PIFC: Chris Óg Jones delivers again as Uibh Laoire knock out Bantry

Uibh Laoire 3-10 Bantry Blues 0-13

Uibh Laoire progressed to the last four of this year’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Intermediate football championship at St Colum’s GAA Grounds in Kealkill.

The Inchigeelagh club outlasted Bantry Blues, county finalists for the past two years, to set up a last-four meeting with Killshannig.

This was an important Uibh Laoire win considering they had suffered defeat to the West Cork club in each of their previous two championship clashes.

Bantry Blues' Shane Keevers and Uibh Laoire's Aaron O'Donovan go high for the ball. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork senior Chris Óg Jones fisted over the bar inside the second minute to get the scoring underway.

Content to play through the hands, the Blues’ approach resulted in early yellow cards for opposing defenders Conor O’Leary and Kevin Manning.

Bantry’s inability to convert any of their early chances meant a scrappy first 10 minutes ended with Uibh Laoire a point ahead courtesy of Chris Óg Jones’ solitary score.

A lengthy delay following an injury to Iveleary’s Sean O’Leary resulted in the centre-back having to go off injured and replaced by Daniel O’Donovan. Ruairí Deane restarted the action with a converted free before Arthur Coakley did likewise a minute later.

Barry O’Leary replied at the opposite end but Uibh Laoire’s persistent fouling was punished by another Deane free soon after.

Uibh Laoire's Sean O'Leary is carried off with an ankle injury against Bantry Blues. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

A stop-start opening half continued with the foul and wide counts rising prior to Ian Jones converting a mark to make it 0-3 apiece. Then, Jones edged the Muskerry Gaeltacht side ahead courtesy of a fine score on the stroke of half-time.

As Bantry’s struggles in front of goal continued, Timmy Roberts extended his team’s advantage via a super point. A second Chris Óg Jones fisted effort made it 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

Ruairí Deane began the second period with the west Cork club’s first score from open play. Upping the intensity, Bantry made it a one-point game when Deane landed a cracking free after 34 minutes.

Barry Oldham’s side needed a response and Chris Óg Jones provided it from a long-distance strike.

Arthur Coakley fisted over to make it 0-7 to 0-6 amid a couple of off-the-ball scuffles that kept referee John Enright busy. Coakley converted another free before the game was turned on its head by two goals in as many minutes.

First, Chris Óg Jones forced the ball over the line from close range prior to the Cork senior setting up full-back Daniel O’Riordan to palm into an empty net.

A succession of points, amid multiple stoppages for petty fouling and yellow cards, saw Uibh Laoire lead 2-9 to 0-9 with 10 minutes to go.

Timmy Roberts punished a Bantry turnover to edge the Inchigeela side seven clear but Coakley (two free) responded within 60 seconds to give the Blues faint hope.

Another unforced error undid all Bantry’s good work however, presenting Chris Óg Jones with a goal opportunity he didn’t squander to wrap things up. A late red card for Conor Cronin added to Bantry’s misery but this was Uibh Laoire’s day.

Scorers for Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones 2-4 (0-1 f), D O'Riordan 1-0, I Jones 0-3 (0-1 m), T Roberts 0-2, B O’Leary 0-1.

Bantry Blues: A Coakley 0-8 (0-7 f), R Deane 0-4 (0-3 f), K Casey 0-1.

UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Riordan, C Galvin; K Manning, C O’Riordan, S O’Riordan; T Roberts, C O’Leary; A O’Donovan, B Cronin, B O’Leary; S O’Leary (c), C Óg Jones, I Jones.

Subs: D O’Donovan for S O’Leary (11, inj), S Pickering for B O’Leary (47), K Jones for B Cronin (53, inj), C Vaughan for I Jones (59).

BANTRY BLUES: M Casey; S Thornton, R O’Mahony, C Cronin; M Óg O’Sullivan, B Foley, E Minihane; S O’Leary, K Coakley; S Keevers, R Deane, D McCarthy; A Coakley (c), K Casey, J Casey.

Subs: J Sheedy for J Casey (h-t), E O’Shea for S Thornton (47), D Daly for K Coakley (47), P Cronin for R O’Mahony (47).

Referee: John Enright (Glengarriff).

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