Uibh Laoire Dominates Bantry in McCarthy Insurance PIFC

In Ballingeary, Uibh Laoire didn’t just edge towards the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance PIFC – they kicked the door down.

Last year’s runners-up, already buoyed by victory over Glanmire, made it two wins from two with a sharp, ruthless attacking display that leaves them safely through and eyeing a potential semi-final spot if they can finish the group job. For Bantry Blues, beaten by Rockchapel in their opener, this defeat drags them towards the relegation playoffs with no points on the board.

At the heart of it all was Cork forward Chris Óg Jones. He led the line with authority, finishing with 1-8, his movement and finishing constantly pulling Bantry apart. His brother Ian and the lively Cathal Vaughan played off him superbly, the trio tormenting a Bantry defence that never really got to grips with them.

Bantry travelled without injured Cork man Dara Sheedy and the loss told. They started like a team determined to bury that setback, though.

The game was barely 40 seconds old when they struck. Billy Sheehan’s shot was parried by Joe Creedon, but Arthur Coakley reacted quickest and slammed the rebound to the net. When Jack Sheedy, brother of Dara, clipped over a point, Uibh Laoire were 1-1 to 0-0 down before they had even settled.

They didn’t panic. With three minutes gone, Sean O’Leary sliced Bantry open and slipped in Ian Jones, who finished clinically for their first goal. Points from Chris Óg and Vaughan followed in a blur, and suddenly it was 1-2 apiece after just five frantic minutes.

The Muskerry men smelled blood. A minute later, Sam Pickering burst through and squared for Chris Óg, who drilled home their second goal. Bantry hit back through Sheedy, only for Pickering to respond with a well-taken two-pointer at the other end, underlining Uibh Laoire’s intent to go for the jugular whenever space appeared.

Bantry clung on. Points from Kevin Casey and Ruairí Deane cut the margin to leave it 2-4 to 1-5 after 15 minutes. Two more from the unerring Chris Óg pushed the gap out again, but Sheehan and Coakley kept Bantry in touch.

Then the game flipped. With 24 minutes gone, Mark Óg O’Sullivan drove forward, played a neat one-two with Sean O’Leary and buried Bantry’s second goal. From nowhere, they were back in front, 2-7 to 2-6. Uibh Laoire’s response was instant: another Chris Óg point to level, Ian Jones nudging them ahead again.

Still, Bantry refused to go away. Coakley, who carried their main threat all afternoon, landed the last score of the half to leave it delicately poised at 2-8 each at the break.

The restart belonged to Uibh Laoire. J Sweeney clipped the first point of the second half, and then Pickering struck again with his second two-pointer, stretching the lead and shifting the momentum firmly back towards the favourites.

Bantry tried to hang on. Coakley and Conor Cronin replied to keep it at 2-12 to 2-10 with 37 minutes gone. The contest still felt alive.

Then came the moment that broke them.

Two minutes later, Vaughan burst through and let fly. His effort took a touch off a Bantry defender and flew in for Uibh Laoire’s third goal. Suddenly it was 3-12 to 2-10, and the gap felt far bigger than five points. From there, Bantry were chasing shadows as much as scores.

They did carve out two huge chances to drag themselves back into it. Arthur Coakley went agonisingly wide with the better of them, and Kevin Coakley also saw a shot flash past the post. On another day, one of those goes in and the last 10 minutes turn into a dogfight. This time, Uibh Laoire held their nerve and their shape.

At the other end, Chris Óg kept twisting the knife. Two more points from the Cork forward pushed the lead out again, while Coakley and Paddy Cronin did what they could to keep Bantry’s tally moving.

Ian Jones made it 3-16 to 2-12 as the clock ticked down, and fittingly it was Chris Óg who had the final say, knocking over the last two points of the afternoon to close out a 1-8 haul and underline his status as the game’s outstanding figure.

Uibh Laoire march on to the knockouts with momentum and firepower to spare. Bantry, staring at relegation playoffs after two defeats, now face a very different kind of pressure test.

Scorers

• Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones 1-8, C Vaughan 1-3, I Jones 1-2, S Pickering 0-4 (2 two-pointers), J Sweeney 0-1.
• Bantry Blues: A Coakley 1-4 (0-2f), M Óg O’Sullivan 1-0, J Sheedy 0-2, O O’Neill, K Casey, R Deane (f), B Sheehan, P Cronin, C Cronin 0-1 each.

Teams

UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; C Galvin, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; K Manning, C O’Riordan, S O’Leary; T Roberts, C O’Leary; J Sweeney, C Vaughan, S Pickering; S O’Riordan, I Jones, C Óg Jones.
Subs: B Cronin for K Manning (42), B Murphy for C O’Riordan (50), B O’Riordan for J Sweeney (56).

BANTRY BLUES: B Clancy; C O’Brien, R O’Mahony, T Cronin; D McCarthy, M Óg O’Sullivan, C Cronin; J O’Neill, K Casey; B Sheehan, R Deane, S O’Leary; A Coakley, J Sheedy, O O’Neill.
Subs: P Cronin for O O’Neill (h-t), K Coakley for D McCarthy (39), E O’Shea for B Sheehan (50).

Referee: Jerry Kelleher (St John’s, Millstreet).