Aghada savour a season to remember, eager to return to Munster arena

Losing a Munster LGFA semi-final was tough but Aghada manager Eric Smith has much to be thankful for as his club ends the year as Cork LGFA Senior A county champions.

The contrast in the Aghada dressing rooms could not have been starker.

Wild celebrations and the club’s adopted song 'Caledonia' reverberated from deep within the MTU Cork changing rooms.

Aghada’s supporters joined the players and spent a long time soaking in the moment after the newly crowned Cork senior A champions had edged Éire Óg on free-kicks.

Those happy scenes took place on October 20. Fast forward to November 3 in Rostellan and the Aghada dressing room was much a quieter and more sombre place.

Comeragh Rangers came from five points down to defeat the Cork champions 1-8 to 1-7 and end Eric Smith’s panel’s hopes of claiming a first Munster LGFA SFC title.

It was a bittersweet moment for the Aghada manager, backroom team and players following a provincial semi-final that was there for the taking.

“The pain has definitely subsided since that Comeragh game but only in the last ten days,” Smith commented.

“Although, just after the game, there was a sense of forlorn and it was a very quiet dressing room immediately afterwards. That’s because there was an expectation and hope that we would go on a run.

“It wasn’t to be. Comeragh were a formidable opponent to be honest with you." 

Smith makes a valid point about Comeragh Rangers who had just ended Ballymacarbry’s 42-year consecutive run as Waterford senior champions. As well as that, Rangers put in a commendable performance before falling to Kerry’s Castleisland Desmonds in the Munster senior decider.

Their Munter semi-final loss should not detract from what’s been a marvellous Aghada season.

“We will celebrate our county final win and no better group to celebrate it, trust me!” Smith added.

“Our focus will turn, very quickly, in the New Year to trying to get ourselves fit for purpose. We will be looking to see how we can improve our setup and improve our player profile by getting a few injured players back.

“It will be all about getting ourselves right and looking to retain our title. The girls will be looking to push on.

“Everyone got a taste of what it was like to participate in a Munster championship and all agreed they want to experience it again.” 

So, while the pain of not getting out of Munster may take time to subside, there is little doubt that Aghada’s year was a hugely positive one.

That’s because, in 2024, Aghada emerged as champions from one of the most fiercely fought Cork LGFA SFC competitions for some time.

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Title-holders Mourneabbey’s inability to reach the knockout stages of the Senior A championship opened the door for perennial challengers Éire Óg, St Val’s, Aghada and newcomers Glanmire to fight it out for top honours.

Clearly, Aghada benefitted from emerging top of a qualifying group that contained Éire Óg, Senior B champions Clonakilty, Senior B runners-up Kinsale and Bride Rovers before seeing off 2023 Intermediate county champions Glanmire in the last four.

The 2025 championship should prove just as tight.

The experience gained from so many tough contests over the past twelve months, especially for the panel’s youngest members, will stand Aghada in good stead.

“Young players play a big part in not just our own setup but all the other senior clubs as well,” the Aghada senior manager concluded.

For a young team to get over the line and win close games, that is experience you just cannot buy. We had an U16 and a few other minor players involved with us this year.

“They can only benefit from going through a senior championship and understanding what it takes to win it.

“I have to mention our backroom team too, not just this year but over the last three years, and the work they have done with this group.

“I was struggling to get our backroom team on a match-day programme because there are eleven of us involved in everything from coaching, stats and videoing to psychology. I cannot thank them enough and we will be looking to retain all of them for next year.”