AGHADA HURLING AND FOOTBALL CLUB

Aghada confirmed their status as East Cork champions when they won the Willie Ryan last Sat.
Pa Crowley Willies grand nephew lifted the trophy to tremendous applause. Pa is the last of a long line of grand nephews who also had the honour. Pa’s Brother Mark was the first Aghada captain to lift the Willie Ryan twenty years ago. Another brother Timmy was the last Aghada captain to lift the trophy in 1997. Willie Crowley and Billy Hennessy also had the distinction of been winning captains Paul Crowley also captained the team but we had no luck that year. Hopefully Marks son Shane will captain the Willie Ryan team when his turn comes around or maybe his two cousins Hanna Ryan or Ashling Rice will beat him to it and themselves create history and be the first girls to Captain the team. Shane, Hanna and Ashling are on the u8 panel at the moment.
Now back to the hurling. In the opening game Kiltha Óg got the better of Cobh in a mighty game 0n the scoreline of 1-3 to 0-4. Our lads opened their account against a gallant Lisgoold side when they won by 3-4 to 0-1 .In the next game neighbours Kiltha and St. Catherines played out a hard and close game before the Saints got on top when the won by the odd goal 3-0 to 2-0. At the same time in the old field Cobh and Aghada played out a tight game with only three scores recorded for the game but it was Aghada who had the upper hand winning by 0-2 to 0-1.
The next game was between the two leaders both unbeaten St. Catherines and Aghada. Another win for Aghada again by the slender margin of one point 2-1 to 2-0
Cobh defeated Lisgoold 5-3 to 2-2. Then came the big one Cobh and Catherines a match Cobh had to win by a big score to progress to the final. Indeed the Saints also needed the win to conciliate their position on the table. The Saints won on the scoreline of 3-1 to 2-0. Meanwhile Kiltha accounted for Lisgoold 5-5 to 0-2
This left the final round of matches Aghada and Kiltha who met in the East Cork final way back in June. As back them Aghada got the better of the Castlemartyr/Dungourney combination by five points 1-5 to 1-0 to see Aghada into the final without losing a game
In the other field the Saints saw off Lisgoold to meet Aghada in the final.
Now the kitchen was shut down as tension reached fever pitch. It took two matches in the Championship to separate the teams when Aghada finally won the replay. And as already pointed out there was only a puck of a ball between them in the round robin game. Our lads took to the field like hares mad for action they knew they had a great chance to win this tournament and by god they were not going to leave it behind them. And so was the sceal a goal from Dessie and 1-1 from Russell was enough for Pa to lift the trophy. This was the last game at u12 for a lot of these players but what a year they gave us u12 A football u12 B East Cork Hurling Champions and beaten in the county final after a replay. The first Aghada u12 team to reach a B County final

THANKS LADS

team
Pa. Crowley

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Brian McCarthy, Chris Cashman , Pádraig Mulry

Dave Rice, Kenneth Higgins

Seámus O’Gorman ,Eoin Healy , Michael Russell

John O’Brien, Eoin Savage, Michael Desmond subs used

Rohan Kennedy ,Giorgio Corigliano, Paul Flynn, Richard Dowling, Michael Daly other subs Fergal Culligan , Michael McCarthy , Tim Hartnett, William Leahy and Bryan O'Bryne

so far and yet so near

Great credit must be given to this team. Fair play must also be given to Millsteet for an outstanding display, which Aghada were unable to match on the night.
Aghada have one enforced change with Rohan Kennedy starting at corner forward for Michael Desmond. Michael Russell started at centre field with Dave Rice going to the forty. We started well but a long free from the Millstreet centre back found its way to the net to give Millstreet a cushion they never lost. But for the courage of the Aghada backs especially Gearoid Murphy, Andrew O’Donoghue and Brian Condon the score could be a lot higher. The Aghada man of the match must go to Pa Crowley, he was out standing in goal making save after save. Russell pointed a free on the 8th minute to leave just two points between the sides. Despite all the Millstreet pressure they could only add an other point just before half time. Aghada,s best chance in this half fell to Rohan Kennedy but alas it hit the side netting .
Aghada now turned with the wind and there was a marked improvement in their play . with Kenneth Higgins playing a captains part in the middle of the field we had more ball . our forwards could not shake off the Millstreet backs . the best chance of this half fell to John O’Brien but the goalie was equal to it . Millstreet added two more points before Russell again pointed a dead ball with six minutes to go . Now Aghada turned the screw with Higgins hurling out of his skin ,but try as they might we could not make head way. Eoin Savage hit a mighty ball out on the sideline but again the goalie was able for it . The handicap of missing Dessie was that bit to much to bear ,having scored 3-18 in championship . Aghada can hold their heads high as this was a mighty team effort all through the championship

team

Pa. Crowley

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Brian McCarthy, Chris Cashman , Pádraig Mulry

Michael Russell (0-2) frees , Kenneth Higgins

Seámus O’Gorman ,Eoin Healy , Dave Rice

John O’Brien, Eoin Savage , Rohan Kennedy

Sub used Ger O'Brien for John O'Brien 39nt minute Giorgio Corigliano for Eoin Savage 54th minute

what a win Dessie again the man

Aghada went at Kiltha form the word go . Michael Desmond (man of the match ) turned on the style after three minutes when he left his man for dead and popped over the first point. Ten minutes later he added a free to leave Aghada leading going into the second quarter. With both defences on top scores were at a premium . But tell that to Dessie two more points followed before Kiltha scored on the twenty minute mark . Dessie and John O’Brien were creating havoc in the full forward line . Dessie got inside his man, shot for goal ,off the cross bar and away . Dessie added an other brace of points before Michael Russell had the last say when he pointed a 65 to leave the half time score 0-7 to 0-2 . Yet this half was not all about forwards Pa. Crowley made one of his famous saves while Andrew O’Donoghue held the full line together . Michael Russell playing in an unaccustomed role of half back was a revelation .
From the throw in Aghada when on the attack and when John O’Brien got on the end of a ball to score the opening score of the half things looked good . Yet this was to be Aghada’s only score of the half . now both fullbacks had a field day clearing ball after ball . Gearóid Murphy was now at his best ,as was Brian McCarthy and Chris Cashman . indeed the hurling was hard ,fast and fierce. Aghada’s ground hurling was a joy to be hold ,as was their block downs and work rate none better than captain Kenneth Higgins who like any great captain led from the front. Our centre field men Dave Rice and the sweet hurling Seámus O’Gormain gave it all . With tension mounting Kiltha got their first point on the 46th minute while Aghada’s best chance fell to O’Brien but the Kiltha Goalie was equal to it. O’Brien was unlucky just before that when his ground shot went whistling wide. The two Eoin’s, Healy and Savage were on top at half forward but we could not convert this to scores mainly to the brilliance of the Kiltha Full back . Aghada now brought on Ronan Kennedy to replace the hard working Gerard O’Brien , even Ronan was unable to make any headway against the fullback . Now Kiltha turned on the pressure and two points in as many minute, had the crowd sweating . But Aghada stuck to its task and when Brian Condon cleared a mighty ball the length of the field we knew it was going to be our day.

Pa. Crowley

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Brian McCarthy, Chris Cashman , Michael Russell (0-1)(65)

Dave Rice, Kenneth Higgins

Seámus O’Gorman ,Eoin Healy (0-1), Ger O’Brien

John O’Brien(0-1) Eoin Savage , Michael Desmond (0-5)(0-1 free)

Sub used Rohan Kennedy For Ger O'Brien .50th Minute

talk about doing it the hard way.Away to St. Catherines
draw the game with the last puck of the when Owen Healy banged in a goal. Won the replay short four players . went to Cobh to play the semi final short one more and only two subs lost Healy after ten minutes when Young Ryan O'Keeffe had to come on for him . But how we played. we will not see a game like this again this year . Aghada started like race horses and had 6 points on the board before Cobh got out of the starting blocks
Michael Desmond accounting for five four from placed balls and one from the man of the match Michael Russell With Healy injured Cobh came more into the game and finaly on the twenty minute mark they had a point Aghada still playing well but in injure time the Cobh danger man young Busteed (His father an Aghada man)got theCobh goal. Now the cat was amongst the pigeons could Aghada hold out . Russell Dave Rice and Kenneth Higgins were outstanding in this phase of the game .Indeed the whole back line, no the whole team were. After the brake Cobh threw everything at us but we were equal to the task from Pa in goals Brian Condon , Andrew O'Donoghue and Gearóid Murphy outside him .it was Fifteen minutes into the half before Cobh scored now the pressure was on the hurling strong fast and fearless i wish the same could be said of the crowd
i have never kn such pressure two Minutes left a point up could we hold out . Now came the cream Long ball from Andrew
found Dessie two steps over the bar what joy . from the puck out Kenneth wins the ball free,out runs Dessie what a free from fifth yards strait over the bar . cobh attack again Brian Condon clears Russell gathers in his own halfback line solo's beats two players hops the ball off his hurley to the ground off again beat two more and hits a point that Seanie McMahon would hardly
score .Four points up come on ref your four minutes over time then Cobh come again and as in the first half Busteed goals again have they time to to get another , then the sweetest sound I ever heard the long whistle what joy .
no words of mine can describe how these lads played all seventeen of them or the scenes after the game
bring on the FINAL

Pa. Crowley

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Pádraig Mulry, Chris Cashman , Eoin Healy

Seámus O’Gorman Kenneth Higgins

Dave Rice , Michael Russell (0-2), Ger O’Brien

Michael Desmond (0-7) John O’Brien Paul Flynn

Subs , Tim Hartnett, Ryan O'Keeffe

A mighty team effort saw the Saints off

the Saints were the first to score with a point . They followed up with a goal against the run of play , but how Aghada responded points from Kenneth O’Keeffe and Michael Desmond kept us in touch then Gerard O’Brien latched on to a ball and found the net to lead for the first time . The Saints responded with a goal , Minutes later John O’Brien goaled for Aghada to restore our lead to leave the half time score 2-1 to 2-2 . Just after half time Catherines came at us and got another goal , Again O’Brien responded when he blasted to the net Kenneth added an other minor from a 45 . Leading by two points the crowd were on tender hooks until the mighty Russell pointed at the death . A great result considering that we were missing four player

Team

Pa. Crowley

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Pádraig Mulry, Chris Cashman , Brian McCarthy

Seámus O’Gorman Kenneth Higgins (0-2)

Dave Rice , Michael Russell (0-1), Eoin Healy

Michael Desmond (0-1) John O’Brien (2-0) Ger O’Brien (1-0)

Subs Paul Flynn, Tim Hartnett, William Leahy , Bryan O’Byrne ,Fergal Culligan , Raymond Savage

After our defeat by St. Catherines on Wed night our lads turned on the style for the Cobh game. The game was on a knife-edge with five minutes remaining until Cobh got the goal. Another followed with in seconds and that was that. But this is not the full story our lads played with heart and with fire in their belles. When Andrew O’Donoghue and Chris Cashman had to go off injured the heart of the defence was ripped out. That said Aghada came strong in the last few minutes a shot from Seámus O’Gorman was saved and when John O’Brien’s one came off the upright the ref blew the whistle. Andrew was out standing at full back as was Michael Russell in the middle of the park up front Dessie again was unerring on the frees. Gearóid Murphy, Pádraig Mulry, Dave Rice and Giorgio Corigliano showed well as did Pa. Crowley in goals
Team

Pa Crowley

Gearóid Murphy ,, Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Pádraig Mulry , Chris Cashman , Brian McCarthy

Michael Russell (0-2) , Seámus O’Gorman

Richard Dowling,Eoin Healy , David Rice

Giorgio Corigliano ,John O’Brien , Michael Desmond (0-4) ,

Sub used , Eoin Savage,Kenneth Higgins, Paul Flynn Gerard O'Brien

A great come back after a poor start we live to fight an other day as Dessie leads the way

Team

John O’Brien

Gearóid Murphy , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

,Pádraig Mulry ,Chris Cashman , Brian McCarthy

Seámus O’Gorman Kenneth Higgins

Dave Rice , Michael Russell , Eoin Healy (1-0)

Michael Desmond (2-2) Paul Flynn, Ronan Kennedy

Subs Pa. Crowley , Ger O’Brien

Our u12 hurlers had a run out against group 1 team Carrigtwohill in Rostellan last week .

It turned out to be a highly entertaining game with some great scores from both sides .

Both Michael’s (Russell and Desmond) gave a master class in free taking . this game was our first for some time now that the football is out of the way Fergal Condon will have his charges ready for the fray .

Team

Pa Crowley

Eoin Savage , Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon

Pádraig Mulry , Kenneth Higgins , Richard Dowling

Michael Russell (0-3) , Seámus O’Gorman

Michael Desmond (0-3),Brian McCarthy , David Rice

John O’Brien , Eoin Healy , Paul Flynn

Sub used Gearóid Murphy ,Giorgio Corigliano, Ryan O’Keeffe

team

Pa Crowley
Gearóid Murphy, Andrew O’Donoghue, Brian Condon
Michael Daly , Kenneth Higgins , Richard Dowling
Seámus O’Gorman Michael Russell ,
Paul Flynn , Eoin Healy, David Rice
Rohan Kennedy , John O’Brien , Giorgio Corigliano
Sub used Pádraig Mulry, Brian McCarthy,Barry Cashman