hego effort as he ran up the touchline leaving players in his wake to split the posts, but we never had the goal threat needed to turn this one in our favour. Team & scorers John Walsh, Ronan Devoy, Fionn O’ Callaghan, Conor Geary, Cian Hegarty 0-2, Robert Dean, Aaron Kearns, Colm O’ Donoghue, Oscar Slye 0-5 0-3f, Samuel O’ Driscoll 1-2, Noah Devoy 0- 3, James Hurley 0-1, Jude Devoy, James Motherway, Calum Roberts 0-2. subs used Conor Baxx, Diarmuid Cotter.

Cork East lost out to Kilkenny in a rip-roaring high scoring encounter 3-24 to 1-20 in the Celtic challenge last Saturday. Well done to Robert Dean, Samuel O’ Driscoll and James Hurley who were all involved and hard luck to Tomás Condon who lost out with a finger injury, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Up next for the lads is Wexford, and the best of luck once again to all.

We were in John West Féile u15 football action last Saturday acquitting ourselves very well, qualifying out of our group before losing in the days decider, that would have put us into the county semi-final. You have to start fast in these ten minute a half games or you will be on the backfoot and our first game against Mitchelstown was a cracker as we won by the narrowest of margins 1-3 v 1-2. That set us up nicely for our next encounter against Fermoy and again we triumphed 2-7 v 1-1 to put us into the final against the winners of the other group fellow East Cork cork side Kiltha Óg. The boys gave it everything but the Dungourney/Castlemartyr amalgamation made the better start and took the lead, a lead they would hold until the end, despite 2 goals from Tom Walsh and a Cillian Scanlon point we lost out 2-1 v 1-6. Well done to players and management who did the club proud on the day. Team Panel Jago Evans, Aeosa Murphy, Eoin Walsh, Ronan Musgrave, Cormac Crowley, Shay Rooney, Cian Moore, Tom Walsh, Sam McAllister, Jack Mulcahy, Eoghan O Shea, Josh McCarthy, Cillian Scanlon, Will O’ Mahony, Jake Morrissey, Jack Dorney, Adam Lewis, Cillian Burke, Matthew Condon.

U12 hurling League. Aghada (1) 2-3 Youghal 8-6. Aghada (2) 3-0 Douglas 3-3

Two defeats for our u12 hurlers with both teams playing around the same time albeit at different venues. Our first team were at home to Youghal with our 2nd team away to Douglas. The 2nd team put up a mighty performance as Douglas scored 3 points with the very strong wind in the first half, that noticeably died down in the second and a late goal on the stroke of full time secured the win for the home side. Ace poacher Cathal Lehane registered our first goal with a fine finish and further goals from Bobby Creedon and Dara Kelleher kept us in contention right up until the final whistle. Team & scorers Aaron Murphy, Michéal Lowney, Seán Walsh, Daniel O’ Neill, Adam O’ Loughlin, Dara Kelleher 1-0, Corey O’ Leary, Bobby Creedon 1-0, Mason Sheehan, Seán O’ Sullivan, Eoin Condon, Shay Casey, Robbie O’ Hanlon, Cathal Lehane 1-0, James Connolly, Rory Casey, Darragh Kenny.

Our 1st team had a far tougher encounter against a red hot Youghal side, although the management will be happy with the battling qualities shown by our lads who improved significantly as the game wore on. We got off to a slow start but as the half developed, we hit some nice scores, the pick of the bunch a well taken goal by James Irwin. The second half was far more even with Jack Kelleher striking 1-1 and still there was no stopping our seaside neighbours who struck 2 unstoppable goals before the final whistle. Team Gavin Conway, Seán Day, Maidhc Collins, Leon Joyce, Bobby O’ Riordan, Finn Larkin, Conor O’ Reilly, Jake O’ Sullivan, James Irwin, Jack Kelleher, Conor O’ Neill, Leon O’ Connor, Cormac Byrne, James Kenny, Alex Day.

U14 Football League. Aghada 4-5 Glenville 4-7

A status orange wind warning for much of Wednesday accompanied by some heavy bursts of rain did not stop this match going ahead with a slightly later throw in time of 7pm. The game was played on our quarry field that held up very well and by the time it started a stiff breeze was all the players had to face, that and a giant puddle near the car park end that was more like Beeches Brook, that the players negotiated well as good as you might see in the grand national this Saturday in Aintree! Glenville are a fine big footballing side who scored an early goal, and it took a while for us to work them out but once we did, we went onto play some nice free flowing football. We scored thee points in a row the first from the boot of Marcus O’ Loughlin and 2 from the accurate Robbie Oosthuizen. The half time score saw us behind 3-4 to 2-4 our first goal a wonderful team move when Robbie passed to Marcus, and he showed great composure to set up Cathal Lowney to plant the ball in the back of the net. Marcus then scored our second with a sumptuous lob after spotting the goalkeeper off his line. We lost the influential Dara O’ Brien to injury in the first half and the team really had to knuckle down with Donncha Walsh at centre back Darragh Crowley at centre forward and Cormac Cashman at midfield particularly prominent. We started well after the change of ends with another good team move ending with Cathal finding the net to gain parity. The action was nip and tuck from there to the finish with Robbie scoring ours and his fifth point of the game and we showed great determination to raise our 4th green flag when Marcus was in the right place at the right time to fire home, but alas it wasn’t to be, and it was the away side who managed to prevail. Team & scorers Harry Burgoyne, Colin White, Dylan Kearns, Finbarr Alcock, Seán O’ Rielly, Donncha Walsh, Jamie Sweeney, Cormac Cashman, Dara O’ Brien, Conor Fleming, Dara Crowley, Jack Kelleher, David Murphy, Robbie Oosthuizen 0-5, Marcus O’ Loughlin 2-1. subs used Cathal Lowney 2-0, Sam Aherne, Eoin Kirrane, Rían O’ Brien, Tim O’ Hanlon.

The chocolate all over the faces told the story as our u6, u7 and u8 teams enjoyed some Easter egg treats in Rostellan last Friday, kindly sponsored by Willie O’ Donoghue construction and Damien Keohane DM Retail no wonder there wasn’t an Easter egg to be found in East Cork!

Fixtures

Sat 15th U14 Hurling League Aghada v Youghal 11am Rostellan. Sun 16th U12 Football League Aghada v Carrigaline 17:30 Rostellan Sun 16th U16 Hurling League Aghada v St Colmans 18:30 Rostellan. Mon 17th U12 Football League Aghada v St Catherines 18;30 Rostellan

Be Seen Wear the Green. Slán go fóill

Ár nDícheall Go Deo