Juvenile Hurling & Football Notes wk37

Aghada Juvenile GAA News
Hi folks, hope the world is treating you well, our Juvenile AGM took place last Tuesday night with a large attendance present. Our thanks to outgoing secretary Mark White whose positive outlook and professional manner served the juvenile section so well over the last 3 years and the best of luck to Willie Wallace who steps into Mark’s shoes in this very important and demanding role. The Executive Committee Elected for 2023 were Chairman PJ Hurle,y Vice Chairman Alan Devoy, Secretary Willie Wallace, Fixtures Secretary Diarmuid O Shea, Treasurer Elaine Counihan, PRO Donal Walsh, Registrar Pearse O’ Neill, Committee Margaret Dean, Bridget Condon, Anthony Oosthuizen, Paula Dunne, Padhraigh O’ Loughlin, Pa O’ Connor, Mark White, Tim Murphy, John Connolly, Nick Eagle, Mike Lehane.
Adult chairman Anthony Connolly commented at the Juvenile AGM of the fantastic numbers of players we have on the age groups of our respective teams, he is right the juvenile section is thriving the results of the good structures in place and the people involved over the last number of years. The hard and rewarding work will start all over again and it is important after a long season to take a step back and take a deep breath. 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 it all gets too much, try and leave the hassles behind. There has to be an answer, hindsight is a wonderful thing and looking back the answer is always obvious, impossible as it may seem right now. There has to be an answer – there always is.
U16 Premier 1 Hurling championship semi-final Aghada 2-17 Glen Rovers 1-9
The headline on the report in the Echo said “Aghada prove too strong for Glen” and are through to the Rebel Óg Premier 1 u16 hurling championship final after a deserved win over Glen Rovers at Bishopstown 4G on Saturday evening. Sweet reading and a testament to the brilliance of this group of players who are bringing so much enjoyment to the club. We went into this game with high expectations after the magnificent victory in the last round against Ballincollig, and the fact we ran our opponents Glen Rovers so close last year in the u15 championship, only to be outdone by the goalscoring prowess of the Glen star player Cian Walsh, but this time around the Aghada management team put the shackles on him by tasking the talented Seán O’ Callaghan with keeping a tight reign on the prolific forward and this he duly did, with a composed and mature performance. This was a fantastic team performance with some brilliant individual displays also a feature, the first half was nip and tuck, we registered the first score a point from play by full forward Tomás Condon, the Glen responded with 2 points, and we went on to hit 4 wides in a row before corner forward Jude Devoy hit the equaliser to settle us down. We traded more points with the Glen, Tomás and Samuel O’ Driscoll our scorers and then a fine move ended with our first major of the evening, Seán O’ Call passed to Hugh Mulcahy who went on a run he gave it to Jude who in turn found Tomás and he made no mistake to billow the net 1-4 to 0-5 with 20 minutes gone. We went onto raise 4 more white flags before the break, midfielder James Hurley with 2 from a free and play, Jude with another and the hard-working James Motherway also getting on the scoresheet with the goal from Tomás proving the difference at the interval 1-8 to 0-8. The boys in green came out all guns blazing in the second half with a blistering start killing off the northside challenge as we hit 1-3 without reply two more points from the superb Jude Devoy and another from the equally superb Tomás Condon pushed us further ahead, before a high ball in from Callum Roberts was gathered by Jude and he rattled the net for a goal of huge significance as it inspired our lads onto even greater heights as in fact the Glens first score of the half only came as we approached injury time with the game done and dusted. We defended superbly with Robert Dean settling in nicely at centre back with an accomplished display, goalkeeper James O’ Donnell was also calm and effective when called upon and at the other end we began to turn the screw as more points followed from the sticks of Tomás, Jude and James H, but in all honestly this was a terrific team performance, and we knew it had to be to reach the final and no doubt the lads will be looking forward to having a cut off our East Cork neighbours Sars in a weeks’ time. Team & scorers James O Donnell, Evan Crowley, Seán O Callaghan, Conor Baxx, Ronan Devoy, Robert Dean, David Wallace, James Hurley 0-5 (3f ) Colm O Donoghue, Calum Roberts, Hugh Mulcahy, Samuel O’ Driscoll 0-1, Jude Devoy 1-6, Tomás Condon 1-4, James Motherway 0-1, subs used Isaac Oosthuizen, Jack Linehan, Seán Corkery.
The convoy of buses from Scoil Íosagáin Aghada National School left for Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Tuesday morning led by the team bus for the Sciath na Scol boys football final. The supporters arrived in jovial mood and the sounds of the drums and songs could be heard all around the stadium as they roared on the boys in green. The first half was a tense affair although we started the brighter with Sam Ahern bundling in the opening goal, the impressive Eolann Deane knocked over a few points, but it was Castlemartyr who led at the interval 1-4 to 1-2 and we were also thankful to goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne who made a few excellent saves. The second half was mostly all Aghada as we took the game to our opponents the introduction of Lorcan Evans gave us an extra impetus as he won some great ball and his strong running in front of the main stand that housed the Aghada faithful put us in good attacking positions and with Dara Callanan a tower of strength at centre back the scores flowed. Jack Kelleher fired home an unstoppable shot for our second goal, Eolann and Eoin Kirrane added points while Sam put the icing on the cake with another terrific goal finish. This was an all-round team performance and an all-round school performance as the songs continued and the supporters celebrated as captain fantastic Finbar Alcock received the cup from our club legend Conor Counihan. Well done to coaches Phillip and William and all involved on a tremendous win and the teachers and students who created such a brilliant atmosphere. Final Score 3-4 v 1-4
Aghada NS panel Harry Burgoyne, Finbar Alcock, Dylan Kearns, Leon O’ Connor, Eolann Deane, Darragh Callanan, Jack Kelleher, Cormac Cashman, James Irwin, Bobby Creedon, Cormac Byrne, Sam Ahern, Maidhc Collins, Tim O’ Hanlon, Seán Walsh, Seán Day, Ben Duggan, Justin Ginju, Lorcan Adams, Liam Cashman, Jack Erangey, Conor O’ Neill, Luca Hurley, Harry Martin, Alex Day, Gavin Conway, Eoin Kirrane, Ronan Callanan, Jack Arundel, Dara Kelleher, Seán O’ Sullivan, Cathal Lehane, Daniel O’ Neill, Rory Casey, Michael Creedon, Mason Sheehan, Hugo Hurley, Andrew Walsh, Robbie O’ Hanlon.
The best of luck to our club members who make the long trip to Donegal this weekend as they take part in the All-Ireland Cross-Country championships in the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf resort this Sunday. Great dedication and commitment by these families as they support their children Leon O’ Connor, Maia O’ Connor, Jack Kelleher, Aisling Callanan and Darragh Callanan. Enjoy the occasion, do your best and safe travels on your journey.
Fixture Sat 26th November U16 Premier 1 county hurling final Aghada v Sarsfields Venue Bishopstown 4G, Time: 8pm
Be Seen wear the Green
Slán go fóill