Chris Óg Jones lands late winner to carry Muskerry past Carbery

The Cork star kicked 0-5 across the hour, 0-4 of which came in the second period and his hands were also all over Eolan O’Leary’s first half major.

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024 - 16:28

John Coleman

Cork Premier SFC: Muskerry 1-15 Carbery 1-14

A late Chris Óg Jones point proved to be the difference between Muskerry and Carbery in Ovens on Friday night as the mid-Cork side booked their place in the final of the Divisions/Colleges section of the Cork Premier SFC.

The Cork star kicked 0-5 across the hour, 0-4 of which came in the second period and his hands were also all over Eolan O’Leary’s first half major.

Muskerry will now play Duhallow in the final with a place in the quarterfinals of the championship proper at stake.

When Damien Gore’s fifth point levelled the game for the fourth time with two minutes to go, extra time seemed to be inevitable. However, Ian Jones then found his brother with a classy pass, and the finish was even classier. Carbery huffed and puffed, but there was no way back.

A lively opening saw Gore put Carbery ahead only for Liam Twohig to reply in kind for Muskerry moments later. A slick move from the Muskerry forwards then led to the game’s opening goal. Ian Jones played in O’Leary, who then played a one-two with Chris Óg Jones before finishing smartly past Mike Casey.

Gore responded quickly, but two scores from Óg Jones and Liam O’Connor left O’Leary’s goal between them at the end of the opening quarter.

Ian Jones set up Twohig for his second, and then it was Carbery’s turn to raise a green flag. Arthur Coakley dropped the shoulder, Sean Daly supported him with a run from deep, and the Randal Óg man made no mistake from close range.

Ian Jones then pointed for Muskerry, but two classy scores from Dan McEoin levelled the game for the second time. The rest of the half belonged to Muskerry, as two Twohig frees and O’Connor’s third gave them a 1-8 to 1-5 interval lead.

Gore and McEoin sandwiched scores from Óg Jones to make it a one-point game four minutes into the second half, before Jones and Twohig did the same to Gore to make it a three-point game again.

Carbery were struggling to narrow the deficit, but the introduction of Olan Corcoran gave their attack more purpose. He kicked two points, as did McEoin, and with only Jones responding for Muskerry, it was 1-12 each with nine to play.

Liam Wall and Joseph Creedon then put Muskerry two clear, Corcoran and Gore brought it level again, before the irrepressible Óg Jones had the final say.

Scorers for Muskerry: C Óg Jones (0-5), L Twohig (0-4, 0-2 frees), L O’Connor (0-3, 0-1 free), E O’Leary (1-0), L Wall, J Creedon (free) and I Jones (0-1 each).

Scorers for Carbery: D Gore (0-1 free) and D McEoin (0-1 free) (0-5 each), O Corcoran (0-3), S Daly (1-0) and Keith O’Driscoll (0-1).

MUSKERRY: J Creedon (Uibh Laoire); W Ronan (Kilmurry), E Lehane (c) (Canovee), D O'Donovan (Uibh Laoire); K Manning (Uibh Laoire), M Corrigan (Macroom), S O'Riordan (Uibh Laoire), C O'Donovan (Macroom), L Wall (Kilmurry); A O'Sullivan (Aghabullogue), C Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), E O'Leary (Macroom); L O'Connor (Inniscarra), I Jones (Uibh Laoire), L Twohig (Aghinagh).

Subs: C Dodd (Canovee) for Corrigan (h/t), K O’Connell (Donoughmore) for O’Leary (38), M McLoughlin (Inniscarra) for O'Donovan (51).

CARBERY: M Casey (Bantry Blues); D Twomey (Ballinascarthy), P Collins (Randal Óg), S O'Riordan (Barryroe); S Daly (Randal Óg), P Murphy (Bandon), G O'Callaghan (Gabriel Rangers); S O'Leary (Bantry Blues), Kevin O'Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh); R Deane (Bantry Blues), C O'Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), Keith O'Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers); D McEoin (Ilen Rovers), D Gore (Kilmacabea), A Coakley (c) (Bantry Blues).

Subs: O Corcoran (St Mary’s) for Coakley and S Ryan for K O’Driscoll (both h/t), P O’Driscoll (Ilen Rovers) for O’Callaghan (57).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).