A Chara,
February is nearing its end, the evenings are getting longer, and our club grounds in Rostellan are a hive of activity 7 days a week again. I’ve never seen such a crowd hovering around our newly refurbished ball wall. Both young and old are enjoying this facility while our pitches are doing their best to soak all the rain water we are getting lately. If you have not seen the new astro surface in the ball wall, call down and have a look. It really is a great place for all our players (both young and old) to enjoy their hurling, football, camogie and ladies football in a safe and clean area. We have a number of items to cover in this months newsletter. Please have a read of all the great work that is being carried out in Aghada GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football Club below.
Rebels Bounty:
As many of you will have seen, Rebels Bounty sales are back up and running for 2024. Thanks to everyone who has supported this incredible draw over the last number of years. The funds generated have allowed us to complete a number of exciting projects including our new walkway, a new digital scoreboard, the upgrade of our wall ball into a state of the art training facility and much more. We would be delighted if you would consider supporting the draw and Aghada GAA One Club again in 2024. It is very easy to join. Just follow the https://gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty/ . Fill in your details and make sure to select AGHADA as your chosen club! The Direct Debit option of purchasing a ticket (10 euro a month for ten months with the last 2 months free) closes on the 1st of March.
Healthy Club Update:
Our Healthy Club committee have been incredibly busy over the last number of months which has greatly benefited our local community. The hugely popular Ireland Lights Up walk returned in the first week of January and continued for 6 weeks up to Valentines night! The event provided both young and old in the community an opportunity to get out in the fresh air, meet old friends and new friends while walking in a safe lit up area along our impressive club walkway. Thankfully the weather gods were good to us this year with the rain staying away until the final night. Even when we had rain on Valentines night, we still had a big crowd brave the elements and get their steps in and a bit of romance along the way. Everyone in attendance on the final night was also treated to some snacks and a cup of tea in the clubhouse after. Well done to our Healthy Club team for their great work on organising this event. We can’t wait for next year’s walking season to get going!
On Tuesday the 13th of February, we also hosted a alcohol & drugs awareness talk for mentors of all teams. This event was well attended and the talk ran by the HSE provided mentors with useful tips on how to support members who may be struggling in these areas.
U21 A Football Championship:
Our first team in action this year was our U21 footballers. The team is under the stewardship of John O’Connor this year and his team got off to a flyer when they defeated Fr. O’Neill’s in the Quarter Final of the Mulcahy Steel sponsored competition. The game took place in Fr. O’Neill’s backyard after we lost the toss of the coin for home venue. It was a great credit to the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge club that the game was able to go ahead as the rain that fell the night before the game was biblical. However, their pitch was in immaculate condition on the day. We got off to a slow start which was understandable in the first outing of the season but we still had a slender lead at the break. In the second period our young team pushed on and won the game comfortably in the end. Conor Geary and Scott Whyte were resolute in defence, Conal Rooney covered a pile of ground in midfield, while Diarmuid Byrne and the Motherway brothers led the attack. Finn Berry bagged BOTH our goals on the day with 2 sublime finishes.
This result qualified us for the semi final of the competition against Carrigtwohill and as luck would have it we ended up playing this game in Carrigtwohill. Again the home club had the pitch in great condition for the contest. Carrig started brightly but it was our lads who hit the front after a wonderful move which ended up with Cian Hegarty burying an unstoppable shot to the back of the Carrig net. Playing with the breeze in the opening period, our men knew they would have to make use of this when they had it and they certainly did this. By the time the half time whistle blew, we had a nine point lead but the job was nowhere near done. Carrig came out of the traps fast and got the opening few scores before our lads grabbed control of the game with our subs seeing out the win in expert fashion. Joshua Halpin with a fine score in the dying moments to secure the victory. Again we had a number of impressive performances across the pitch with Jack Corkery, Donagh Collins and Ronan Murphy excellent in the backs. David Wallace gave a great attacking display in midfield while Tomas Condon had a stormer at half forward along with John Walsh who must have covered every blade of grass on the night. We now face Glenville in the East Cork Mulcahy Steel U21 A Football Championship Final on Sunday in Aghavine at 11:30am. The lads will need a huge support here as we aim to regain the title that we last won in 2019. Please get out on Sunday morning to support the team as they thoroughly deserve our support. They are our clubs future! Best of luck to Captain Donagh Collins, Manager John O’Connor and all involved. Give it everything lads!
U21 Panel: Cian O’Shea, Conor Geary, Jack Corkery, Pete White, Ronan Murphy, Donagh Collins, Scott Whyte, Conal Rooney, David Wallis, Tomas Condon, Diarmuid Byrne, Cian Hegarty, John Walsh, Eoin Motherway, James Motherway, Sean Corkery, Sean O’Callaghan, Joshua Halpin, Ronan Walsh, Michael Corkery, Stephen O’Shea, Colm White, Finn Berry, James Hurley, James O’Donnell, Conor Bakx, Robert Dean, Fintan Cody, Jack Colbert.
Adult League Fixtures:
Our adult hurlers and footballers will be in league action before you know it. Our Premier Intermediate Footballers are in league action first on the 3rd of March Vs Mallow in Mallow at 11:30AM. Our Intermediate A Hurlers first league match is on the 6th of April in Rostellan Vs Erin’s Own at 3PM. All league fixtures are available to view on our website so have a look and put them into your diary. Make sure to check social media and the website on the week of the match just in case there is any late fixture change.
Club Coaching Committee:
Our Club Coaching Committee has been busy over the last few months. Last Friday we had a fantastic talk with former Cork Senior Football Manager Keith Ricken. All attendees on the day really enjoyed the event and got some very useful tips from Keith.
The coaching committee has been busy rolling out an athletic development program over the last number of weeks with boys and girls from across the club enjoying the sessions with expert Kevin Mulcahy.
A key change that has been rolled out over the last few months is our coaches communication method with parents. We now use the app SPOND as our sole communication method. This app provides coaches with an easy attendance tracker for training sessions and matches. This allows coaches to plan training sessions in advance which is a great benefit to our young players development on the pitch. The app also allows parents to plan ahead and see when their son/daughter has their next training or match. A great app that is going down very well with all involved.
Sideline Café:
Our Sideline Café will reopen in March! However, in order to keep this little hub open as much as possible we require more volunteers! Even if you can only give a little of your time, all help is greatly appreciated AND you won't regret it...the Sideline Café is a great spot to catch up over a cuppa and a great way to meet people!
So please contact Helen 087 3085376
It's always a welcome sign on a match or training day to drive in and see those windows open ready to serve!
Camogie Update (By Camogie PRO – Kim Hegarty):
We hope this newsletter finds you all well. The longer evenings are creeping in and with that a lot of activity is taking place behind the scenes to get all teams back out on the pitch for a busy season ahead. Some teams have already hit the ground running with strength and conditioning classes and trainings, others are hot on their heels and eager to get back, any girls looking to start Camogie this is your chance to come join in the fun with Aghada Camogie by learning new skills through games and activities with your friends.
We are delighted to be celebrating 120 years of Camogie this year and hope to mark this momentous occasion at a later stage.
We would love to welcome any new coaches and assistant coaches for 2024 to come onboard, if you are interested in getting involved, please contact John Condon on 087-2660184.
Juvenile GAA Update (By Juvenile assistant PRO – Helen Walsh):
Spring is here and our thoughts turn once again to returning to the field so here's hoping the weather will improve soon and we can get back on the pitches and all teams will be training in full swing in the not too distant future!
Congratulations to Jude Devoy who has been selected on the Cork Minor hurling panel and congratulations also to Tom Walsh hurling & Cian Moore football who have been selected on the Rebel Óg u16 panels for the year. Well done lads, Áth Fhada Abú.
Best of luck to all our members involved in the East Cork Scór na bPáistí Semi-finals this Saturday in Lisgoold Community Centre.
Junior Infants Boys & Girls Coaching:
Please see the below notice from John Connolly on Junior Infants introduction to hurling, football and fun games which will take place every Saturday between 9:30am – 10:30am in our indoor hall in Rostellan. Contact John on 087 6200125 if you have any questions.
Aghada GAA One Club members wearing the red and white in 2024:
It is always brilliant to hear we have players representing the club on Cork teams. This year we have a massive list and we may have more before the year is out. Well done to Erin Ryan (U14 Ladies Football), Ava Coughlan (U16 Ladies Football), Brianna Smith, Amelia Cooper and Maisie McRae (U18 Ladies Football), Tom Walsh (U16 Hurling), Cian Moore (U16 Football), Jude Devoy (U17 Hurling), Kaitlin Smith, Sarah Leahy, Aoife Healy, Rachel Leahy, Hannah Looney, Abigail Ring (Senior Ladies Football), Ali Smith, Amy O’Connor, Aoife Healy, Hannah Looney (Senior Camogie).
Of course we also have Fergal Condon who is selector with the Cork Hurlers, Martin Day who is selector with the Cork Minor Ladies Footballers and Brian Walsh who is a key figure in the Cork Senior Footballers backroom team.
It is great to have so many of our members from all sections of our club representing Aghada in the red and white of Cork in 2024! Long may it continue. My apologies if I forgot anyone!
Club Social Media & Fixtures Group:
As the new season is now up and running, our social media accounts will be a hive of activity. Make sure you keep an eye out on these accounts for up to date news and information on upcoming match fixtures. We also have a club fixture group on WhatsApp which many members found useful last year. If you would like to be added to this group text Vince on 085 1938 088.
That’s it for this week. Remember that our U21 Footballers in action on Sunday morning in Aghavine. Get out and support the lads!
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/
