Chris Óg Jones: This win is huge for Muskerry, onwards and upwards now

It was only two years ago when Muskerry had to pull out of the Premier SFC.

One of the darkest days in the proud history of the division, but it has proven to be a watershed moment. On Friday evening, the Mid-Cork side progressed to the quarter-finals of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC after a 3-13 to 2-15 victory over Duhallow in the divisions/colleges final at Macroom.

Muskerry’s superb first half display laid the foundation for this success as they also claimed the Tadhg Crowley Cup for the first time. Key to the win was the display of Cork and Iveleary star Chris Óg Jones who finished up with 1-4, all from play. The forward started off the green flags with his one coming after three minutes as he finished smartly to the net.

Óg Jones was buzzing when he spoke to The Echo after helping his division to an historic achievement.

“This win is huge for the Muskerry Division,” Óg Jones says post-match.

“Even from my own personal point of view, I always wanted to play a part in the premier senior football championship proper. This victory has now given myself a chance to do that in a few weeks’ time. A lot of us are from smaller clubs who have never got the opportunity to play senior. There’s a lot of people that do trojan work in Muskerry. They get no credit or no praise for it, and this is the reward now for those people. I am delighted for them."

Muskerry looked in a very strong position at the break as they led by eight points, but as the second half got underway, the floodlights were switched on and Duhallow were seemingly inspired by it.

“Things were just going that bit too easy for us in the first half,” the 25-year-old said. 

“The ball was coming in nicely. In a way, it’s disappointing that we were up eight points at half-time and for the game to be nearly gone from us at the end, but look we won. We were dominating the kick-outs and I think Duhallow made a few changes in and around the middle and started winning a lot of breaks. Primary possession, and kickouts, if you win them, it takes you a long way.

“That end to the game was tough, but that's what you expect from playing a side like Duhallow. The fact we ended up on the right side of the result is testament to our management. They deserve huge credit. They made calls towards the end that steadied the ship.” 

Muskerry football has improved bit by bit since those dark days of 2022 when they were at crossroads. Beating Avondhu, and two fancied sides in Carbery and Duhallow is some achievement this year. What has changed?

“There seems to be more buy-in,” the Iveleary player says.

“With regards to this year, I am not too sure if there are many players out there who are able to play and don’t play for Muskerry. You also see the big players that we are missing due to injury, Alan Quinn was a Cork senior footballer and Ed Myers, what a player he is, such a promising player. Imagine if we had him this evening? I have played against Ed, what a prospect. They are two huge players for us that we are missing.

“On my side, there was a lot of apprehension playing against Carbery a few weeks ago as I wouldn’t have known much about the players besides the Iveleary lads of course. As soon as the match started, that grá for playing for Muskerry came. The passion was there and the lads wanted to win. It’s onwards and upwards for Muskerry now.”