Youghal progress through to the East Cork Junior ‘B’ Football Final

By Derek Kiely

Youghal 0-11 Aghada 0-08
LAST Friday at Pairc Ui Chinneide in Killeagh the semi final replay of the East Cork Junior 'B' Football Championship was won by Youghal after an impressive display against Aghada.
In the original semi final Youghal felt that they had left it behind them on the night, but last Friday night’s performance was far superior from the Youghal boys and in the end they were good value for the win.
Unlike the original match Youghal started far better with lots of possession early and after just two minutes of play Daniel Savage had the first white flag raised in the match with a very well taken ‘45’ for Youghal.
Over the next four minutes Youghal had kicked two wides and Aghada got themselves into the match and levelled with a very good point from play off the boot of Padraig Wall.
Both sides cancelled each other out over the next eight minutes with both Youghal and Aghada kicking several wides.
Alan Frahill O’Connor then settled Youghal nerves on the 16th minute with a well taken free to re-gain the lead. Then seconds later the Youghal men struck again with a great score from Andrew Sheehan from miles out to establish a two point lead.
Youghal dominated the ball for several minutes after that score, but had to wait until the 25th minute to add another score from Keith McCarthy, then instantly from the resulting kick out Youghal had another point from Alan Frahill O’Connor to establish a four point lead, but on the stroke of half time the margin was reduced to three points when David Creedon pointed from play.
Creedon was on target just seconds into the second half with yet another pin point accurate free for the Rostellan men, leaving two between the sides.
Youghal’s Adrian Curtin responded with a well taken free on the left side 35 metres out on the 35th minute. Then Curtin was on target just three minutes later from the same tight angle and the four point advantage was re-established.
Since the resumption of the second half both sides were level in terms of possession and both defences were on top. Creedon popped a free over for Aghada on the 39th minute, then amazingly Curtin made it three out of three from the same tight spot on the left side thirty five metres out again, which was a magnificent run of tough free’s for the Youghal man.
Creedon was proving deadly from the placed ball and rose another white flag on the 42nd minute and again there was a goal between the sides.
Youghal increased the pressure with 15 minutes to go, taking several close range shots but not finding a break through, down to some very good Aghada defending, but after five blocked shots Anthony Frahill O’Connor took the initiative close in and popped the ball over for Youghal.
Then incredibly from the same location on the pitch Adrian Curtin made it four long range pointed free’s out of four, this time dropping in off the goal post to give Youghal five point lead with twelve minutes remaining.
Padraig Wall sent a score from play over for Aghada on the 48th minute and Youghal’s full back line through the very impressive Philip Monaghan had to battle hard as the Rostellan men came in search of a goal.
Youghal needed something fast to keep the pressure off and with nine minutes remaining the outstanding Aaron Kenny sent Barry Goggin free and Goggin made no mistake putting the ball over.
Aghada weren’t giving up just yet and rallied with two late scores from David CAreedon from play and also a great score from Shane Wall, but Youghal didn’t panic and saw out the remainder of this game to set up an East Cork Final with Castlelyons on Sunday the 13th of November, with the venue to be announced.
YOUGHAL: E Coyne; V Murray, P Monaghan, A Foley; P O'Mahony, A Kenny (Cpt) D Savage; Alan Frahill-O'Connor, A Curtin; A Sheehan, Anthony Frahill-O'Connor, C O'Mahony; R Cunningham, D Mulcahy, K McCarthy.
Subs: R Cronin for C O’Mahony Injury (13) B Goggin for D Mulcahy (38) S Spillane for A Curtin (52)
AGHADA: M O'Brien; A Walsh, B Wall, E Cotter; A Creedon, S Wall, P O'Connor; C Rice, A Cotter; P Wall, D Creedon, R Goodie; T O'Keefe, J O'Brien, F Day.
D Morrissey for F Day (26) R Condon for R Goode (29)
Referee: Denis O’Flynn (Fr. O’Neill’s)