Dunne's superb hat-trick fires Arles-Killeen to ACFL Division 2 glory

The Laois Shopping Centre ACFL Division 2 title belongs to Arles-Killeen after a dominant win over Clonaslee St Manman's in the Centre of Excellence on Friday evening. Colin Dunne scored an exquisite hat-trick to lead his side to an impressive nine-point win. 

Clonaslee St Manman's stunned Portarlington in the semi-finals, with the 2024 County Champions hot favourites to win the division, while Arles-Killeen beat Rosenallis to continue their excellent league form that saw them finish in first place. Clonaslee St Manman's came out on top when they faced Arles-Killeen in Round 4 but goals proved the difference in the final with Arles-Killeen the newly-crowned champions.

Arles-Killeen 4-13

Clonaslee St Manman's 0-16

It was a wet, windy evening in Portlaoise and the conditions did not lend themselves to high-quality football, with a point at either end from Paul Kingston and Paddy Hyland the only scores of the first ten minutes. Clonaslee St Manman's kicked the next three scores, two from Cathal Lee and one from Niall Corbet, and looked to be coasting. 

But Arles-Killeen came to life, scoring 1-7 without reply, starting with quick scores from Kingston and Eanna Byrne before a beautiful finish from Dunne raised his first green flag in the 20th minute. High on confidence and with a strong wind at his back, Dunne then kicked a pair of two-pointers from play before teeing up Byrne for his second score of the game. 

Clonaslee St Manman's replied with four scores on the bounce, two from Lee and one each from Corbet and John Rigney, to move to within three points coming up to half time. 

But Arles-Killeen ended strong, with Byrne pointing and then stealing the resulting kick-out before laying it off to Dunne, who found the net for the second time with Clonaslee goalkeeper Ger Dunne still off his line. That completely changed the complexion of the tie, with Arles-Killeen up 2-9 to 0-8 at half time. 

Three scores from Lee and one from Rigney had Clonaslee St Manman's back within four points ten minutes into the second half, only for Dunne to complete his hat-trick with a magnificent solo run and finish. 

The sides traded scores midway through the half before Arles-Killeen raised a fourth green flag thanks to a persistent Kingston who simply would not be denied. 

The sides traded scores again in the closing stages, but the tie was well wrapped up by then. Arles-Killeen have won the crown, but both sides had already secured promotion and will play Division 1 football next season. 

SCORERS - Arles-Killeen: Colin Dunne 3-4, Paul Kingston 1-3 (0-2 frees), Eanna Byrne 0-5, Oisin Byrne 0-1. Clonaslee-St Manman's: Cathal Lee 0-10 (five frees), Niall Corbet and John Rigney 0-2 each, Paddy Hyland and Cian Callaghan 0-1 each. 

ARLES-KILLEEN: Jason Enright; Andrew Wall, Joe Mulhare, Enda O’Rourke; Adam Donoghue, Dermot Julian, Sean O’Shea; Donie Kingston, John Mahon; Niall O’Rourke, Paul Kingston, Conor Keightley; Oisin Byrne, Colin Dunne, Eanna Byrne. Subs: Ben Griffin for E O’Rourke (inj, 11), Shane Byrne and Cian Knowles for O Byrne and N O’Rourke (both 56), Kevin Lambe for O'Shea (58).

CLONASLEE-ST MANMAN'S: Ger Dunne; DJ Callaghan, Jack Owens, Dermot Conway; Bob Downey, Ger Reilly, James Dunne; Cian Conroy, Niall Corbet; Niall Hogan, Cathal Lee, Cian Callaghan; James McRedmond, John Rigney, Paddy Hyland. Subs: Willie Young for Owens (inj, 24), Josh Flynn for McRedmond (HT), Tom Smith for Hogan (35), Manus Dunne for Hyland (46), Seamus Rosney for Rigney (54).

REFEREE: Des Cooney (St Joseph's)