Goals crucial as Park-Rateniska defeat Arles-Kilcruise to be crowned Laois GAA IFC champions

Park-Ratheniska have been crowned the 2025 Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate Football champions after they had too much for Arles-Kilcruise in Friday evening's decider in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

Johnny Nevin's side came into the game having already defeated Arles-Kilcruise in Round 1, and it was more of the same as they held a nine-point advantage at the break, which could have been a lot more had they not squandered several goal chances.

Park-Ratheniska charged forward from the off as Richie Hitchcock picked out Kieran Delaney, but his stray pass landed with Tom Fingleton, whose shot was saved by the foot of Arles-Kilcruise goalkeeper Simon George. Just a minute later, Cian Nolan fired over the opening score, swiftly followed by Jimmy Langton splitting the uprights.

Hitchcock cut through the Arles-Kilcruise rearguard again to locate Delaney, though he drilled his shot wide. Langton then added a second from play. Calum McElroy struck Arles-Kilcruise’s first point after nine minutes, but Park-Ratheniska replied instantly by tacking on 1-1. James Connolly pointed before Cian Nolan smashed the ball to the net.

Ross Munnelly got off the mark by pointing from a free. Arles-Kilcruise nearly reduced the gap to one when Park-Ratheniska lost possession, breaking out from defence with two free men inside, yet Kevin Meaney pulled his shot to the left of Cathal Tierney's goal. Park-Ratheniska ended the half the stronger as Brian Dunne raised an orange flag before his brother Padraig Dunne drove the ball past Simon George for a second goal, leaving nine in it at the interval, (2-6 to 0-3).

The second-half began with Munnelly pointing a free to reduce the deficit before Kieran Delaney pushed it back to nine again with his first point. Arles-Kilcruise began to grow into the game and got the next three points from two scores. Munnelly got his first from play before David Conway curled over a two-point free. The two goals were the difference between the sides with a quarter of an hour to play.

Connolly's second point of the contest briefly halted Arles-Kilcruise's purple patch, as two minutes later, half-back Ben Slattery pinged over a two-pointer off the outside of his left foot. Cian Nolan scored a great point to take his tally to a goal and two points as he played a one-two with Noah Fingleton before splitting the posts. Munnelly pointed a late free, which proved to be their last score as Park-Ratheniska ended with a goal and a point. Langton played Delaney through on goals and he slotted the ball past George before Langton ended the contest with his third score of the evening.

They'll go forward into the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship to represent Laois, where they'll face either the Louth or Wicklow champions on the weekend of November 15/16.

FINAL SCORE

Park-Ratheniska 3-10

Arles-Kilcruise 0-10

SCORERS-- Park-Ratheniska: Cian Nolan 1-2, Kieran Delaney 1-1, Padraig Dunne 1-0, Jimmy Langton 0-3, James Connolly (0-1 free) and Brian Dunne (two-pointer) 0-2 each. Arles-Kilcruise: Ross Munnelly 0-4 (0-3 frees), David Conway (two-point free) 0-3, Ben Slattery (two-pointer) 0-2, Calum McElroy 0-1.

PARK-RATHENISKA: Cathal Tierney; James Newell, Colm Brennan, Brendan Greene; Richie Hitchcock, Rian McEntee, Jimmy Langton; Padraig Dunne, Killian O’Connor; Noah Fingleton, Cian Nolan, Tom Fingleton; James Connolly, Brian Dunne, Kieran Delaney. Subs: Sean Tierney for Fingleton (57 mins), DJ O'Connell for Connolly (60 mins), Peter Conroy for Greene (62 mins).

ARLES-KILCRUISE: Simon George; Ethan Mackey, Conal Brennan, Cialann Mulhall; Conor George, PJ Lawlor, Ben Slattery; David Lawlor, Kevin Meaney; Calum McElroy, Jack Behan, Dylan Water; Ross Munnelly, David Conway, Aodhan Lowry. Subs: Eoin Mulhall for Water (8 mins, inj), Caomhán Brennan for Lowry (40 mins), Luke Donohue for D Lawlor (55 mins), Darragh Kealy for Conal Brennan (59 mins), Darragh Murphy for Slattery (62 mins).

REFEREE: Des Cooney (St Joseph's).