AGHADA GAA JUVENILE NEWS - By Juvenile PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks, hope this newsletter finds you well. There are various walks going on over the weekend for Darkness into Light in aid of Pieta house. I am doing one at work and I am delighted to say the club are also doing one this Saturday at 4.15 am meeting in the club car park. This is a fantastic initiative and great to be a part of as the Bill Withers song goes, we all need somebody to lean on.

“Sometimes in our lives We all have pain We all have sorrow. But if we are wise. We know that there’s always tomorrow. Lean on me When you’re not strong And I”ll be your friend. I”ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long. Till I’m going to need somebody to lean on”

Féile Hurling Going into the Premier 2 hurling féile weekend we knew we were in a red-hot group and so it proved with two of the teams in our group Carrigaline and Kiltha Óg going on to contest the county final with the Dungourney and Castlemartyr combination winning out. Our first game was against the host club Blackrock and after a mighty tussle we just lost out in a cracking game. The competition was tough but the quality of hurling on display will certainly stand our players in good stead going forward and although we lost out on this occasion the players can take great confidence that with the right attitude, they can go on be very competitive from here.

U12 football League. St Vincents 0-2 Aghada 2-11 We travelled to the north side of the city to take on the home side St. Vincent’s on a lovely bank holiday Monday evening. We started slowly but once the half progressed, we got into our stride and started to move the ball excellently to kick some nice scores. We were helped greatly by the unfortunate loss of the St. Vincent’s danger man who was a major threat at full forward, and once he went off they lacked the necessary firepower to trouble us. We led at half time 8 points to 1 with Jack Kelleher causing the home side huge problems with his direct running and MJ Duggan showing impressive handling techniques to fire over some quality points. Our backs were solid all through and we ran out rather easy winners in the end. Best on the day were MJ Duggan, Jake O’ Sullivan, Leon Joyce and Lorcan Evans. Team Alex Kapusta, Luke Hickey, Darragh Callanan, Maidhc Collins, Leon Joyce, Leon O’ Connor, Seán Day, James Day, Lorcan Evans, Jake O’ Sullivan, Jack Kelleher, Conor O’ Reilly, MJ Duggan, Ben Duggan, Conor O’ Neill, Luca Hurley.

U12 football League. Cobh (2) 1-2 Aghada (2) 0-7 We visited our seaside neighbours in the harbour town of Cobh on Tuesday evening and came away with a hard fought 2-point win after a titanic battle. Playing very well in the first half we didn’t make our superiority count as good points from Bobby Creedon 2 and Michael Creedon had us ahead at the short whistle 0-3 v 0-1. We knocked over some nice points early in the second half to give us a bit of a cushion, but Cobh roared right back in contention when they rattled our net for a goal. We regrouped and saw out the game well, showing good composure, supplemented with solid

defending. Best on the day Mike McRae, Bobby Creedon, Ronan Callanan, Mason Sheehan, and Gavin Conway. Team Mason Sheehan, Aidan Murphy, Dylan Crowley, Dara Kelleher, Adam O’ Loughlin, Ronan Callanan, Alex Gill, Mike McRae, Bobby Creedon, Alex Day, Michael Creedon, Harry Martin, Fionn Musgrave, Gavin Conway, Rory Casey Subs used Seán Walsh, Cathal Lehane.

U18 Football League Final. Aghada 2-8 Kiltha Og 2-10 This game was played at a windswept Dungourney last Wednesday evening as we ended the match with 2 black cards, 3 yellows and 1 free within the scoring zone,that Cian Hego Hegarty converted with around 5 minutes left on the clock. Contrast that with our opponents who scored 7 points from frees within the scoring zone, were awarded a penalty, and received only one yellow card and you might get some idea how this final panned out. We played with the strong wind at our backs in the opening half and started well with Hego stationed on the edge of the square kicking our first point after being set up by our centre back Fionn O’ Callaghan who was a veritable colossus all through. This score was followed up by more points from Robert Dean and Samuel O’ Driscoll before the Castlemartyr/Dungourney amalgamation struck for a goal with their very first attack to level proceedings. Both sides exchanged points before the home side were awarded a very soft penalty that they duly converted. We recovered well as John Walsh who proved to be a valuable link man throughout, intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper to set up Hego and although he still had a lot to do, he kept his composure to rifle the ball low to the net. This was not the end of the drama as just before half time we received two dubious black cards the first when it looked like for all the world our player was the one who was pulled to the ground. The score at the short whistle was 2-2 to 1-4 in favour of the home side and we would turn to face the wind with 13 men as 2 players were in the sin bin. Credit to our lads they came out for the second half in determined fashion and went on to play some lovely, controlled football with James Hurley on the end of some creative moves to hit 2 quality points, that were started deep in our own half by our dynamic full back Ronan Devoy. In between Seán Corkery made a brilliant save diving low to deflect a goal bound shot over the bar and the home side continued to punish us from frees. We continued to press forward and were rewarded when John Walsh played in rampaging substitute Tomás Condon who cracked in a ferocious shot to the net off the underside of the crossbar to put the game in the melting pot. Despite our first and only score from a free from Hego and a quality John Walsh effort the home side hung on for victory to claim the silverware, but unfortunately the main question on most people’s lips at the end was not about the performance of the teams? Team & scorers Seán Corkery, Colm White, Ronan Devoy, Ronan Walsh, Conor Baxx, Fionn O’ Callaghan, Conor Geary, David Wallace, Samuel O’ Driscoll 0-1, James Hurley 0-2, John Walsh 0-1, Robert Dean 0-1, James O’ Donnell, Cian Hegarty 1-3 0-1f, Joshua O’ Halpin. Subs used Tomás Condon 1-0, Diarmuid Cotter.

Rebel hurlers off to a flyer. Fergal Condon as selector and Lauren McAllister as part of the backroom team will be delighted as the Cork senior hurlers got their campaign off to a winning start with a great win over Waterford. Next up is old rivals Tipperary on Saturday and we wish all concerned the best of luck once again in what is sure to be another thrilling game in this exciting Munster championship.

The Munster minor hurling final is on next Tuesday against Clare, featuring our own Seán O’ Callaghan and we all hope the cup will be residing on Leeside, the best of luck to all involved.

Congratulations to all the children in our parish celebrating their Confirmation and First Holy Communion this week and to all who will be doing so in the weeks ahead.

Fixtures.

Fri 5th May U14 Football League Aghada v Carrigtwohill 19:30 Rostellan.

Sun 7th May U16 Football League Aghada v Carrigtwohill 11am Rostellan.

Sun 7th May U14 Football League Aghada v Youghal 15:00 Rostellan.

Tues 9th May U12 Hurling League Aghada v Bishopstown 18:15 Rostellan.

Tues 9th May U15 Football League Aghada v Carrigtwohill 19:30 Rostellan.

Thurs 11th May U16 Football League Lisgoold v Aghada 19:00 Lisgoold.

Be seen wear the Green.

Slán go fóill.

Ár nDícheall Go Deo.