Free at end gives Arles sweet victory

Arles/Kilcruise 1-9 O’Hanrahans 1-8

But, beating fancied O'Hanrahans in the AIB Leinster club SFC in Dr Cullen Park yesterday only 24 hours after winning their first Laois title was a remarkable achievement.

Not surprisingly, the Carlow champions were shell shocked when the final whistle sounded shortly after Chris Conway put over a 50 yards free from his hands two minutes into injury time.

Conway, a member of Mick O'Dwyer's successful Laois team, revealed afterwards that he had two thoughts in his mind when he stepped up to take the winning free.

If he wasn't to score, the priority was to kick it dead.

"It was tough going out there but, we got the tiredness out of our legs in the first 20 minutes. And, luckily enough, we got a goal just before half-time. The likelihood is that it would have been very difficult to come back if that had not gone in," he commented.

"We just kept plugging away and in the end it was our fitness that pulled us through. We kept it quiet after winning on Saturday. We were very happy with winning, but we are winners deep down and we want to stay going. We want to put Arles on the map and the way to do that is to win the Leinster title."

The challenge facing them yesterday was highlighted when O'Hanrahans had the ball in the net after only three minutes with corner-forward Gavin Walker connecting with a high ball midfielder Philip Nolan. Then they kicked four wides in a five minute period before eventually settling down to control the game.

Arles/Kilruise, in the meantime, were struggling to find a rhythm, being confined to an 11th minute goal from young county star Ross Munnelly until they got their goal 20 minutes later.

In the interim period, O'Hanrahans played quite well but were out of luck in the 29th minute when Brian Walker narrowly hit wide when connecting with a low ball across the face of the goal.

The loss of that score was emphasised when the Laois side got their goal.

It left the interval score 1-5 to 1-1.

The second of two Munnelly frees had scores level in the 58th minute.

Ultimately, it all boiled down to Conway's late free and he had the confidence to take advantage of it and reward his team-mates for their belief in themselves.

Scorers: Arles/Kilcruise: R. Munnelly 0-5 (0-3 frees); K. Kealy 1-0; C. Conway 0-2 (0-1 free); J. McDonald and B. Conway 0-1 each.

O'Hanrahans: G. Walker 1-0; B. Walker and M. Carpenter 0-3 each; D. Walker 0-2.

ARLES/KILCRUISE: C. Munnelly; M. O'Shea, E. Mulhall, M. Mooney; J.P. Conway, A. McElroy, F. Tully; J. Conway, J. Wall; R. Munnelly, S. Carroll, C. Conway; J.M. McDonald, K. Kealy, L. Wall. Subs: D. Conway for Kealy and E. Mooney for Carroll (second half); B. Conway for L. Wall (44th).

O'HANRAHANS: J. Brennan; V. English, N. English, T. Smith; W. Kinsella, K. Walker, K. Kavanagh; A. Kavanagh, P. Nolan; D. Walker, M. Carpenter, B. English; B. Walker, R. Walker, G. Walker. Sub: D. Bermingham for Smith (injured 49th minute).

Referee: S. Doyle (Wexford).