Aghada GAA Juvenile News.

Hi folks, hope this newsletter finds you well, memories carry thoughts through the passages of time, 1983 was one of those wonderful times in the history of Aghada GAA Club, when an U14 football team managed by Conor Counihan, Jerry Melvin and Ger Looney along with Captain Paul O’ Donoghue brought back the first county to the club, in a replay win after extra time against Kilshannig. The foresight of people in the club 40 years ago to video the match and celebrations afterwards brought back great memories. The late great Seán O’ Keeffe senior was master of ceremonies with some legendary interviews and wonderful nostalgia as the camera scanned the room and showed the amazing club people who all looked after everyone so well back then. Roll on 40 years and a number of players got together to organize a reunion as a trip was planned around the harbour last Saturday on a boat that was more like a mini cruise ship owned by Stephen Henley, a native of Lower Aghada, who would not accept any money for the trip and instead when a collection was made he donated the money to the Seán Kenny go fund me page, a measure of the man. The players who togged out in the dressing rooms side by side 40 years ago began to arrive at the pier in Lower Aghada, many of them looking fit or near their fighting weight, some hairlines have changed or disappeared altogether and the snow on a few mountaintops looks permanent, but the familiar outlines were still there, still visible. The ball hop and banter started immediately with no one spared, stories were told, and songs sung as everyone enjoyed each other’s company once again. The words of the song made famous around these parts by the Powell brothers rang true “it’s good to see you, so good to see you, Oh! how I missed you since I’ve been gone, I’ve crossed the ocean, travelled the many lands and it’s good to see you to be in your home, Oh! it’s a wonder when it comes to friendship no matter how far away, no matter how long, there’s a constant thread that’s never broken and it ties me to my friends at home. Oh! yes it’s good to see you!”

U14 Hurling Championship Aghada 3-7 St Colmcilles 2-5 The heroics of the visiting goalkeeper kept this championship game in the balance right until the end as we were guilty of going for goals when a point would have been the better option, considering we had the lion’s share of possession and playing the better hurling for the majority of the encounter. Played on our excellent main field on Friday night we attacked from the throw in as Jake Morrissey raced clear only to see his well struck shot saved by the keeper. The Whites Cross and Carrignavar amalgamation split the posts to record the first point of the game, before we put a fantastic move together, Matthew Condon found Jake who moved it onto Eoghan O’ Shea who in turn passed to Cathal Lowney and he made no mistake to billow the net. A second goal quickly followed as midfielder Jack Kelleher expertly set up Matthew and he struck a ferocious shot to the net. We then had a lucky escape as a shot came back off a post, but our no-nonsense full back Rossa White was on hand to clear the danger. The visitors found the net and we replied when Cathal who was causing the defense endless problems followed in a high ball to calmly fire home. Eoghan was unlucky to see a goal ruled out for a square ball and we were lucky at the other end to survive a goalmouth scramble just before half time to leave the score 3-1 v 1-3 in our favour at the short whistle. We struck 3 points on the trot after the break, the first a free from Matthew when center forward Shay Rooney was fouled going through and the good advantage given by the referee came to nought when his shot cannoned back off a post. Shay himself then struck a point that his work rate deserved and Matthew hit another sweet free. St Colmcilles struck for a goal to put the game back in the melting pot despite good defending from Finbarr Alcock and the exceptional Conor Charles who had a stormer all through. Eoghan plucked a puckout from the sky and sent the ball through the posts for a mighty score, the keeper then made a fabulous double save to deny Robbie Oosthuizen and Jake and with the dangerous lead of a goal only separating the sides we made sure of the win as Matthew struck a beauty of a free way out on the sideline and Jack found Jake who split the posts to give us a

thoroughly deserved 5 point win in a fantastic team display. On a sidenote the club would like to wish James Irwin well as he picked up an injury shortly after being introduced and to John Dorney who missed the game with a foot injury. Team & scorers Rían O’ Brien, Conor Charles, Rossa White, Finbarr Alcock, Donncha Walsh, Kaylan Cunningham, Dara O’ Brien, Jack Kelleher, Cormac Cashman, Matthew Condon 1-4 0-3f, Shay Rooney 0-1, Robbie Oosthuizen, Cathal Lowney 2-0, Eoghan O’ Shea 0-1, Jake Morrissey 0-1. subs used Sam Ahern, James Irwin, Marcus O’ Loughlin.

Our U13 footballers won the inaugural Glenville tournament in Glenville last Sunday, a big thankyou to the host club for the invite, we played very well on the day as our captain David Murphy lifted the cup that will have Aghada as the first winners name inscribed on it.

Our U9’s played a hurling blitz in Cloyne last Saturday morning against St Colmans, Killeagh and Fr O’ Neills they also played a very intriguing and enjoyable mixed match last Tuesday evening with our U10 camogie team, this proved to be a very worthwhile exercise with brilliant displays from the boys and girls.

The next juvenile newsletter will be in around three weeks as I am out of the country, the fixtures and results will still be on the club zap website and the social media pages will also be updated reqularly. Bon voyage, keep the flag flying and we will catch up again in a few weeks.

Fixtures.

Friday 30th U17 P1 Hurling League Aghada v Douglas 19:30 Rostellan.

Saturday 1st July U14 Football Championship Final Aghada v Youghal 12:30 Midleton.

Saturday 1st July U15 football league Aghada v Carrigtwohill 13:00 Rostellan.

Monday 3rd July U15 P2 Hurling Championship Aghada v Kiltha Óg 19:00 Rostellan.

Tuesday 4th July U14 Hurling Championship Final Aghada v Lisgoold 20:00 Lisgoold

Friday 7th July U13 Hurling League Aghada v Clyda Rovers 19:00 Rostellan.

Slán go fóill.

Be seen wear the Green.