Cork football star Chris Óg Jones fires 1-8 as Uibh Laoire power on against Bantry
Uibh Laoire's Chris Óg Jones was at his lethal best against Bantry. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Uibh Laoire are through to the knock-out stages of the McCarthy Insurance PIFC after their win over Bantry Blues at Ballingeary on Saturday afternoon.
Having already beaten Glanmire, the win sees them safely through and a possible semi-final spot up for grabs if they can win the last group game. Bantry now find themselves staring at the relegation playoffs, having lost their opening tie to Rockchapel, so they have yet to pick up any points.
This was an impressive victory for last year's runners-up with Cork star Chris Óg Jones leading their attack with aplomb as he finished with 1-8 to his name. He was helped by his brother Ian and Cathal Vaughan, who proved a handful all through for Bantry.
The West Cork side were hindered by the absence of Cork player Dara Sheedy through injury.
The game was only 40 seconds old when we had the first goal, with Arthur Coakley scoring for Bantry. Billy Sheehan’s initial shot was saved by Joe Creedon, but Coakley was on hand for the rebound to find the back of the net.
Jack Sheedy, brother of Dara, added a point before Uibh Laoire got off the mark. With three minutes gone, Sean O’Leary set up Ian Jones to goal. Points from Chris Óg Jones and Cathal Vaughan had the sides level, 1-2 apiece, with only five minutes played.
A minute later, the Muskerry outfit got their second goal of the half, this time Sam Pickering setting up Chris Óg to score. Bantry hit back through Sheedy, before Pickering scored a two-pointer at the other end.
Points from Kevin Casey and Ruairí Deane made it 2-4 to 1-5 after 15 minutes. Two from Chris Óg Jones extended Uibh Laoire's lead, before Sheehan and Coakley were on target for Bantry.
With 24 minutes gone, Bantry were back in front, when Mark Óg O’Sullivan played a one-two with Sean O’Leary to get this side’s second goal, to make it 2-7 to 2-6. Chris Óg levelled it before Ian Jones put the favourites back in front.
However, Coakley scored with the last shot of the first half to see them level at 2-8 each at the break. Sweeney got the first score of the second-half, with Pickering adding his second two-pointer to stretch their lead further.
Coakley and Conor Cronin replied for Bantry, and with 37 minutes gone, it was 2-12 to 2-10 in Uibh Laoire’s favour.
Two minutes later, they got a grip on the game when Vaughan got their third goal, going in off one of the Bantry defenders, to make it 3-12 to 2-10, and from here it was always going to be difficult for Bantry.
They did create two goal chances, with Arthur Coakley and Kevin Coakley both having shots go narrowly wide, with the former’s the easier of the two.
Two points from Chris Óg increased Uibh Laoire's lead, with Arthur Coakley and Paddy Cronin on target for Bantry.
Ian Jones made it 3-16 to 2-12, and appropriately Chris Óg Jones got the last two points of the game, to see his side advance to the knockout stages.
C Óg Jones 1-8, C Vaughan 1-3, I Jones 1-2, S Pickering 0-4 (2 2pt), J Sweeney 0-1.
A Coakley 1-4 (0-2 f), M Óg O’Sullivan 1-0, J Sheedy 0-2, O O’Neill, K Casey, R Deane (f), B Sheehan, P Cronin, C Cronin 0-1 each.
J Creedon; C Galvin, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; K Manning, C O’Riordan, S O’Leary; T Roberts, C O’Leary; J Sweeney, C Vaughan, S Pickering; S O’Riordan, I Jones, C Óg Jones.
B Cronin for K Manning (42), B Murphy for C O’Riordan (50), B O’Riordan for J Sweeney (56).
B Clancy; C O’Brien, R O’Mahony, T Cronin; D McCarthy, M Óg O’Sullivan, C Cronin; J O’Neill, K Casey; B Sheehan, R Deane, S O’Leary; A Coakley, J Sheedy, O O’Neill.
P Cronin for O O’Neill (h-t), K Coakley for D McCarthy (39), E O’Shea for B Sheehan (50).
Jerry Kelleher (St John’s, Millstreet).
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