The Auld Triangle and Muskerry Sports Star Award winner for the month of March was Chris Óg Jones. The Iveleary sharpshooter was in fantastic form in March helping his club reach the Muskerry U21 C Football Championship Final. The 18 year old scored a remarkable 4-7 that went a long way to overcome the gritty challenge of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh in the decider, on a score line of 5-8 to 1-19.

Óg Jones was joined by his family, team mates and Iveleary representatives at the presentation in the Auld Triangle Macroom last Thursday night. The forward was happy to reflect afterwards on a satisfying month and is looking forward to the coming months.

The Inchigeela youngster is privileged to have received the first award this year and joins a long list of stars that have collected the unique award since it started at the start of 2014.

“It’s a fantastic honour, hard to put into words to be honest. It was the least I expected. We won the U21 C Championship last month, and I thought one of the players from either the A or B grade would win. I had a missed call from William Buckley. He left a message to ring him back. I didn’t know what was happening. I thought I was after picking up a suspension or something along those lines.”

Iveleary won a cracking decider played in Naomh Aban, as mentioned above beating Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh. Óg Jones feels that win will give the club a boost going forward.

“It was a fantastic achievement by everyone involved. That final win was probably the best in terms of a team performance, but when we look back at it, we had some fantastic wins in the League/Championship basis. A lot of people have been praising me, and while it was special to score 4-7, the players alongside me did the hard work, and they should get a mention also.”

In any game, whether it would be hurling or football, and a team scores 1-19, the vast majority of times you come out the right side. But on this particularly afternoon, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh just came up against a forward in red-hot form. Just how did the Leaving Cert student in De La Salle College, Macroom score 4-7?

“Ah sure look, I went into it like any other game, just because it was Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh I didn’t think much of it. You need a bit of luck falling your way in any game and thankfully it fell my way on this occasion. I got on the end of the breaks and so on, but as I said, everything that played that day, deserve massive credit, as underfoot conditions weren’t the best.”

It was a massive win for Iveleary, and the club will hope it will be a springboard to future success for the Junior A side.

“The win meant everything to the club, especially to overcome a top class side. Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh are a club we look up to. They are a massive club with a proud history. I have nothing but respect towards them and it would be great to be in their position one day, fighting to get up to the top flight of Cork football.

“With regards our Junior team, we won an U21 County a couple of years ago, so they are all still young and it is great that this current U21 side are pushing for places in the Junior side. I see a very bright future for Iveleary.”

The 18 year old is a levelled headed youngster, who won’t be getting ahead of himself.

“At the moment I am concentrating on Iveleary football and Round 1 of the Junior A Football Championship next Friday against Canovee. I don’t like to think too far down the line. Whatever happens, happens at the end of the day.” He concluded.