Aghada Juvenile GAA Club

Well done to our U16 Footballers who had a comprehensive win over Bride Rovers in Rostellan this evening. Final game of this Championship Round Robin on Monday 7th V Killeagh will be all to play for.
🏐🟢🇳🇬

𝐔𝟏𝟐 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭- 𝟐𝟑/𝟎𝟖/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
When the Aghada u12 manager John Connolly set about inviting teams to the 2026 Billy Ahern football tournament, he got the mix just right with what proved to be a great morning of football between a determined Na Piarsaigh team, East Cork rivals Fr O’Neill’s with whom the Aghada lads have had some great battles in recent years , and Monasterevan from “pure football country” in Kildare.

🏐The first round of games saw Aghada play Fr O’Neill’s on the main pitch. In a very close and fast paced game, where both teams had spells of dominating the kick outs , Aghada led 0-5 to 0-2 at half time via points from Tomas Day , Ben Connolly , Isaac Logue and two from David O’Riordan. The second half saw end to end attacking with Fr. O’Neill’s scoring 0-3 with Aghada responding with a point each from Ben Connolly and David O’Riordan. There were some great tussles to win kick outs and the link up play from turn overs was excellent from both teams. Final score Aghada 0-7 Fr O’Neill’s 0-5.
In the other first round match Na Piarsaigh beat Monasterevan and after a short break it was on to the next round of games.

🟢Aghada faced the blue and white of Monasterevan next. It proved to be a really entertaining match with some terrific pasages of play. Sam McCarthy reacted quickest to a shot from Ciaran Crowley that came off the crossbar to put Aghada a goal up but the advantage was cancelled out almost immediately by a strong run through the centre and goal from the Kildare team. Aghada hit the post from another attack , and thanks to a point each from Isaac Logue and John Mescal , lead by 1-2 to 1-1 at half time . In the second half the home team found another gear and took control of the game thanks to an early goal from Justin O’Leary who reacted quickest to the rebound after a bullet of a shot from David O’Riordan. Isaac Logue scored the next point after which Sam McCarthy and Ben Connolly were involved in a clever ‘tap and go’ followed by determined play by the side line and then along the end line before David O’Riordan finished the move with a point. Hunter McRae put in a massive shift in the middle of the park , chasing , competing and turning over the ball in tackles while Charlie Mescal was very assured in goals under the high ball when needed . The full back line of Ruairi McAteer, Jack O’ Brien and Cathal Walsh proved to be rock solid while half back Adam O’Leary gave a great display of steeling the ball from the Monasterevan half forwards with his speed and “one hand in” tackling technique.
The game finished with a clever finish to the net from Hugh Buckley O’Sullivan , the consession of a second goal to Monasterevan and a James Day point . Final Score Aghada 3-5 Monasterevan 2-1. In the other 2nd round game , Na Piarsaigh beat Fr O’Neills to earn a place in the final against the hosts.

🏆The lone piper led the teams on to the pitches for the Cup and Plate finals . After a rousing rendition of the national anthem the referees Brian Walsh and David Butler got the Cup and Plate finals under way. Billy Ahern, in whose memory the tournament is played annually, was an Aghada and Imokilly footballing legend , know for his skill , attacking play and athleticism . And all three of these traits were evident from Aghada in the final . Justin O’Leary’s opening point was cancelled out by a Na Piarsaigh point in a nervous opening few minutes . But from then on Aghada let loose with fantastic kick passing , showing for the ball early and linking up with team mates . A dominant performance by a number of Aghada forwards and mid field players set the foundation for a powerful victory . By half time Aghada led 2-9 to 0-2 and by the final whistle the score was 3-15 to 1-4. Aghada captain Cathal Walsh , who has family connections with the Ahern family, was presented with the Billy Ahern Cup by Billy’s daughters Le-Anne and Kayleigh to round off a fantastic days football. Monasterevan beat Fr O’Neill’s in the Plate final . Many thanks to those that organised the competition, to the Ahern family for their ongoing support , to the refs and the travelling teams for their participation and the army of volunteers that kept refreshments restocked throughout the day.
Aghada team for the final
Charlie Mescal, Ruairi McAteer, Jack O’Brien, Cathal Walsh, Adam O’Leary , Isaac Logue (0-1) , John Mescal, Hunter McRae, David O’Riordan (0-7), Justin O’Leary (0-2), Ben Connolly (0-4) , Sam McCarthy (2-1), Ciaran Crowley , Tomas Day (1-0) , James Day.
Subs Ben Sommerville, Josh Carroll, Hugh Buckley O’Sullivan and Jacob Cruise. -𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑼12 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓
Monasterevan GFC Fr. O' Neill's GAA Na Piarsaigh

This week's fixtures.
Football Championship U16 & U18 at home this week.
Please support if you can 🇳🇬🇳🇬

U16 Div1 Football Championship ( this evening)
🗓 Monday 24th
🆚️ Bride Rovers
🕒 19:15
📍 Rostellan

🏐🟢All support greatly appreciated 🏐🟢

Well done to Aghada on winning the Billy Ahern Cup today 🇳🇬🏆👏 and Congratulations to Monasterevan GFC on winning the Plate Final 🏐
Pictured below winning Aghada team & Captain Cathal Walsh receiving the Cup from Billy Ahern's daughters Le-Anne & Kayleigh and their children.
And winning Monasterevan team & Captain Tom O' Loughlin nephew of our own juvenile secretary Padhraig.
Great morning in Rostellan. Well done to all involved.
More pics to follow.
Áth Fhada abú 💚🏐🟢🏐🟢

Great morning football underway here in Billy Ahern tournament. After early round stages
Aghada V Na Piarsaigh in Cup Final
AND
Fr O’Neills V Monasterevan in Plate Final.

Throw- In approx 12:30

Our annual Billy Ahern U12 Football Tournament takes place tomorrow.🏐🟢🏐
Please call down and support all the young players throughout the day. Your support is always greatly appreciated. First matches throw in @10.15
☕ The Sideline Café will be open and refreshments available in the clubhouse.
Best of luck to all the teams, and we hope everyone enjoys a brilliant day Football in Rostellan! 🇳🇬🇳🇬
Fr. O' Neill's GAA Monasterevan GFC & Na Piarsaigh