Muskerry in seventh heaven as hat-trick hero Chris Óg Jones produces the goods

Alan Quinn of Muskerry challenged by Paddy O'Driscoll of Carbery. Picture Denis Boyle

Muskerry 7-11 Carbery 1-18 

Cork star Chris Óg Jones landed 3-3 as Muskerry’s goalscoring ability was crucial in getting past the Carbery challenge in Tuesday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC clash at Castletownkennigh.

The Mid-Cork division will face Duhallow next week with a place in the quarter-finals of the championship proper at stake, and they stayed on course to retain the Tadhg Crowley Cup thanks to their green-flag fever.

In the second minute of the second half, Muskerry midfielder Cillian O’Donovan capped a gallop through the middle with a finish to the net that did not lack panache - it put his side 3-3 to 0-11 in front and a point from Chris Óg Jones extended the lead.

Carbery might have hit the front again as Aaron Hayes set up Olan Corcoran for a goal chance but Joe Creedon kept that out and Muskerry compounded matters by claiming a fourth goal immediately after.

Corner-back William Ronan was the chief architect as Jones raised his second green flag and the county man’s second point made it 4-5 to 0-11 with 37 minutes on the clock.

Frees from Damien Gore and some nice scores by Olan O’Donovan allowed Carbery to hold pace for a time after that and the latter’s fourth point left four in it, 4-9 to 0-17, with four minutes left.

Muskerry made sure of things as Alan Quinn scored a fine individual goal and then Paul Ring’s pass allowed Liam O’Connor to make it six. 

Olan O’Donovan did register a late Carbery goal – he finished with 1-5 – but Jones had the final say at the death, his deflected shot sneaking in.

Carbery had had whatever breeze was there in the first half but it was not a material factor in them making much of the early running. They had an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead, though Quinn would have a Muskerry goal but for a Damien O’Sullivan save.

Ryan O’Donovan extended the Carbery advantage in the wake of the goal chance before another one afforded Muskerry a way back into contention.

Wing-back Seán O’Leary’s driving run was the catalyst and he exchanged passes with Chris Óg Jones to give Quinn another opportunity. While O’Sullivan saved again, the wing-forward was being fouled as he shot and a penalty was awarded.

Chris Óg Jones made no mistake from the spot and though Carbery responded with scores from Olan Corcoran (two-pointer) and the impressive Seán Daly to move 0-8 to 1-1 ahead again, Muskerry found a purple patch as half-time approached.

They had a second goal when Daragh Ó Laoire’ point attempt came back off the post and Ian Jones reacted well to claim the rebound and fire home; that was augmented with points from Liam O’Connor and Ó Laoire as they seized the lead for the first time, 2-3 to 0-9.

However, Damien Gore’s two-pointer sent Carbery in with the lead and Keith O’Driscoll extended the advantage on the restart. It was the last time they led, though.

Scorers for Muskerry: C Óg Jones 3-3 (1-0 penalty, 1 2ptf), L O’Connor 1-3, I Jones 1-2, A Quinn 1-1, C O’Donovan 1-0, D Ó Laoire 0-1.

Scorers for Carbery: O O’Donovan 1-5 (1 2pt), D Gore 0-5 (0-3 f), R O’Donovan (0-1 f), K O’Driscoll, S Daly, K Casey 1 2pt) 0-2 each.

MUSKERRY: J Creedon (Uibh Laoire); D O’Donovan (Uibh Laoire), N Lordan (Ballinora), W Ronan (Kilmurry); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), P Ring (Aghabullogue), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); C O’Donovan (Macroom), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); A Quinn (Macroom), L O’Connor (Inniscarra), D Ó Laoire (Naomh Abán); D Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Abán), C Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), I Jones (Uibh Laoire).

Subs: C Dodd (Canovee) for D O'Donovan, E O'Leary (Macroom) for Ó Laoire (both 37), K Manning (Uibh Laoire) for O'Leary (42), J O'Donoghue (Uibh Laoire) for Gillespie (52).

CARBERY: D O’Sullivan (Ilen Rovers); S O’Riordan (Barryroe), P Healy (St Oliver Plunkett’s), L Hourihane (St Colum’s); S Daly (Randal Óg), C O’Brien (Gabriel Rangers), P O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers); S Ryan (Ballinascarthy), I Jennings (Kilmacabea); K Casey (Bantry Blues), A Hayes (St James’), O Corcoran (St Mary’s); R O’Donovan (Barryroe), D Gore (Kilmacabea), K O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers).

Subs: G O'Callaghan (Gabriel Rangers) for P O'Driscoll (half-time), L Shorten (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh) for R O'Donovan (41), M O'Donovan (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh) for K O'Driscoll (46), P Wall (Kilbrittain) for Casey (57), D O'Connor (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh) for Hourihan (59).

Referee: J Regan (Lough Rovers).