A Chara,
Happy Easter! It is hard to believe we are on the last day in March already! The first quarter of the year has flown by mostly filled with RAIN! However, with the stretch in the evening getting longer and the clocks changing today, better weather should be on the way in the near future (we hope!). Even tough we have had a lot of difficulty with pitches due to the rain (like every club), we have still managed to complete nearly all of our league matches. Last Saturday, our intermediate hurlers were beaten by an impressive Sars team. The first half didn’t go to plan and we gave ourselves an uphill battle in the second period when we trailed by eleven at the short whistle. To make things worse we were also reduced to 14 players in the first half also. One might have thought the score line could’ve got ugly but to our lads credit they battled hard but unfortunately left themselves too much to do at half time. Final score was Aghada 1-13, Sars 2-16.
Last weekend’s results didn’t improve much on Sunday as our Junior hurlers were comprehensively beaten by Carraig na bhFear away from home. Rob Dean, Samuel O’Driscoll and James Motherway did make their adult hurling debuts in this game so that was one bright note to take from this game.
Unfortunately, our Senior Ladies Footballers also lost at home to Naomh Abán on Sunday. This was a cracker of a game with two points separating the sides heading into injury time. Aghada went in search of a game winning goal but this left our defence exposed. As can often happen when one team goes looking for a goal, it is the other team who pounce. That is exactly what our opponents did and this left five points between the teams at the final whistle. There were plenty of positives to take for our girls who will build on this performance as the season progresses.
Anyway, enough of the doom and gloom! It’s Easter and lets have some good news! Our Rebels Bounty ticket sales went brilliant this year and a huge thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket to support Aghada GAA. Last Thursday evening, the first three draws were completed for the Bounty and we had one lucky winner of 250 euro. Congrats to one of our adult players Ray Savage who had the lucky number for this cash prize in the February draw!
Rebels Bounty has been an incredible success for our club since it was launched three years ago. Many, including myself were sceptical about the draw and questioned whether we could make it a success but thanks to then Chairperson Jimmy O’Leary’s drive, the draw has become a raging success for us. Of course, club president John Motherway remains the draw coordinator and drives the ship expertly to ensure we reach our targets along with Juvenile Chairperson Pa O’Connor who left no stone unturned in his pursuit of ensuring everyone in the community was aware of the draw and its benefit for the club. Linking in here, please see a short message attached below from club secretary John Murphy on the Rebels Bounty.
Rebels Bounty Message (John Murphy – Club Secretary):
Hi all, just a word on our recent Rebels Bounty fundraiser.
In the past (recent enough past), whenever the club was in need of a major cash boost be it for general funding or an upcoming project/development, than the normal practice was to run a major draw with new cars the default top prize. 15 to 20 members would be given teams of 10 or more members each and these teams would spend 3 to 4 months selling tickets for the draw to family, friends, workmates, and ultimately in the closing weeks, knocking on strangers doors for a sale also. It was a huge effort involving 150/200 members and these draws were always hugely successful and always hit their substantial fundraising targets.
Fast forward to the present day and 10 members have been meeting once a week for the last 2 months and using the Cork GAA Rebels Bounty draw as the vehicle, they have fundraised as much and more for the club than any of these previous draws. It is a monumental achievement and just an incredible benefit to our club.
For the vast majority of members this financial reward for their club, required no legwork or hard selling of them. This just goes to show the value, importance and benefits of the Rebels Bounty draw to our club. That it is a major success on a now annual basis, is just another huge advantage of this draw.
So massive and sincere thanks to our Rebels Bounty group – led by John Motherway, with Pa O Connor and Jimmy O Leary as strong deputies and Richard Good, Conor Counihan, Vince Rohan, Darren Lee, PJ Hurley, Tim Barry and John O Neill completing the line up of this hugely important club team!
The next most important people in the Bounty success story are all the members and supporters who kindly bought a ticket and supported the draw. Over 350 tickets sold is fantastic support, and again a sincere Thank You to all who entered the draw and in doing so supported the club.
As long as our members continue this great support of the Bounty (and our Aghada weekly lotto), then we can continue to develop our grounds and facilities to the benefit of all members and the community at large. (And hopefully avoid the door to door hard sell of extra fundraising draws as in the past!!)
Many thanks again to the rebels Bounty Team and to all who bought a ticket for the draw to support CLG ÁthFhada.
(PS We’ve had a winner already with Ray Savage winning €250 in last Thursday’s draw. Congrats to Ray, I’m sure he won’t have any problems in getting this one paid out!!)
Le Meas,
John Murphy
Cork Ladies Footballers visit Aghada GAA:
We were delighted to welcome the Cork Senior Ladies Football team to Aghada yesterday. The team trained on our forest pitch and were put through their paces by their management team. The players were incredibly generous with their time as they posed for photos and spoke with loads of girls from our ladies football academy. No doubt they inspired many of our girls who will go onto wear the Cork colours in a few years’ time! Thanks to all the players and management for taking the time to come and train in Aghada ahead of their important championship season. We would be delighted to have ye back again anytime. Well done to all who facilitated this visit of the Cork team. A special mention to all the young girls who turned up to meet their heroes yesterday morning and to their coaches who supervised and also ran an Easter egg hunt.
Lá na gClub:
Lá na gClub takes place tomorrow, April 1st. This is a day that the GAA first celebrated in 2009 and its main goal is to celebrate our GAA clubs and their communities. It places special emphasis on thanking our incredible volunteers in our association. We certainly have plenty of them in Aghada! This special day also highlights that the GAA is a place where everyone is welcome and always encourages new members. If you are reading this newsletter, and would like to get involved in our club in any way, do not hesitate to reach out to any club member or directly to myself on 085 1938 088. I would be delighted to hear from you. As one of the new GAA sayings says, ‘GAA – Where We ALL Belong’.
To mark this event, our Club chairperson Anthony Connolly was joined by Camogie chairperson Vera Terry and Ladies Football Chairperson Sheila Linehan at our club lotto on Thursday night. On a side note, congratulations to Sheila who was elected chairperson of our ladies football committee at their recent committee meeting. A great volunteer in our club who will do a wonderful job in the role. Best of luck Sheila!
Camogie News (Kim Hegarty – Camogie PRO):
The stretch in the evenings is most welcome and with it comes all our age groups finally back training.
Our U8s will be back on the field this week weather permitting and if any new members would like to join us, you would be most welcome.
Well done to all involved in organising the Whitegate Parade it was a huge success, and a great morning was enjoyed by all. We hope all club & Community members near and far enjoyed their St. Patricks weekend.
Well done to Clare Walsh and UCC on becoming Lynch Cup champions.
Hard Luck to Aoife Healy and Abigail Ring in the O'Connor Cup Final. Congratulations to Aoife on receiving player of the match.
Aoife also had another fantastic achievement on being named on the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Rising Stars Team of the Year 2024.
On 21st of March a first aid information evening was held in the clubhouse. It was very interesting and full of helpful information for the coaches. Thank you to Cath for giving the talk and keeping it relative and engaging for all.
Juvenile GAA News (Helen Walsh – Juvenile Assistant PRO):
Last weekend saw both our U14 hurlers & U16 footballers win away from home. U14's had a comprehensive win against a Fermoy side who were missing a few of their regulars. None the less a good start for them and they will look forward to a home game against the North Cork amalgamation Ballycastle Gaels on 5th.
U16's overcame St. Michael's in the narrowest of margins and were delighted to come away with the win having being on the other end of the point difference in their last game against Kiltha Óg. Next up away to neighbours St.Colman's on 8th.
See attached full match reports and thanks to the mentors for these.
https://aghadagaa.com/articles/115362
It was 3rd time unlucky for the U16 hurlers as once again their match against Bride Rovers was postponed due to poor weather conditions and pitch closures. This group have yet to get off the mark with even their two challenge games cancelled! However hopefully that will all change as they are due to play Passage away on Monday 1st....(the irony of that date J!!) Fingers crossed for ye!
Well done to some of our U13 & U14 players who enjoyed two very successful coaching sessions held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh this week.
Best of luck to Jude Devoy and the Cork minors as they start their Munster Championship campaign next Thursday 4th against Tipperary in Thurles.
Juvenile training is back in full swing and new members are welcome, so spread the word! See below for further information & contact John 087 6200125.
Also if you are doing a Spring clean and have any old hurleys and helmets lying about the place please bring them down to the club any Friday evening and give to a juvenile mentor where they will find new homes! See below for more information.
Upcoming Juvenile GAA Fixtures:
Mon 1st – U16 Div1 HURLING League Passage V Aghada 14:00 Passage
Wed 3rd – U18 P1 HURLING League Ballincollig V Aghada 20:10 Ballincollig
Fri 5th – U14 Div2 HURLING League Aghada V Ballycastle Gaels 19:30 Rostellan
Upcoming Adult Fixtures:
A big game today as our Premier Intermediate Footballers face Newmarket in round 3 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 Football League. Our lads will be hoping to make it two wins from two after a great win over Rockchapel last time out. Todays match throws in at 11:30am in Rostellan.
Tomorrow, Monday our Junior Footballers play Carrigtwohill in Rostellan at 6:30pm. This will be their first League game after their game against Glenville wasn’t played after the home teams pitch was deemed unplayable.
Next Saturday, Our Intermediate A Hurlers face Erins Own’s second string in Division 6 of the RedFM Hurling League at 3pm in Rostellan. The lads will be hoping to bounce back from their opening round defeat last Sunday.
Next Sunday, our Junior Hurlers play Midleton in Midleton at 2:30pm.
Also next Sunday, our Senior Ladies Footballers play Eire Og in Rostellan. Time TBC. Keep an eye on social media for more details on this fixture.
As always, and especially with the rain we’ve had since last October (Yes October!!!), keep an eye on social media just in case there is any late fixture changes or cancellations due to the weather. A reminder, we have a club WhatsApp fixture group which has up to date information as it becomes available. If you would like to be added to this group, please text Vince on 085 1938 088.
Membership/Registration:
Today is the 31st of March so be sure and get your membership paid ASAP. As outlined in previous communications, log onto your Foireann account and follow the simple steps to renew your membership for 2024. Players will not be allowed to play any matches after this date if they do not have their membership paid as they will not be insured. If you have any problems or queries, please contact club registrar Anne Marie McAllister or any committee member.
That’s it for this Newsletter. Thanks to John, Kim and Helen for their contributions to this edition. May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very happy and safe Easter Sunday. Hopefully the Easter Bunny called last night. Remember, championship isn’t too far away so don’t eat too much chocolate.
Slán,
Uinsíonn Ó Ruacháin
Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí
Vince Rohan - PRO
Aghada GAA, Camogie & Ladies Football Club
Ár nDícheall Go Deo
Website for most up to date fixtures news and results -http://www.aghadagaa.com/
