Aghada do damage in opening half to see off Rockies

A STRONG first-half performance was crucial to Aghada’s progression past Blackrock in round two of the Cork IHC at Midleton last night.

With the elements at their back in the opening period, the east Cork side recorded all but four points of their final total, including vital goals from William Leahy and Pearse O’Neill, which helped them to an eight-point half-time lead. While the midway point of the second-half had passed before Aghada scored again, Blackrock could not make the most of their territorial advantage, poor shooting letting them down though Mikey Ahern and Derek Gosnell did their best to eat into the deficit, scoring six of their eight second-half points.

Bar a late chance for sub Donal Cremin, which hit the crossbar, Blackrock never threatened to get a goal. In addition, the late withdrawal of Aghada wing-forward Eoin Savage into a sweeper role helped to repel Blackrock pressure to ensure that the Imokilly side held out. Early on, it was Aghada making all of the running, midfield pairing of Cian Fleming and Trevor O’Keeffe impressing as they pushed into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead before Leahy’s goal, the wing-forward profiting after being picked out well by Tony Wall.