Next up for our hurlers was a rematch against Eire Og, which brought back recent memories of our historic County title win from last year. Played in Rostellan, right from the off it was clear the men from Ovens were thinking of that night also, and this was a league game with a bit more bite to it than usual. Aghada played with the aid of a very strong wind in the 1st half and were 1st on the scoreboard after Charlie Terry pointed from out on the right hand sideline. By the time Charlie hit his second point 15 minutes later, Aghada were in a very comfortable 7 points to no score lead. In between we had points from Cian Fleming (2), Mathew Leahy, Kalen O’Donoghue and a monster free from Stephen O’Keeffe which bounced over the Eire Og bar after been struck from inside his own ’45. A ’65 in the 25th minute was Eire Og’s first score, but this was quickly cancelled out by a Daniel Creedon point after a strong run from midfield from Jack McDonald. Now though Eire Og finally found their feet and hit some vital scores before the short whistle. 2 frees and one from play gave them a 4 point total at the break. Fleming pointed a free in reply to leave Aghada on 9 points and the home side were also grateful for an outstanding Trevor O’Keeffe save in the Aghada goal on the stroke of halftime.

The measure of the wind was that the 5 point lead was wiped out in 5 minutes after the restart. 2 frees and a goal from play levelled the game and it looked like a big ask for Aghada from here. The second half was a stop start affair with a number of niggly incidents and stand offs. In truth this probably suited the team playing against the wind and Aghada rallied to hit the next three points – all frees from Fleming. A free on 19 minutes left the Aghada lead at two points, but Eire Og were down to 14 and the scoring threat of the opening 5 minutes had been closed off by a solid Aghada rearguard. Charlie Terry made it a 3 point game with three minutes of normal time remaining, but an Eire Og free brought it back to that dangerous 2 point game again. Still despite the wind Aghada looked like holding out and did so comfortably until virtually the last puck of the game, when with their last attack, Eire Og manufactured a goal chance which was brilliantly finished to the roof of the Aghada net. 2-8 v 0-13 it finished, and while it wasn’t a great performance, Aghada can still feel unlucky to lose in the manner they  did.

Aghada Team and scorers – Trevor O’Keefe, David Rice, Jake O’Donoghue, Timmy Hartnett, Billy Hennessy, Stephen O’Keeffe(0-1’f), Shane Wall, Aiden O’Connell, Jack McDonald, Cian Fleming(0-6,f’s), Brian Morrissey, Kalen O’Donoghue(0-1), Daniel Creedon(0-1), Charlie Terry(0-3), Mathew Leahy(0-1). Subs Used Luke O’Connell, Richie Condon.