Chris Óg Jones shows his class as Iveleary overcome Aghada challenge

The Rebels star led the way at Ballyanly.

Sun, 18 Aug, 2024 - 15:07

BY JOHN COUGHLAN

PIFC: Iveleary 1-11 Aghada 0-7

Cork senior football star Chris Óg Jones ensured Iveleary survived a scare from a battling Aghada side in a low scoring McCarthy Insurance PIFC clash at Ballyanly on Saturday.

The game was finely poised but in the space of six minutes the class of Jones helped his side see off the resilient Aghada side with a 1-4 tally that finally killed off their east Cork opponents.

The opening exchanges was all about Iveleary keeping possession but it was the underdogs Aghada that registered the opening point courtesy of a neat Diarmuid Byrne accurate shot.

There is little doubt Iveleary didn’t expect the intensity that Aghada showed in the opening ten minutes but a minute later they levelled proceedings courtesy of a Sean O’Riordan white flag.

Incredibly on the next possession Aghada had a golden goal opportunity when Diarmuid Byrne was left clean through on goal but somehow he managed to blast the ball over the bar when hitting the net looked a far easier option.

Another opportunity went a begging when Tim Hartnett had a thunderous shot saved by the same player but was then hauled down inside the square.

Up stepped Aaron Berry for the penalty but this time his short came back off the right post to safety.

A Brian Cronin point edged Iveleary ahead against the run of play but they did manage to dig out a goal chance with five minutes remaining to the short whistle but luckily for Aghada Ian Jones shot straight at the keeper.

As the half matured Aghada’s intensity dropped but with the scoring averages low for both sides Iveleary luckily went in at the break commanding a 0-3 to 0-2 lead.

Jones got Iveleary’s opening point from a placed ball in the 33rd minute but two minutes later Byrne brought the minimum between the teams with his third point of the game.

It was evident both teams were well set up with chances at both ends continuing to be sparse and midway through the half a stunning second point from Cian Hegarty tied the game at five points each.

The Aghada supporters were in rapture when Hegarty edged them ahead with 12 minutes remaining before Barry Murphy tied it for the fourth time.

Poor Aghada man marking allowed of Jones to save this game for Iveleary over that began with a monstrous point that set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Jones put the icing on the cake for Iveleary with a late goal as Aghada’s first half missed goal opportunities proved costly in this dour encounter.

Scorers for Iveleary: C Óg Jones 1-6 (0-4f), B Cronin 0-2, S O’Riordan I Jones, B Murphy (0-1 each).

Aghada: C Hegarty 0-4 (f), D Byrne 0-3 (0-1f).

Iveleary: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Donovan, T Roberts; K Manning, D O’Riordan, K Jones; B O’Leary, C O’Leary; A O’Donovan, C Og Jones, S O’Riordan; B Cronin, S Pickering, I Jones.

Subs: C Galvin for K Jones (40)

Aghada: C O’Shea; S White, J Colbert, D Collins; A O’Connell, E Leahy, J O’Donoghue; D Phelan, P O’Neill; D Byrne, T Hartnett, C Hegarty; N Cunningham, A Berry, D Creedon.

Subs: R Murphy for S Whyte (40), J O’Hanlon for D Creedon (55).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).