Premier IFC: Uibh Laoire produce strong response to make it back to final
DEADLY: Chris Óg Jones shoots for a point for Uibh Laoire against Naomh Abán in Macroom. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Last year’s beaten finalists Uibh Laoire made it back to the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC decider as held off Naomh Abán in Sunday’s local derby at Macroom.
While the Inchigeela out moved into a wind-assisted 0-6 to 0-0 lead inside nine minutes of the start, their Baile Bhúirne opponents had drawn level at 0-7 each by half-time and then Aodhán Ó Luasa had Naomh Abán in front for the first time on the restart.
Uibh Laoire’s response was pivotal, however. They were tied again when Chris Óg Jones set up his brother Ian for a palmed point that might have been a goal and, after excellent Daniel O’Donovan defending snuffed out a potential Naomh Abán opening at the other end, Uibh Laoire pushed on well.
Cork star Chris Óg Jones landed his fourth of the day before Ian finished off a fine move involving Sam Pickering, Timmy Roberts and Seán O’Leary. Then a two-point lead extended to five as Ciarán O’Riordan took a quick free long to Ian Jones and a reversal of the previous move played out as he handpassed across for his sibling to reach, diverting the ball to the net.
That made it 1-10 to 0-8 but their position threatened to be shaken when they lost Roberts to a second yellow card before Naomh Abán sub Conor Ó Críodáin and then Dara Mickey Ó Loingsigh were on target to cut the deficit to a goal.
If Uibh Laoire were nervous, they didn’t show it, though. They pushed up high as a perfect example of how to play with numerical disparity and a point from sub Ciarán Galvin was followed by a Cathal Vaughan beauty and Chris Óg Jones’s fifth moved them six ahead.
Ó Críodáin threatened a Naomh Abán goal but his namesake Joe Creedon in the Uibh Laoire goal bravely saved and a free out resulted, leading to Chris Óg Jones setting up Ian Jones for his third and a seven-point lead, 1-14 to 0-10, on 56.
It was their last addition to the scoreboard – with everything having come from play – and from there it was case of digging in as Naomh Abán, who had lost Cork U20 star Ed Ó Mír by this stage, came strongly. Ciarán Ó Luasa flashed a shot wide before a huge Darragh Ó Laoire free yielded an orange flag and then, after Uibh Laoire’s Daniel O’Riordan incurred a black card, Dónal Ó Ceallaigh’s free made it a four-point game, 1-14 to 0-13.
While the scoreboard showed 1-14 to 0-14 after that, another Ó Ceallaigh free meant reality caught up as the game moved into the last minute injury time. Naomh Abán pushed but Ciarán O’Riordan’s excellent defending forced a turnover free and Uibh Laoire held out.
Their start, encompassing two-pointers from Seán O’Riordan and Conor O’Leary, suggested that they might win at their ease but Naomh Abán reacted well to the early six-point deficit, with Ó Mír and Darragh Ó Laoire to the fore in their attack while Seán Ó Ríordáin impressed in midfield.
They were back to within 0-6 to 0-4 in the 25th minute and, while Chris Óg Jones briefly broke the momentum, two from Ó Mír and one by Dermot Ó Ceallaigh ensured the sides went in level.
While Naomh Abán went in front three minutes into the new half, it was only a fleeting state of affairs and Uibh Laoire produced the necessary riposte.
C Óg Jones 1-5, I Jones 0-3, C O’Leary, S O’Riordan 0-2 (2pt) each, C Vaughan, C Galvin 0-1 each.
E Ó Mír 0-4 (0-2f), D Ó Laoire 0-3 (1 2ptf), Donal Ó Ceallaigh 0-2f, D Ó Loingsigh, C Ó Donnchú, A Ó Luasa, D Ó Ceallaigh, C Ó Críodáin 0-1 each.
J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; K Manning, C O’Riordan, S O’Riordan; T Roberts, C O’Leary; J Sweeney, C Vaughan, S Pickering; S O’Leary, I Jones, C Óg Jones.
C Galvin for Manning (36), B Cronin for Sweeney (42), B O’Riordan for S O’Riordan (55, injured), A O’Brien for O’Leary (60).
G Ó Luasa; C Ó Deasúna, C de Róiste, É Ó Críodáin; S Ó Loingsigh, D Ó Loingsigh, J Hendy; S Ó Riordáin, C Ó Donnchú; A Ó Luasa, E Ó Mír, P Ó Liatháin; Dermot Ó Ceallaigh, D Ó Laoire, Dónal Ó Ceallaigh.
C Ó Críodáin for Dermot Ó Ceallaigh (39), J Ó Donnchú for S Ó Loingsigh (42), W Mac Cárthaigh for Ó Mír (47, injured), C Ó Luasa for É Ó Críodáin (53).
L O’Shea (Carbery Rangers).
App?
