Aghada can tap into strong underage with Eoin Murphy on board as hurling coach
Aghada players James Hurley, Cian Murphy and Isaac Oosthuizen in minor hurling action. Picture Dan Linehan
Aghada's home base in Rostellan is certainly one of the busiest GAA hubs in the entire East Cork division.
Huge numbers of juveniles have become involved in the club in recent years and thus there is a constant vibrancy around the scenic location.
Interest in ladies football hit an all-time high last autumn when the club's senior team won the county title for the first time, following a few close calls in semi-finals in the years immediately previous.
Camogie and underage football and hurling teams promise a bright future on all fronts, but as we enter 2025, the focus will also shine on adult level and the desire to make an impression in both Premier Intermediate football and Intermediate hurling. Both groups will be anxious to take positive steps after failing to ignite in 2024.
Former Waterford player and selector Eoin Murphy has recently taken over hurling coaching duties, having helped guide Midleton to U21 county success just before Christmas and also having come within a whisker of seeing Castlemartyr cross the finish line in the 2022 Premier Intermediate final when he was also team coach.
Despite being the only team to earn a point in the group stages last year, Aghada survived in the grade, courtesy of a six-point relegation play-off win over Cloughduv. The East Cork club had run Ballygiblin to two points, but lost by five to Sarsfields and six to Midleton in their other respective games. Although a few established players headed off on their travels in the close season, the emergence of some quality young players from minor level should boost both the hurling and football ranks.
It's eight years since the club defeated Éire Óg by seven points to win the county intermediate championship, but since the silverware that has arrived at Rostellan has practically all been as a result of success with the big ball.
Aghada's opening challenge in early August will see the team travel to Dungourney to meet Kildorrery on the Bank Holiday weekend. Round 2 opposition is provided by last season's beaten finalists Erin's Own in Carrigtwohill, whilst the Group 3 campaign will conclude in early September with a rematch against Ballygiblin at Páirc Uí Rinn.
In football, 2024 brought a first-day championship defeat by 0-13 to 0-10 against eventual finalists Aghabollogue. À follow up four-point defeat against Iveleary, the pressure on going into the concluding game against Ilen Rovers. Aghada obliged with the desired performance, producing a convincing victory against the Ilen Rovers side who were eventually relegated.
It meant that the championship ended in early September, so team boss Mick Kiely will be hoping for a longer season. Matthew O'Connor, Cathal McAllister, Tom O'Neill, Aidan Berry, Christy Condon and John O'Connor are all part of the management ticket.
The 2025 draw paired Aghada with Nemo Rangers in Cobh in late July, followed by a journey to Kilmichael and a clash with Bantry Blues, who narrowly lost out in the final two years ago. Aghabollogue await in a rematch from last season in mid-September.
County League action is first up with the footballers lining out in Division 3 after mid-table finish last season. The Hurlers will have a championship rehearsal against Ballygiblin among their Division 6 fixtures.
However, before all the action on the field, everyone at Aghada GAA is now eagerly looking forward to a gala night of celebration at Midleton Park Hotel on Friday week, when it will be time to look back and not look forward.
The club's industrious PRO Vince Rohan sets the scene.
"The main highlight of the night will be the presentation of medals to our ladies Football team who won the senior county title. Coincidentally, on the same day Imokilly won their county title against Sars!
"Our Imokilly hurling stars from Aghada will be honoured on the night. Also at the banquet, we will present medals to our U21 footballers who won the U21 A East Cork Championship in September against Glenville.
"A presentation will take place to our three Aghada stars who retained the O'Duffy Cup with Cork camogie last summer. It really does promise to be a fantastic evening as we celebrate our history-making women alongside our champion U21 footballers.
"A true sign our is flourishing less than two years on from when we made the historic decision."
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