Aghada GAA Juvenile News – By Juvenile GAA PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks hope this newsletter finds you well, we start this week with big congratulations to the Cork camogie team after their fantastic All Ireland win, and especially to our own club players involved. The joy the players would have experienced would also have been felt by the families, clubs and the coaches within the clubs who would have seen first hand the sacrifices and commitment it would have taken to get to the big stage. I remember heading to Croke Park with Eoin O’ Neill for an All Ireland football qualifier in 2004 because we got an inkling that the late great Kieran O’ Connor might make his championship debut. Billy Morgan was the manager that day in what was a low ebb for Cork football as Fermanagh had the measure of a hugely disappointing Cork side. They were not too many Cork supporters in Croke Park and we stood out like sore thumbs and duly received a ribbing from some Fermanagh supporters who were obviously ecstatic, this did not deter us however as a young Kieran came on late in the second half and we were like Cheshire cats all smiles heading back down the road to Cork full of pride that our clubman had made his debut in Croke Park. Of course, Kieran went on to have a stellar career with Cork after that and along with Pearse gave the club some great days out that filled us with pride. That pride would have been felt again by so many on Sunday as the Cork camogie team climbed the steps of the Hogan stand to collect the O’ Duffy cup, jubilation is unbridled. There is nothing like a match, it can carry emotions to the highest pitch of elation one instant then crash them to rock bottom the next. We all have hopes for the future we dream of what might be. The ups and downs of the road ahead are just parts of our journey that are made all the sweeter when you have days like last Sunday.

U15 Football championship St Colmans 1-10 Aghada 5-10

We ended the group stage on a high, having recently being on the wrong end of goal scoring bursts it was our lads who were bursting the net this time hitting our opponents St Colmans for five away in Shannagary last Monday. We had a very productive first half raising the green flag on three occasions with goals from Cillian Burke, Jake Morrisey and Josh McCarthy who was a force of nature all through constantly driving the team forward as we led at the break 3-6 to 1-4. Great credit to St Colmans who launched a gallant comeback, but the resurgence was quickly quenched when Josh found the net again coupled with a quickfire 1-1 from the industrious Cian Moore as we finished in style. Impressive performances from Kaylan Cunningham, Jack Mulcahy and Tom Walsh made sure we kept our lead intact until the end. Next up for this group of players will be the challenge cup semi-final v Carrigtwohill. Team & scorers Jago Evans, Sam Douglas, Cillian Scanlon, Will O’ Mahony, Eoghan Walsh, Sam McAllister, Kaylan Cunningham 0-1, Tom Walsh 0-2, Josh McCarthy 2-0, Jake Morrisey 1-0, Cian Moore 1-2, Jack Dorney 0-1, Cillian Burke 1-0, Jack Mulcahy 0-4, Matthew Condon subs used Ciaran Cashman, Eoghan O’ Shea, Cormac Crowley

U12 football League Aghada 4-8 Carrigtwohill 4-11

A ding dong battle in Rostellan last Sunday morning against Carrigtwohill went the way of the away side in what was a terrific game of end to end football. This game could have gone either way and credit to Carrig who came out on top. Jakub Walker who got on a lot of ball in the first half relocated to goals in the second in a swop with Alek Kapusta and both moves worked a treat with Jakub pulling off some fine saves and Alek causing havoc from full forward pilfering 1-1. Leon Joyce had a stormer in the half back line while Ben Eagle was dynamic at midfield running himself to a standstill. Other standout performers on the day were Seán Day, Cormac Byrne, Michael Creedon and Mason Sheehan. The game could have gone either way between the two evenly matched teams and we can count ourselves a little unlucky not to at least come away with a draw in a great advertisement for underage football. Team Alek Kapusta, Aiden Murphy, Maidhc Collins, Gavin Conway, Leon Joyce, Dara Kelleher, Cian Sawyer, Ben Eagle, Mason Sheehan, Cormac Byrne, Seán Day, Mikey Creedon, Jakub Walker, Seán Walsh, Harry Martin. Sub used after a late dash to the venue Adam O’ Loughlin.

U17 Football Championship Aghada 5-7 St Michaels 2-7.

Three out of three for our boys in Rostellan last Wednesday evening in a very competitive encounter with no quarter asked or given. We started very well blasting home a goal in the first attack of the game as Colm White raided up from corner back and played in James Motherway who found the top corner with a precise strike. We struck for goal number 2 after 13 minutes in a move that started with an excellent save by our netminder Seán Corkery who was outstanding all through the ball moved up the field from Andrew Murphy to David Wallace then onto James M before the inrushing Seán O’ Callaghan planted the ball in the back of the net for a goal of the highest quality. Two points from James Hurley left the halftime score 2-2 v 1-3 in our favour after a tough opening half battle for supremacy with the Mahon outfit. Seánie Call drove the team forward at the start of the second half, kicking 3 wonderful points on the trot. The away side refused to yield but were rocked on 15 minutes when their goalkeeper hauled down Samuel O’ Driscoll going through and James H cooly dispatched the resultant spot kick. Two more goals followed from James M and Samuel to finally quench the stubborn St Michaels challenge, they did manage a late goal but not before we hit points from Andrew and Cillian Falvey. All in all another accomplished team display by the boys in green. Team & scorers Séan Corkery, Colm White, Conor Bakx, Evan Crowley, Eanna Crowley, Tomás Condon, Ronan Devoy, David Wallace, James Hurley 1-2, Samuel O’ Driscoll 1-0, Andrew Murphy 0-1, Finn Berry, James Motherway 2-0, Seán O’ Callaghan 1-3, James O’ Donnell. Subs used Colm O’ Donoghue, Cormac Walsh, Cian Murphy, Cillian Falvey 0-1, Joe Connolly.

Well done to our intermediate hurlers who salvaged a very important draw in their first game of the championship last Sunday. Five points down a few times in the game and 3 points behind heading down the stretch they showed great mental resilience to level the game. They are out again on Saturday 3pm in Dungourney, where they will try and overturn last year’s result against Lisgoold, so the best of luck to the players and management where your support would be very much appreciated. A little sidenote to this game will be that our u9 hurlers will take on Lisgoold at half time in a ten-minute exhibition of the skills they have been learning.

Fixtures

Sat 12th U15 C-3 Football League Aghada v Glanmire. 12:30 Rostellan.

Mon 14th U12 Hurling League St Catherines v Aghada 18:45 Ballynoe.

Mon 14th U15 P2 Hurling Championship Challenge Cup Semi- Final Ballinora V Aghada 19:00 Ballymah

Wed 16th U17 Premier 1 Hurling Championship Aghada v Ballincollig 19:00 Rostellan.

Thurs 17th U12 Hurling League Midleton v Aghada 19;00 Park South Midleton.

Fri 18th U13 Hurling Championship Aghada v St Vincents 19:30 Rostellan.

Slán go fóill

Be seen wear the Green.