Uibh Laoire see off Kiskeam with a ten-point win in Championship opener
Last year's semi-finalists Uibh Laoire got their McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier IFC off to a great start at Macroom on Sunday night. Central to their 10-point victory was their ability to find the net and two from county senior Chris Óg Jones in the first-half set the tone.
Jones finished with 2-9, including a delightful two-point free off the ground late in the game.
And while his inter-county colleague Seán Meehan lined up alongside him from the get-go, it was further out the field Kiskeam were struggling to get a grip.
The Duhallow side were relegated from senior A last year and whilst so many of their players continue to give tremendous service, they can't afford to be without the likes of goalkeeper Anthony Casey (ACL) and midfielder Adrian Carroll who are injured.
It didn't help either that they came up against high-flying Uibh Laoire, who only two weeks ago lifted Division 3 silverware.
Leading 0-4 to 0-3 on the quarter hour mark, the mid Cork side started to pull away when Jones was at the end of a flowing move to nail the opening goal in the 20th minute, the final pass provided by Daniel O'Riordan.
A trio of unanswered points followed before Jones again billowed the net, and it was another defender who provided the pass - this time captain Seán O'Leary just before the break.
Cathal Vaughan's white flag in first-half stoppage sent them to the dressing-room 2-11 to 0-3 in front.
Kiskeam turned to play with the wind and got encouragement from their skipper Thomas Casey who pointed a free.
Two-pointers from Casey and Seán O'Sullivan (free) gave them hope but matters deteriorated when Sam Pickering got in for a third Uibh Laoire goal, midway through the half, 3-14 to 0-8.
O'Sullivan (twice) and sub Mike Herlihy landed three two-pointers and there was an O'Sullivan free that yielded seven points in a short space for Kiskeam but they still trailed by three clear goals.
Kieran O'Connor probably had their best goal chance but the ball went across the square and wide.
As you'd expect the scoring rate dropped off a bit for Uibh Laoire - who were without the injured Ian Jones - but being able to call on his brother to kick a two-point free is always a boost.
They will next turn their attention to Castletownbere who recorded a narrow victory over Macroom at the weekend.
The Kiskeam and Macroom tie will be big for obvious reasons.
Scorers for Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones (2-9, 1 2pt free, 0-1 free), S Pickering (1-0), C Vaughan (0-3, 1 2pt, 0-1 free), B O'Leary (0-2, 1 2pt), C O'Riordan, S O'Leary, T Roberts and S O'Riordan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Kiskeam: S O'Sullivan (0-8, 2 2pt frees, 1 2pt, 0-1 free), T Casey (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 1 2pt), M Herlihy (0-3, 1 2pt), D Fitzgerald, S O'Riordan (0-1).
UIBH LAOIRE: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O'Donovan, D O'Riordan; C O'Riordan, S O'Leary (Capt), C Galvin; T Roberts, C O'Leary; S O'Riordan, C Vaughan, B O'Leary; B Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Pickering.
Subs: K Manning for C Galvin (42), A O'Donovan for B Cronin (45).
KISKEAM: B Daly; J Daly, S Meehan, J O'Connor; M Casey, K O'Connor, AJ O'Connor; M Casey, G Casey; D Fitzgerald, T Casey (Capt), P O'Callaghan; S O'Sullivan, S Scannell, A Dennehy.
Subs: S O'Riordan for P O'Callaghan, D Murphy for M Casey (both half-time), M Herlihy for D Fitzgerald (40), R Carroll for A Dennehy (48), M Collins for G Casey (52).
Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
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