Chris Óg Jones is Cork's most important player right now

Chris Óg Jones is only in his fourth season on the Cork senior football panel.

The Iveleary player has taken to the top level of inter-county like a duck to water and has steadily improved since the start of 2022. Right now, he's Cork's most important player.

Albeit, the Rebels haven’t played the big hitters yet this year, scoring 5-8, all from play, in the opening three games is some return.

The forward hit 3-4 in Cork’s 3-18 to 3-17 victory over Westmeath in the third fixture in the Allianz Division 2 football league last Saturday evening at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Four points from three games with Cork looking up the table.

Jones has been Cork’s best find in a good number of years. He has added another dimension to the forward unit. He was called into the panel by then manager Keith Ricken in the winter of 2021. His senior debut was the McGrath Cup final mauling by Kerry in January 2022. 

A week later, he made his league debut when introduced as a sub during the Round 1 defeat away to Roscommon. He wouldn’t kick a ball again for Cork until his big breakthrough season in 2023. 

In 2023, Jones scored 0-19 between league and championship totalling 13 matches. 0-13 came in the league despite the Muskerry man failing to score in two of the seven matches.

His scoring tally increased considerably the following year as he played in all 13 matches between league and championship when he landed 3-26. A scoring return of 2-15 coming in the league as he finished as Cork’s top scorer.

At the moment, it looks a good bet that he will have the best scoring season for Cork with 5-8 to date. The forward scored 1-4 in the Rebels 2-19 to 0-21 opening day win over Meath before just getting one green flag in the 1-19 to 2-15 loss to Down in the second match. His best display at the moment then coming against Westmeath with that 3-4. 

All of his scores have come from play too and so far he has the most goals (five) in the Allianz football league in 2025.

Jones has grown into a serious threat for Cork especially over the past 12 months. Last Saturday’s display shouldn’t be any surprise. He has threatened to put in a performance like that with a while. Hopefully many more to come.