Ian Jones hits hat-trick as Uibh Laoire hold off brave Kiskeam challenge to land PIFC crown

Uibh Laoire: 4-22 (4-2-18) 

Kiskeam: 0-23 (0-5-13) 

A slicker and more balanced Uibh Laoire side had enough for gallant Kiskeam in the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

After missing out a year ago in the decider to Aghabullogue, the men in red and white got over the line on this occasion, but they were pushed all the way here.

Ian Jones hit 3-2, with all three goals coming in the first half, but Kiskeam rallied to trail by just six points at the short whistle, having been 13 points down.

A comeback never looked truly likely, though, even if Kiskeam raised five orange flags, with Uibh Laoire always having that extra bit of quality.

Cork star Chris Óg Jones was crucial with 1-10, as well as Cathal Vaughan’s 0-4 from placed balls. The Muskerry team will play in the senior ranks for the first time in 2027.

Despite early Kiskeam pressure, it didn’t yield any scores. Instead, their opposition got a goal after three minutes when Ian Jones tucked away his shot following a turnover.

It was followed by points from Chris Óg Jones and Sam Pickering, while Ian Jones was unlucky not to raise another green flag.

Kiskeam marksman Seán O’Sullivan did point to get his side up and running with a neat score after seven minutes, 1-2 to 0-1.

The sides traded white flags before Chris Óg Jones and a Sam Pickering two-pointer opened up a seven-point cushion for the Muskerry side.

Kiskeam were battling gamely and Jack O’Connor pointed seconds after Shane O’Riordan’s effort for a goal cannoned off the crossbar, 1-6 to 0-3 after 16 minutes.

Ian Jones restored Uibh Laoire’s seven-point lead, but an outrageous O’Sullivan two-point free from near the sideline kept Kiskeam in touch.

The sides swapped points, but the direction of travel was only going one way at this juncture. Uibh Laoire got the second goal they had been threatening.

Daniel O’Donovan set up Ian Jones as his effort rattled the roof of the net, 2-8 to 0-6 with six minutes remaining in the first half.

The team in red and white then hit 1-2 without reply, with Ian Jones completing his hat-trick with an easy finish following another slick move.

Kiskeam did land five scores without response, with Thomas Casey and Paul O’Callaghan raising orange flags in a breathless finish to the first half, 3-10 to 0-13 at half-time.

Kiskeam’s upward momentum continued on the restart with another two-pointer from O’Callaghan to leave just four points in it.

The sides exchanged points before Uibh Laoire’s goal threat came into play once again when Chris Óg Jones billowed the net, 4-11 to 0-16 after 36 minutes.

Kiskeam weren’t going away, though. Another outstanding two-pointer from Thomas Casey and another orange flag from an O’Sullivan free kept his side within reach, 4-11 to 0-20.

Ciarán Galvin pointed to steady the Uibh Laoire ship, followed by a Cathal Vaughan 45 and a Chris Óg Jones two-pointer, 4-15 to 0-20 after 43 minutes.

The Muskerry side were able to keep Kiskeam at arm’s length. The sides shared the next four points, leaving it 4-17 to 0-22 with ten minutes to go.

Adrian Carroll’s well-struck effort hit the post as his side’s chances were slipping away before Ian Jones was denied a fourth goal by a majestic stop from Billy Daly in the Kiskeam goal.

A fourth Vaughan 45 pushed Uibh Laoire eight points clear as the game moved into five additional minutes, 4-18 to 0-22.

Uibh Laoire landed three of the next four points before Ian Jones put the icing on the cake for the Muskerry outfit.

Scorers for Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones 1-10 (1 2pt, 0-1 m), I Jones 3-2 (0-1 f), C Vaughan (0-4 45), S Pickering (1 2pt) 0-4 each, J Sweeney, C Galvin 0-1 each.

Kiskeam: S O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-2 f, 1 2pt f), P O’Callaghan (2 2pt), T Casey (2 2pt) 0-5 each, D Fitzgerald, S O’Riordan 0-2 each, M Casey, J O’Connor 0-1 each.

UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; S O’Riordan, C O’Riordan, C Galvin; T Roberts, C O’Leary; C Vaughan (c), C Óg Jones, S Pickering; S O’Leary, I Jones, J Sweeney.

Subs: K Manning for B Murphy (38), B Cronin for J Sweeney (42), B O’Riordan for S O’Riordan (54), A O’Brien for D O’Riordan, L Kearney for S Pickering (both 63).

KISKEAM: B Daly; J Daly, J O’Connor, M Casey; D Murphy, E Daly, K O’Connor; S Meehan, G Casey; A Carroll, AJ O’Connor, P O’Callaghan; S O’Sullivan, T Casey (c), S O’Riordan.

Subs: M Casey for D Murphy (h-t), D Scannell for AJ O’Connor, M Cronin for G Casey (both 40), D Fitzgerald for S O’Riordan (45), M Collins for K O’Connor (49).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Aghada).