Uibh Laoire Dominates Kiskeam in Premier IFC Opener

Jones Shines as Uibh Laoire Sets Early Pace

Cork star Chris Óg Jones was the undisputed catalyst as Uibh Laoire launched their McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC campaign with a commanding victory over Kiskeam. The 2-9 tally from Jones underscored Uibh Laoire’s superior performance, securing a fully deserved win for the recently crowned Division 3 league champions.

Uibh Laoire Control from the Off

From the outset, Uibh Laoire demonstrated an assured defensive structure and midfield control, dictating the tempo of the encounter. Despite Kiskeam’s commitment and second-half surge with five two-pointers, they couldn’t counter the fluid attacking verve of their opponents.

The deadlock was broken by a powerful two-pointer from **Barry O’Leary**. Although Kiskeam rallied with scores from **Thomas Casey** and **Seán O’Sullivan**, Uibh Laoire, with contributions from **Timmy Roberts** and **Jones**, quickly re-established their lead.

First-Half Blitz Establishes Dominance

Uibh Laoire intensified their pressure in the second quarter, with key players like **Seán O’Leary**, **Cathal Vaughan**, **Barry O’Leary**, and **Jones** instrumental. A turnover from a short restart led to **Jones** setting up **Seán O’Riordan** for a point. The Muskerry side then landed a significant blow in the 20th minute when **Ciaran O’Riordan** and **Sam Pikering** combined to tee up **Jones** for the game’s opening goal.

The momentum shifted decisively as **Jones**, fed by captain **Seán O’Leary**, added a second goal. A subsequent two-pointer from **Vaughan** extended Uibh Laoire’s lead to an imposing 2-11 to 0-2 by halftime, showcasing their first-half dominance.

Second-Half Resilience and a Pickering Goal

Following the interval, **Jones** continued to add to his impressive personal tally. While Kiskeam found some rhythm, sparked by a **Thomas Casey** two-pointer, Uibh Laoire responded emphatically. **Sam Pickering** found the net, extending their advantage.

Kiskeam showed commendable resilience, with **Seán O’Sullivan** and **Michael Herlihy** converting two-pointers, demonstrating their fighting spirit. However, Uibh Laoire managed the remainder of the game comfortably, securing the ideal start to their campaign. Their next fixture is against Castletownbere.

Scorers

Uibh Laoire: C Óg Jones 2-9 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), S Pickering 1-0, C Vaughan 0-3 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), B O’Leary 0-2 (2pt), T Roberts, S O’Riordan, S O’Leary, C O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Kiskeam: S O’Sullivan 0-9 (2 2pt f, 1 2pt), T Casey 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), M Herlihy 0-3 (1 2pt), D Fitzgerald, S O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Team Lineups

Uibh Laoire: J Creedon; B Murphy, D O’Donovan, D O’Riordan; C O’Riordan, S O’Leary, 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 (inj 43), A O’Donovan for B Cronin (45).

Kiskeam: B Daly; J O’Connor, S Meehan, J Daly; A J O’Connor, K O’Connor, Mike Casey; G Casey, Maurice Casey; D Fitzgerald, T Casey, P O’Callaghan; S O’Sullivan, D Scannell, A Dennehy. Subs: S O’Riordan for P O’Callaghan (ht), D Murphy for M Casey (ht), M Herlihy for D Fitzgerald (46), R Carroll for A Dennehy (48), M Collins for G Casey (53).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).