Aghada GAA Juvenile News - By Juvenile PRO Donal Walsh

Hi folks, I hope everyone can enjoy this fine spell of weather we are having; the children certainly are, with the pier in Lower Aghada a hive of activity a great way to cool down after a match or training session, not only are we blessed with the weather but also the local amenities on our doorstep. When the work load is unending. When the years race by. When queues for everything are growing. When the noise is deafening. When the traffic isn’t moving. When life goes by at such a fast pace. When there is hustle and bustle all around you. Rise above it, slow down, you will enjoy time a lot more.

U14 Football Championship Aghada 0-9 Glenville 6-6 When it rains it pours and I am not talking about the weather but rather the list of absentees of players not available to us due to injury and holidays and then to cap it off, we lost the influential Matthew Condon to an arm injury just before half time and our main forward Shay Rooney was playing through the pain barrier with a hip injury. We started well on this balmy Friday evening on our main pitch in Rostellan when halfback Evan Courtney found Shay Rooney who was operating as a corner forward on virtually one leg with a wonderful through ball that split the defense and Shay raised the first white flag. His second came soon after when he was set up by fellow corner forward Robbie Oosthuizen. Matthew Condon hit point number three with another good finish and then he put Donncha Walsh in on goal and his powerful shot flew over. Glenville hit back in devastating fashion hitting the net 3 times, the second from the penalty spot to wrestle control. We pointed twice more, before half time through dynamic half back David Murphy and another from Shay but it was the goals that made the difference at half time, the away side leading 3-6 v 0-6. The second half started with Finbar Alcock in the half back line and David moving up front in place of Matthew with Cormac Cashman also introduced as injuries took there toll. The away side’s penchant for scoring goals was putting us on the back foot and it could have been a lot worse were it not for some fine Cathal Lowney goalkeeping. Finbar impressed with his tenacity and reading of the game and Shay was still a big threat when in possession hitting a mighty score off his left David Clifford esque. Robbie drew a fine save from the keeper before scoring our last point of the game with a well struck free, but unfortunately, we exited the championship, the circumstances didn’t help our cause and you couldn’t help but wonder how things would have panned out had we a full deck to choose from. Team & scorers Cathal Lowney, Seán O’ Reilly, Ciarán Cashman captain, Rossa White, Evan Courtney, Conor Padden, David Murphy 0-1, Hugh O Loingsigh, Eoghan O’ Shea, Aidan Johnston, Matthew Condon 0-1, Donncha Walsh 0-1, Conor Fleming, Shay Rooney 0-5 0-2f, Robbie Oosthuizen 0-1f. subs used Finbar Alcock, Cormac Cashman.

U14 Football Championship Aghada (2) 4-7 Erins Own (2) 4-2 This championship win was spectacular in more ways than one, with players who normally play at this grade championship tied and ineligible due to being called up to the first team after they had a spate of withdrawals. We had to dig deep into our reserves from the teams below this grade and they responded in style. Then add in the fact we were playing a team who were comprised of players fully on the age, this was an outstanding result. Played on our main field on a glorious Sunday morning, the action was hot from the start as we took the game to our shellshocked opponents. The full forward line of Tim O’ Hanlon, Rían O’ Brien and Marcus O’ Loughlin were keeping the defenders busy as we drove forward in waves. Midfielder Jack Kelleher with his direct running causing endless problems burst through the middle and dispatched a fine shot to the net. This was followed by an equally impressive goal from corner back Eoin Kirrane who started the move back in his own full back line exchanged passes with a few players and kept moving forward to find himself bearing down on goal and he made no mistake with a wonderful finish that rattled the net. Points followed as Rían and Jack both scored a couple each to put us in a commanding 2-4 v 1-1 interval lead. Dara O’ Brien was leading from the front at full back and Lorcan Evans was linking the play intelligently from centre forward in a first half that sparkled with quality. Our opponents came out in the second half and invariably threw the proverbial kitchen sink at us, rattling home 4 goals before we responded with points from Marcus, Jack and Darragh Crowley who had by this stage relocated to corner forward in a swop with Marcus. The intensity of the game was so great in the searing heat that the referee called for a water break, and we found ourselves a point behind 2-7 v 4-2. The commitment and self-belief our lads showed from here to the finish was a joy to behold with Leon O’ Connor, Darragh Callanan, Conor Charles, Mike McRae, Sam Ahern and James Irwin all playing their part. In a welter of excitement, we scored 2 goals as Darragh Crowley made a spectacular high catch on the edge of the square and released excellent substitute Ben Duggan to score with a composed finish and a speculative Dara O’ Brien effort dipped into the net, while we were also thankful to our goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne who brought off some wonderful saves when the need was greatest. A fantastic win, that’s for sure, somewhat against the odds that made it even more special for all involved. Team & Scorers Harry Burgoyne, Eoin Kirrane 1-0, Dara O’ Brien 1-0, Darragh Callanan, Darragh Crowley 0-1, Conor Charles, Leon O’ Connor, Mike McRae, Jack Kelleher 1-3, Sam Ahern, Lorcan Evans, James Irwin, Tim O’ Hanlon, Rían O’ Brien 0-2, Marcus O’ Loughlin 0-1. Sub used Ben Duggan 1-0

The hugely popular Willie Ryan u12 hurling tournament was an outstanding success once again on a glorious evening in Rostellan last Saturday. Eight teams took part in two groups of four with Aghada, Ballinhassig, Cloughduv and St Catherines in group one and Kiltha Óg, Killeagh, Erins Own and Ballygiblin in Group two. When all the results were in, the top 2 teams Ballinhassig and Killeagh contested the Willie Ryan final and congratulations to fellow East Cork team Killeagh who were the winners of this year’s prestigious competition. The plate final consisted of the second placed teams, and it was ourselves who took the honors defeating Erins Own in the decider and well done to the team and management for putting in such a terrific performance. The tournament and its success would not have happened without the hard work and organizational skills of many. A big thankyou to the Juvenile committee and Chairman PJ Hurley and secretary Willie Wallace, to the referees Pa Beausang, Dave Butler, Niall O’ Neill and Willie Wallace, the u12 mentors, everyone who provided refreshments, the Sideline Café volunteers, the piper Ger Broderick who led out the teams, the sponsors Energie Fitness and East Cork Crane hire, Pat and Johnty who had our grounds in immaculate condition as usual, to Anthony Oosthuizen who created a great atmosphere with the music and announcements. To all the teams who provided great entertainment and showed Cork hurling is in safe hands and to everyone who helped in any way to make it such a special day. The club would also like to thank the nieces of Willie Ryan- Joan Crowley, Marian Pett & Kathleen Smith and grand niece Catherine Crowley who were hand to give out the trophies carrying out a very important tradition that was carried out with pride by his late sister and former vice president of our club Peggy Hennessy.

Well done to Jude Devoy who lined out with the Cork u16 hurlers against Tipperary last Saturday. The game fixed for Kilworth got delayed as the bus bringing the Tipp players ended up in Killeagh and had to do a u turn! Not the first time a bus has ended up in the wrong location.

The best of luck to all our members who are sitting exams in the Junior and Leaving Cert. Each one of us is unique, each one of us is special and there is a place in life for every one of us.

Fixtures.

Sunday 11th U14 hurling championship Aghada v St Vincents 12am Rostellan. Wednesday 14th U17 football league Aghada v Kilmurry 19:00 Rostellan.

Slán go fóill.

Be seen wear the Green.

Ár nDícheall Go Deo.